NERO couldn’t stay away from Denver for too long. They returned this past weekend to take over The Church courtesy of BASSRUSH. This was the perfect venue for the dark and cinematic music that has defined their legacy for nearly two decades. It’s been just a year since the trio treated the Bass Capital to a rare live performance at the Ogden following the release of their third album, Into the Unknown. This time, they opted for a full-throttle DJ set, and Denver showed up in force.
Local talent set the tone early. Jetset opened the night with a smooth run of liquid drum & bass, warming the room with rolling percussion. Dissolves followed, flipping the energy into a heavier gear as he fired through a mix of classic and contemporary dubstep. This sent the first waves of headbangers into motion. By the time NERO took over the decks, The Church was packed shoulder-to-shoulder from the booth to the back wall.
The crowd itself was a testament to NERO’s cross-generational appeal. Longtime fans who’ve followed the group since their Welcome Reality era were interspersed with younger bassheads in INZO and Ganja White Night jerseys. A blend of nostalgia and fresh energy that perfectly matched the night’s vibe.
With twenty years of drum & bass and dubstep in their arsenal, NERO delivered exactly the kind of genre-blending set fans hoped for. They kicked off their set with their thunderous RL Grime collaboration “Renegade,” which set the tone immediately. What followed was a curated journey through their catalogue. They weaved standout cuts from Into the Unknown with the hits from Welcome Reality and Between II Worlds.
In addition to their hits, NERO also played some other gems, including Taiki Nulight’s rework of “Innocence,” Flux Pavilion’s iconic remix of “Must Be The Feeling,” and their 2017 collaboration with ZHU, “Dreams.” When the opening notes of “Promises” rang out to close the night, the entire room erupted into a full sing-along.
The production elevated the experience even further. Insane laser beams cut through well-timed CO2 blasts while the Void sound system delivered every bassline and snare hit with crystal clarity.
Every NERO set is always an experience, whether it’s live or a DJ set. Catch them at one of their remaining tour dates and at Apocalypse Zombieland. Keep up with everything they’ve got going on by using the social links below.
