Live Show: Bear McCreary | Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ - Walter Studios - September 16, 2026
Bear McCreary brought The Singularity: Ekleipsis 2026 tour to Phoenix, AZ on September 16th, 2026.
McCreary, along with a roster of talented artists, took the audience on a journey from the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, through Middle Earth and the Nine Realms, before ending up in Boston for a tribute to the King of Monsters.
The evening began as the lights dimmed and a single silhouette moved to the center of the stage. Morgan Sorne, an award-winning composer in his own right, opened the show with a series of hauntingly beautiful songs. Sorne vocalized into the microphone, creating loops of sound. He tapped rhythmically at the bank of electronic drum pads surrounding him, creating layers of sound. Once the foundation had been laid, Sorne demonstrated his five-octave vocal range on songs like “I Can’t Breathe.”
While Sorne offered a hypnotic, almost meditative set, Bear McCreary came prepared to deliver a high-powered heavy metal experience. Lead singer Brendan McCreary brought an intense energy to the stage and passion to the vocals. Much like his older brother, Brendan showed great versatility, playing multiple instruments throughout the evening.
Bear and Omer Ben-Zvi combined for a dual-guitar attack that added heavy riffing and blazing solos. Johanna Kurkela’s violin and angelic vocals shined on “The Skye Boat Song” and “Laufey” from the forthcoming God of War Laufey video game. Drummer Gene “The Atomic Clock” Hoglan unleashed a flurry of double-kicks and hard-hitting rhythms on tracks like “Incinerator” and “Black Box.” Along with bassist and fellow Dethklok member Pete Griffin, it was a rhythm section ideal for the metal-heavy set.
The 23-song setlist included music from McCreary’s work in television, film, and video games. Highlights included “Wander My Friends” from 2004’s Battlestar Galactica soundtrack and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” McCreary raised the Jolly Roger and brought out the hurdy-gurdy for “Black Sails” from the television series of the same name. The hurdy-gurdy returned later in the set on “Blood Upon The Snow”, a fan-favorite featured in the video game God of War: Ragnarok.
Phoenix’s own Mega Ran joined McCreary for “First Day Out,” a collaboration featured on McCreary’s 2024 album “The Singularity.” Mega Ran returned to the stage as the buzzsaw guitars of “The Walking Dead Theme” filled the air. Just as McCreary and Ben-Zvi’s manic riffing hit a crescendo, a blue bolt of lightning flashed across the screen.
The zombie hoard was replaced on the video screen by a giant reptilian monster as the band played “Godzilla” from 2019’s “Godzilla: King of Monsters.”
The crowd applauded as the show came to a close, with Morgan Sorne returning to the stage as the entire group stood side-by-side to take a bow.
The tour next stops in Los Angeles before concluding in Las Vegas on September 19th, 2026.
