Three Day Grace & Breaking Benjamin LIVE at Climate Change Arena
Author: Alice Cavers
Shows
Sep 30, 2025
Three Day Grace & Breaking Benjamin Concert Review
On Tuesday, September 30th, 2025, I crossed the border on an arguably unholy crusade from Vancouver to Seattle to see the multi-platinum hard-rock titans, Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin. Joining forces in their co-headlined U.S. tour, the bands were opened by L.A.’s rising alt-rock group, Return to Dust. From metalheads, dad-rock devotees, and millennials revisiting their teenage angst, thousands gathered in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, ready to escape reality and communally headbang for a total of four hours between the three sets.
On Tuesday, September 30th, 2025, I crossed the border on an arguably unholy crusade from Vancouver to Seattle to see the multi-platinum hard-rock titans, Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin. Joining forces in their co-headlined U.S. tour, the bands were opened by L.A.’s rising alt-rock group, Return to Dust. From metalheads, dad-rock devotees, and millennials revisiting their teenage angst, thousands gathered in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, ready to escape reality and communally headbang for a total of four hours between the three sets.
Return to Dust
While I admit I’d never been introduced to this up-and-coming L.A. rock outfit, I was quickly impressed with Return to Dust’s commanding stage presence, 90s-inspired grunge edge, and powerhouse vocals from frontmen Matty Bielawski and Graham Stanush. Opening their set with Black Road from their self-titled 2024 debut album, the band drew in a growing crowd with a tight, moody alt-rock set that perfectly primed the arena for the acts to follow. From metal-heavy crowd-pleasers like Summer Rain to groovier alternative rock songs like Bored, the young band showcased their raw sound, refined vocals, and diverse tracklist to the crowd of seasoned hard-rock fanatics. I have no doubt I’ll be hearing much more from Return to Dust in the near future.
Return to Dust
While I admit I’d never been introduced to this up-and-coming L.A. rock outfit, I was quickly impressed with Return to Dust’s commanding stage presence, 90s-inspired grunge edge, and powerhouse vocals from frontmen Matty Bielawski and Graham Stanush. Opening their set with Black Road from their self-titled 2024 debut album, the band drew in a growing crowd with a tight, moody alt-rock set that perfectly primed the arena for the acts to follow. From metal-heavy crowd-pleasers like Summer Rain to groovier alternative rock songs like Bored, the young band showcased their raw sound, refined vocals, and diverse tracklist to the crowd of seasoned hard-rock fanatics. I have no doubt I’ll be hearing much more from Return to Dust in the near future.
Three Days Grace
I’ll give it to them. After three decades in the hard-rock scene, Three Days Grace still knows how to make an entrance. Led Buoy, the Seattle Kraken hockey team mascot, TDG stormed through the 932,000 square-foot arena in golden WWE-style silk robes. The band had the crowd roaring and fist-bumping as if they were about to face off against Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and The Undertaker in a televised main ring event. Entering the stage, the group shed their robes in a dramatic reveal, reassuring fans that they aren’t just golden-robed gladiators and are indeed the angst-rock legends everyone paid to see. Opening with Animal I Have Become, the mosh instantly erupted in the pit as fans shoved one another to the classic TDG anthem. As the setlist tore on, “THREE DAYS GRACE” thundered between every song, a battle cry reflecting the adoration and unbridled loyalty shared amongst their long-time fans. From Mountain to Painkiller, Matt Walst and returning vocalist Adam Gontier prowled the stage with the same rage and rebellion belonging to their youth. After Apologies, the group paused to catch their breath and have a moment of sincerity with the crowd. Gontier paid homage to the city's notorious music scene that inspired their sound, giving props to classic Seattle bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains. Before transitioning to The Good Life, Gontier instructed fans to forget about work the next morning, toast their drinks in the air and shouted “tell your boss I was partying with Three Days Grace and to fuck off!” After an hour and a half of hardcore rock, demonic roars, and seat-shaking guitar riffs, the band finally dropped the tempo with their heartfelt song Not Too Late, prompting the crowd to take out their lighters and phone flashlights and embrace three minutes and thirty seconds of post-metal catharsis. But the calm was short-lived. Immediately after the ballad wrapped up, Riot exploded through the venue, fueling the crowd to go wild in the mosh and release their final ounces of energy for the group. Ending with an old-school bow to the crowd, Three Days Grace concluded their set leaving fans with no doubt that after thirty years in the business they can still raise hell.
Three Days Grace
I’ll give it to them. After three decades in the hard-rock scene, Three Days Grace still knows how to make an entrance. Led Buoy, the Seattle Kraken hockey team mascot, TDG stormed through the 932,000 square-foot arena in golden WWE-style silk robes. The band had the crowd roaring and fist-bumping as if they were about to face off against Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and The Undertaker in a televised main ring event. Entering the stage, the group shed their robes in a dramatic reveal, reassuring fans that they aren’t just golden-robed gladiators and are indeed the angst-rock legends everyone paid to see. Opening with Animal I Have Become, the mosh instantly erupted in the pit as fans shoved one another to the classic TDG anthem. As the setlist tore on, “THREE DAYS GRACE” thundered between every song, a battle cry reflecting the adoration and unbridled loyalty shared amongst their long-time fans. From Mountain to Painkiller, Matt Walst and returning vocalist Adam Gontier prowled the stage with the same rage and rebellion belonging to their youth. After Apologies, the group paused to catch their breath and have a moment of sincerity with the crowd. Gontier paid homage to the city's notorious music scene that inspired their sound, giving props to classic Seattle bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains. Before transitioning to The Good Life, Gontier instructed fans to forget about work the next morning, toast their drinks in the air and shouted “tell your boss I was partying with Three Days Grace and to fuck off!” After an hour and a half of hardcore rock, demonic roars, and seat-shaking guitar riffs, the band finally dropped the tempo with their heartfelt song Not Too Late, prompting the crowd to take out their lighters and phone flashlights and embrace three minutes and thirty seconds of post-metal catharsis. But the calm was short-lived. Immediately after the ballad wrapped up, Riot exploded through the venue, fueling the crowd to go wild in the mosh and release their final ounces of energy for the group. Ending with an old-school bow to the crowd, Three Days Grace concluded their set leaving fans with no doubt that after thirty years in the business they can still raise hell.
Breaking Benjamin
With the arena still buzzing with the adrenaline TDG left behind, Breaking Benjamin couldn’t have met the audience at a better time. As the lights dimmed, the crowd stilled as a haunting catholic hymn echoed through the stadium, silencing everyone's chatter and growing anticipation with every lingering choir note. The hymn began to grow in intensity, reaching a crescendo that fans knew could only explode into the third and final act of the night. Finally, the crescendo broke and the lights flickered as Breaking Benjamin ran across the stage, assumed their positions, and started right away with Awaken—a 2024 single that showcased Benjamin Burnley’s powerful vocal range and that classic Breaking Benjamin balance between catchy melodies and heavy-metal rage. Breaking Benjamin's setlist struck a remarkable balance, touching on every musical era belonging to their two decades worth of headbanging material. At the beginning of Evil Angel, Shaun Foist led with a heavy percussive intro that immediately had me locked in and ready to throw my fist in the air and sway to its emotional melody. My favourite vocal standout was undoubtedly in Dance with the Devil, where Burnley's crisp, anguished vocals absolutely soared through the arena giving me and probably every grown beardy man in my radius goosebumps. After Without You, Burnley told the crowd of cheering fans that he needed a moment to catch his breath, laughing into the mic “I’m almost fifty, can you believe it?!” No, Ben, we can’t. Breaking Benjamin closed the night with fan favourite, The Diary of Jane, transforming the crowd into a swaying ocean of fistbumps, cheers, and phones recording what would soon become a rightful Instagram story flex. As I left the arena, I navigated my way through a sea of sweaty band tees, hoarse voices and the look of euphoric exhaustion you can only get from four hours of hard-rock communion
Breaking Benjamin
With the arena still buzzing with the adrenaline TDG left behind, Breaking Benjamin couldn’t have met the audience at a better time. As the lights dimmed, the crowd stilled as a haunting catholic hymn echoed through the stadium, silencing everyone's chatter and growing anticipation with every lingering choir note. The hymn began to grow in intensity, reaching a crescendo that fans knew could only explode into the third and final act of the night. Finally, the crescendo broke and the lights flickered as Breaking Benjamin ran across the stage, assumed their positions, and started right away with Awaken—a 2024 single that showcased Benjamin Burnley’s powerful vocal range and that classic Breaking Benjamin balance between catchy melodies and heavy-metal rage. Breaking Benjamin's setlist struck a remarkable balance, touching on every musical era belonging to their two decades worth of headbanging material. At the beginning of Evil Angel, Shaun Foist led with a heavy percussive intro that immediately had me locked in and ready to throw my fist in the air and sway to its emotional melody. My favourite vocal standout was undoubtedly in Dance with the Devil, where Burnley's crisp, anguished vocals absolutely soared through the arena giving me and probably every grown beardy man in my radius goosebumps. After Without You, Burnley told the crowd of cheering fans that he needed a moment to catch his breath, laughing into the mic “I’m almost fifty, can you believe it?!” No, Ben, we can’t. Breaking Benjamin closed the night with fan favourite, The Diary of Jane, transforming the crowd into a swaying ocean of fistbumps, cheers, and phones recording what would soon become a rightful Instagram story flex. As I left the arena, I navigated my way through a sea of sweaty band tees, hoarse voices and the look of euphoric exhaustion you can only get from four hours of hard-rock communion
