When it comes to touring in metal, the opportunity to open for Metallica is as coveted a slot as they come. The exposure brought on by sharing the stage with the most commercially successful band in the metal world brings about not only stadiums worth of potential new fans, but also the distinction of the torch essentially being passed. As history has shown, the players behind “King Nothing” have known to be kingmakers in that sense.
One of the artists lucky enough to get that call for 2026 are rising metalcore unit Knocked Loose. The Kentucky-based band have already racked up a Grammy nomination, been invited to play ‘Coachella‘ and various other festivals, all without sacrificing their crushing heaviness.
This chance to open for the aforementioned thrash metal titans just further validates their ascent. However, while currently enjoying their biggest touring opportunity yet in opening for that storied group overseas (as well as GRAMMY Award-winning French progressive metal faction Gojira) this spring, fate sure seems to be conspiring against Knocked Loose.
As documented in the first episode of Knocked Loose‘s new webseries chronicling that run, just two days into that trek frontman Bryan Garris was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy — a generally temporary condition that causes muscle weakness/facial paralysis in one side of the face. That condition is usually brought on by a torn or swollen muscle. Garris began experiencing numbness in the left side of his face and tongue amid the trek and went to ER in Sofia, Bulgaria to get it checked out. While the doctor advised rest, lest the condition become permanent, the show must go on. Thus, he received an initial steroidal treatment (and acupuncture) and has been gutting out the tour.
Now comes word however that the band’s guitarist/vocalist Isaac Hale (also of Inclination, XweaponX, etc.) was hit by a car on this very same tour this week. Given the post he shared on social media yesterday (May 29th) announcing the injury, it would appear that he too intends to soldier on. Despite the hardships, Knocked Loose have yet to miss a show yet, ripping through yesterday and today’s stops in Germany.
Garris commented on his social media earlier this week of his condition:
“Thank you to everyone that checked out the new mini doc on the Knocked Loose YouTube channel and thank you to everyone that reached out about my sudden onset of Bells Palsy. I’m doing good, taking care of my self, and resting when I can. The show must go on.”
Hale meanwhile said of his newly suffered injury yesterday, May 29th:
“Tour update got hit by a car yesterday felt bad but got this boba after and it was really good”
Hopefully the hands of fate have better cards in store for them in June, as the band still have the following shows to go:
05/30 Berlin, GER – Olympiastadion (feat. Metallica & Gojira)
06/01 Milan, ITA – Circolo Magnolia
06/03 Bologna, ITA – Stadio Renato Dall’Ara (feat. Metallica & Gojira)
06/06 Barcelona, SPA – Primavera Sound
06/09 Kraków, POL – Tauron Arena (feat. Bring Me The Horizon)
06/13 Budapest, HUN – Puskás Aréna (feat. Metallica & Gojira)
06/14 Hradec Kralove, CZE – Rock For People
06/16 Nijmegen, NET – Doornroosje
06/19 Dessel, BEL – Graspop Metal Meeting
06/21 Dublin, IRE – Avavia Stadium (feat. Metallica & Gojira)
06/22 Belfast, IRE – Limelight
06/23 Dublin, IRE – The Academy
06/25 Glasgow, UK – Hampden Park (feat. Metallica & Gojira)
06/28 London, UK – London Stadium (feat. Metallica & Gojira)
