Acid Bath Returns to San Antonio After 29 Years
The Louisiana sludge metal band plays Boeing Center at Tech Port on Friday, Nov. 6, with support from Twin Tribes, Kylesa, and The Atlas Moth.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Acid Bath will perform at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Friday, Nov. 6, marking its first show in San Antonio since the band dissolved in 1997.
The group is part of a reunion tour that began on April 12, 2025, at The Fillmore in New Orleans. Since then, the band has played a series of festivals and headlining dates. The San Antonio concert will be supported by Darkwave duo Twin Tribes, experimental metal band Kylesa, and Chicago post-metal ensemble The Atlas Moth. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. show range from $54.79 to $58.
The reunion was initiated when organizers of the Las Vegas festival Sick New World contacted original guitarist Sammy Duet about a possible appearance. The band members had discussed reuniting in the past but did not seriously pursue it until recently. Duet cited the death of longtime collaborator Tommy Viator, who handled drums and keyboards, as a catalyst for the group to act. The current lineup includes vocalist Dax Riggs and guitarist Mike Sanchez.
Formed in 1991 in southern Louisiana, Acid Bath built a following within the Gulf Coast sludge metal scene alongside bands like Eyehategod and Crowbar. The group released two studio albums, When the Kite String Pops and Paegan Terrorism Tactics, before breaking up. Their aesthetic relied on horror films, underground comics, and Southern Gothic imagery rather than the urban decay themes common among peers. Album artwork featured work by serial killer John Wayne Gacy and Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
Duet attributes the band's dark creative identity to Louisiana's history and geography. He noted that the state was once a penal colony, embedding a sense of darkness in the soil. He also pointed to the local environment, stating that in the swamps, death is always close. This perspective shaped the band's lyrical themes and live performance style, which Duet described as "chemically enhanced" during the 1990s.
The band never achieved major commercial success during its initial run, remaining on the margins of the metal scene. Its reputation expanded after the breakup through file-sharing sites, YouTube, and streaming services. Younger musicians, including members of Slipknot, have cited the group as an influence. Duet said the band now performs for fans who were not born when Acid Bath originally existed.
The reunion has focused on musical refinement rather than the chaos of the past. Duet said the group now aims to be the best band it can be, acknowledging past mistakes. The band is currently focused solely on touring and enjoying the process, with no new material released yet. The San Antonio show offers an opportunity for both longtime fans and newer listeners to see the band perform in person.
