Into Fruition make their debut at BBB!

July 26, 2024 – It was a busy night in Vegas, with happenings going on all over the city, and so many local bands ripping it up at just about all of the smaller venues in town. For me, though… I ventured out to Backstage Bar & Billiards downtown to catch my friends in their new band, Into Fruition.

Rising from the ashes of Wrath of an Empire comes one of Vegas’ newest metalcore bands, Into Fruition. After WOAE faded into the darkness, vocalist Justin Estocado, drummer Matt Sorrow, and guitarist Kevin Balzano made the move to embark on a new journey, bringing along Tyler Sanderson & Brian Serotta.

Into Fruition have released two singles, “A Glimmer of Hope” and “Forsaken”. These tracks give listeners a breath of fresh air when it comes to the metalcore genre in Vegas. Highlighting Justin’s versatility as a vocalist, showcasing Kevin and Brian’s growth and talent as guitarists with their melodic solos and riffing, add in Matt’s high energy on the drums and Tyler’s basslines to tie it all together… These guys have all the potential to really soar with this fresh sound.

What’s the best way to debut a band like this, you ask? Drop them on the opening bill of tech-death heavyweights Fallujah, of course! For bigger name shows at Backstage Bar, it’s not uncommon to see the stage look pretty crowded because of the drum kit and equipment from the headliners.… This night was no different in that aspect. With Into Fruition being the first band on the bill, the stage was relatively strategically set up to fit these five dudes onto the small, intimate stage.

While this set was a debut for Into Fruition, it’s not difficult to see that the guys are all seasoned when it comes to being on stage. Justin commands the attention of the crowd, which is something that I have always admired while watching him perform. He has true frontman energy that he has just really dialed into over the last year or so. Brian and Kevin were off to the side taking turns riffing and solo-ing, and I hope with time these two can really bounce off of each other visually and capture the attention of fans. I know this is difficult to do sometimes on a smaller crowded stage, so hopefully in the future we can see more in the ways of interaction. Tyler is always big on the headbangs and hair flips, and he just brings all the feel good energy that he’s always had since I met him back in 2009. Periodically through the set I stood behind Matt on the drums to capture his unique energy, and I think this guy is one of the more underrated guys in the scene. That sometimes happens with drummers, but this guy is not to be glossed over at all. I’m excited to see how he grows within this new band!

By the end of Into Fruition’s set, Backstage Bar was decently filled, and the overall energy of the crowd was very positive. Members of Body of Filth, Mugatu, Buried By Vengeance, and a handful of other bands came out in support. I cannot stress this enough, that is one of the most important things that every local music scene needs to thrive. Community over competition wins in my eyes every single time and I was thrilled to see so many come out in support!

One of the coolest things I’ve seen in the Vegas scene is the fluidity of bands and their members. If you’re involved in the metal scene out here at all, you’ve more than likely have seen some, if not all the guys in Into Fruition in other bands. I look forward to seeing where this journey takes these guys, and they are definitely a must check out on my list!

Into Fruition:

Justin Estocado – vocals (Hawaiianfreak, Volterrum)
Tyler Sanderson – bass (Asylum of Ashes)
Brian Serotta – guitar (ex-Elysium Falls, ex-Hands of Oblivion)
Kevin Balzano – guitar (Vile Child)
Matt Sorrow – drums