“Five bucks man,” says a gruff-looking man as an equally gruff-looking bouncer checks my ID. I take the money out of my wallet and hand it to him in exchange for a bracelet or stamp of some kind, signifying that I have paid and am of age. I enter the room; dark, noisy and crowded. The smell burns my nostrils and the echoes of songs and screams ring in my ears. Then he appears on stage; his name: Kevin Barton; his gang: Tabernacle. As a reaper and his minions prepare you for the journey, seemingly to the gates of hell, the crowd waits eagerly. The solemn look on all their faces matches their attire: black shoes, black pants, black ties and white shirts. These aren't just any Mormons (actually none of them are) but rather masters of hardcore. What sets them apart from other bands, however, is their unique blend of personality and character, and their ability to come together and play music. I guess you could say Kevin is the leader of the group. At first glance he is an unpretentious man. Sure he's covered in tattoos and has calibrated ears, but he's not that out of the norm anymore. Once you know it, however, your perspective may change. Kevin was raised Mormon since his childhood. He went to church and was baptized according to their beliefs. Things began to change, however, when he began to question his belief in Mormonism around the age of fourteen. He continued to attend church for a few years, but at the age of sixteen or seventeen he stopped going altogether. He describes this change as an “ideological shift” (Barton) that led him to his current beliefs. To this day he proclaims himself an atheist, saying: “I used the term agnostic,... halfway down the page... for show, this is an act in itself. “Singing” is a vague term; it's more like a spoken word fused with raw emotion. People bang their heads up and down and raise their arms in time with the music. As the set continues, you can see the sweat build up on everyone, but none more than Kevin. Flaving their arms and legs and banging their heads up and down, those in front can't help but get splashed. But these people don't care; they are too entranced by the sound and rhythm of the music. The set ends and the band begins to dismantle their equipment. Some come up and give high-fives or pats on the back accompanied by “a great show man” or “a guy who was awesome,” but the band plays it like it's routine. The best way to show your appreciation to these guys is to throw bows and buy a round. If that's not your style, well then Tabernacle is not for you.