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Upon a Burning Body Unites Corpus Christi's Metal Community for a Cause
- May 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Upon A Burning Body | Photo Credit: Atom Splitter PR
Partnering with Joaquin in2 Inclusion for the 3rd Annual Rock in2 Inclusion benefit concert, Upon A Burning Body made their way to Corpus Christi's House of Rock on May 29th along with Fight From Within (New York), YUNG MO$H (Ohio), Overlay (San Antonio), and Corpus Christi's very own Throat Locust and War Cult. The Texas metal veterans not only showed up for a worthy cause but delivered a headlining performance that made it clear why they remain such a dominant force in Texas metal and beyond.
In near total darkness, the video wall flickered to life, and the atmosphere inside the room shifted from restless to expectant. Ruben Alvarez (guitar) and Thomas Alvarez (bass) stepped onto the stage alone, opening with a stripped-down, Latin-inspired acoustic passage. The two turned toward each other as they played, feeding off each other's reserved energy. The softer introduction created a distinct contrast to the heaviness that had dominated the earlier part of the evening. Conversations faded, phones rose, and every eye turned toward the stage. But it wouldn't last for long.
As the final acoustic note faded, frontman Danny Leal, a man who calls himself Mr. Texas, stepped onto the stage and the room erupted. He arrived with unmistakable confidence, sporting a Western-style fringe jacket with a large Texas flag on the back. Back on Texas soil, Leal carried himself with the confidence of a frontman on home turf — and the clear understanding that the band had to deliver for its own crowd. This was a man with a mission: get everyone in the room off their feet. It was time to JUMP.
Formed in San Antonio in 2005, Upon A Burning Body built their name on a blend of metalcore, deathcore, and groove metal with an image shaped by Texas pride and Mexican-American heritage. After signing with Sumerian Records, the band released its debut album, The World Is Ours, in 2010. A few years later, they reached an even wider audience with the albums Red. White. Green. and The World Is My Enemy Now, the latter peaking at No. 39 on the Billboard 200. Later releases such as Straight From the Barrio, Southern Hostility, and Fury further developed their signature mix of -core breakdowns and groove-heavy riffs. Last year in 2025, the band celebrated two decades together with their seventh studio album, Blood of the Bull, their first full-length released independently after releasing the previous two albums under Seek & Strike Records. More than 20 years into their career, Upon A Burning Body remains one of San Antonio’s most recognizable and enduring heavy acts.
Positioned on raised platforms across the stage, Danny, Ruben, and Thomas kept a close eye on the room while commanding it from above the heads of the front row. Behind them, the video screens cycled through imagery tied to the band’s latest album, Blood of the Bull.
Upon A Burning Body came out guns blazing and never let up. If you've ever seen the band before or even watched a video of a live performance, you know what you're in for: a blistering, unrelenting assault.
Out on the floor, standing still was hardly an option. Even those keeping their distance were headbanging, shouting along, or being pushed by the constant movement of the crowd. Mosh pits broke open, pulling as many people as possible into chaos with every song. The room quickly became hot and sweaty, with little to no time to catch your breath before the next breakdown sent everyone into another rage. At one point during the show, the band pulled a fan from the crowd and the boy was handed the microphone to scream alongside Danny — definitely a moment that fan will never forget.
With the performances of "B.M.F." and "Southern Hostility" drawing some of the loudest reactions of the night, the show was cemented as one of the most satisfying of the year in Corpus Christi so far. But truly, every band on the bill had delivered exactly what fans came for: loud, passionate, and heavy performances. The ringing ears, sweat-soaked shirts, and lingering adrenaline said it all — live metal still hits with a force that cannot be replicated anywhere else. The band heads to Cine El Rey in McAllen on May 30th before heading out on their June headlining Rise of the Bull Tour.
See the photo gallery below.
