METAL, PUNK, THRASH & HARDCORE




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GWAR Go Full GWAR on Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”

“‘Pink Pony Club’ is about embracing exile from a boring, shitty world and remaking yourself into whatever you want—be who you are, be who you aren’t, piss people off, we don’t care!” The Berzerker Blöthar Richmond legends GWAR are back on The A.V. Club’s A.V....

Photos | Heart of Winter Fest

An unseasonably warm Friday afternoon set the tone for Day 2 of Heart of Winter at The Canal Club, a strange but welcome contrast to the bleak, frostbitten sounds pouring out of the venue. Despite the mild weather, the atmosphere inside was anything but soft. Black...

A Look Back at United Blood 2025

Editor’s Note: This article reflects on United Blood’s return back in April 2025 and is a preview of what is in store for 2026. Words and photos by Cristian Espinoza The sleeping giant walks the earth again. After a five-year hiatus, United Blood returned to Richmond,...

From Hibernation to Hellfire: Heart Of Winter Returns to Richmond

After more than a decade in hibernation, one of Richmond’s most revered underground metal gatherings is clawing its way back to life. Heart Of Winter, the black metal and doom-heavy festival that helped define an era of the city’s DIY extreme metal scene, is...

Photos | Rise Against at The National by CJ Payne

A few weeks back, Rise Against hit The National in Richmond, tearing through a set that marked 25 years of pushing punk rock with a message. They’ve gone from raw punk to full-on rock icons, tackling every social and political issue they can squeeze into a song. Photographer CJ Payne caught it all, capturing the energy, the sweat, and the...

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Misc. and the Messy Truth of Being Young and Loud

Misc. is a name that is becoming more and more integral in the story that is the Richmond music scene. Whether you have been in the crowd knocking around to their rap-rock mayhem, or seen their comic book-style posters painting the lampposts of the Fan, you have seen Misc. Their story begins a little over two years ago, with four guys bouncing...

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Photos | LTC FEST II at Canal Club by Vincent Candela

We hit LTC Fest II at the Canal Club, where local favorites and out-of-town bands tore it up from afternoon ‘til midnight. Fleshwater and Drug Church headlined, bringing serious heat, while acts like Heavyhex, Bellweather, Modern Color, and Anxious kept the energy high all day. Photographer Vincent Candela was everywhere—pit, stage, behind the...

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Sound Check! LTC Fest II, Escape From The Zoo & Mid

Get dolled up for the show! Whether you’re deciding how to incorporate your Doc’s into your costume or putting together a year's worth of dressing up plans, I hope your Halloween schedule includes going to these killer shows. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Canal Club |...

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Sound Check_LTC Fest II, Escape From The Zoo & MId by Griffin Smalley_photo by Danielle Parsons_RVA Magazine 2024

A Beautiful Freakshow! Inside the Mind of Austin Fitch

Austin Fitch is a man stuck in fast forward. His gestures quick, his speech accelerated, his thoughts - mile a minute. His laugh is loud, and his hugs are easy. Here is a man with more energy in his Tuesday afternoon than most of us can conjure on a Friday night. He’s the type of person I have to try to imagine in repose.  Few Richmonders...

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An Interview with Rise Against Frontman Tim McIlrath

This week I got to sit down with Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath, in preparation for their upcoming pre-Halloween gig at The National on the 30th of this month. With 25 years under their belt, Rise Against has evolved from underground punk roots into a politically charged band known for their social activism and powerful lyrics. In our...

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Photos | Obituary at The Canal Club by Vincent Candela

The Canal Club, long known for hosting some of the city’s heaviest shows, hosted Obituary a few nights ago. The death metal titans shook the walls of the club in a blistering set that photographer Vincent Candela captured in a brilliant set of images. For those that don't know, Obituary is one of the pioneering bands in death metal, hailing from...

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