Varials in San Francisco

About Varials

Varials is a metalcore band from Upstate New York that emerged in the mid-2010s with a thoughtful approach to the genre. They've built a quiet reputation for writing songs that balance technical precision with genuine emotional weight, steering clear of the usual posturing. Their albums layer dense guitar work with vocals that shift between clean singing and harsher moments, creating space for introspection even when the riffs get heavy. Tracks like 'Goodbye' showcase their ability to construct songs that feel earned rather than borrowed from a template. They're not a band obsessed with being the loudest or fastest in the room—instead they focus on songwriting that acknowledges both despair and the possibility of moving past it. For a metalcore band, their restraint is almost radical.

Varials shows draw crowds that actually listen instead of just waiting for breakdowns. Sets feel deliberate and tight, with the band locking into each song without unnecessary theatrics. Mosh pits form but feel more conversational than aggressive. Real presence in the room.

Known for Goodbye, Immanence, Habit, Collapse, Mending

Varials + San Francisco

Varials rolled through San Francisco's DNA Lounge in July 2017, bringing their abrasive metalcore sound to a city that's never quite known what to do with heavy music. The band tore through cuts that showed their knack for combining technical riffing with genuine heaviness, the kind of show where the pit moves like a single organism and everyone leaves drenched. It's been a minute since they've touched down here, which probably means the local metalcore kids have been waiting for round two. DNA Lounge has hosted enough sweaty basement-caliber shows in a proper venue to earn its stripes as one of San Francisco's more reliable stops for bands that don't get radio play.

Varials in San Francisco News

• THURSDAY announce “Full City Devolución” tour Lambgoat · Jan 21, 2026
• LORNA SHORE Announces Christmas Shows With CURRENTS, RIVERS OF NIHIL, VARIALS & ENTHEOS Metal Injection · Oct 23, 2023
• Jayden Panesso of Sylar Talks “Seasons” Album, Dealing with Criticism Ghost Cult Magazine · Feb 28, 2019
• Varials Sign To Fearless Records & Release New Song, "Anything To Numb" Prelude Press · Jul 6, 2017
• Wage War, Gideon, & Varials U.S. Tour Announced killthemusic.net · May 31, 2017

Live Music in San Francisco

San Francisco's heavy music scene has always existed in the shadows of its more celebrated indie and electronic tendencies. Metalcore and related subgenres carve out their own territory here — tight-knit crowds, venues like DNA Lounge, and a steady stream of touring bands keeping things alive. The city's music culture tends to dismiss anything too aggressive, which somehow makes the heavy stuff feel more vital when it does happen. Varials fits that mold: loud, uncompromising, and built for people who actually care about the details in a breakdown.

San Francisco road trip to see Varials?

Stay in Hayes Valley or the Mission—both neighborhoods have the kind of restaurants and bars that make a weekend feel deliberate rather than touristy. Head to State Bird Provisions for dinner if you can get in; it's precise and inventive without being pretentious. Spend a day in Muir Woods or hiking around Twin Peaks for actual views of the city. The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is worth a couple hours if the weather holds. Hit up a coffee place on Valencia Street in the Mission just to sit and watch the neighborhood move around you.