Chained at the CHApel
North Carolina hardcore favorites Chained rolled into Chapel of Bones in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 11, 2026, alongside Claymore (TX), Turn Cold (ATL), Leverage (ATL), Swollen Teeth (BOS), and Selfish Means (NC).
Thursday night I headed to my favorite venue, Chapel of Bones, to shoot Chained and walked away completely blown away. Not just by Chained, although I’m definitely partial to these guys because they’re the real deal, but because I left with a few new favorite bands added to my list. Keep an eye out for upcoming articles on the rest of the lineup. For now, let’s talk about Chained.
Formed in 2019, Chained has spent years grinding through the hardcore scene and building a reputation far beyond being just another local band. They’ve shared stages with bands like No Cure and continue to bring a level of intensity that has earned them respect throughout the region. If you’re a North Carolina hardcore fan and haven’t seen Chained live yet, fix that.
I’ve had the opportunity to shoot them a few times now, and one thing that always stands out is how approachable they are. Vocalist Phillip Gibson greets people at the merch table like they’ve been friends for years. Talking with him for even a few minutes, it’s obvious he loves what he does and appreciates every person who comes out to support the band. That kind of authenticity goes a long way.
But once Chained hits the stage, everything changes.
Phillip Gibson, Matt Hicks, Evan Marvel, Addison DeLucia, and Michael Jernigan flip a switch the second the set starts. The laid-back guy from the merch table becomes an absolute menace on stage, stalking the room and pulling the crowd deeper into every song.
The band tears through its set with the kind of energy that reminds you why hardcore is best experienced live. Every breakdown lands harder than the last and every song feels like it carries real weight behind it.
Some of my favorite moments come from their 2024 EP Cut Out The Stigma, released through Upstate Records. When “Torn From a Memory” hits, I can feel the adrenaline start climbing. There’s something about that track that grabs hold and refuses to let go.
Then comes “Soul Sick.”
The lyrics hit hard, especially lines like “I wear my fears like a fucking crown of thorns” and “The weight of my depression is crushing me.” Combined with the heaviness of the music, those words land with real impact. You don’t just hear the weight behind them. You feel it.
For me, Chained is one of the best hardcore bands to come out of North Carolina in recent years.
Every band on this lineup delivered. The energy never dropped, the crowd never stopped moving, and Chapel of Bones once again proved why it’s one of the best places in the state to experience hardcore.
Be sure to check out our upcoming write-ups on the rest of the bands from this show.
