Carnifex headlined and crushed. Suffocation brought the weight. Distant opened and set the tone.
Photographer Vinny Candela was in the pit. Here’s what it looked like when Richmond got wrecked.
For those that don’t know…
Carnifex is a veteran metal band from Southern California, active since 2005. They’ve released nine albums and are signed to Nuclear Blast. The current lineup includes founding members Scott Ian Lewis (vocals) and Shawn Cameron (drums), along with Cory Arford, Fred Calderon, and Neal Tiemann.
Suffocation formed in 1988 in New York and are considered one of the key bands from the early days of American death metal. Their debut album Effigy of the Forgotten is still seen as a landmark release. Longtime guitarist Terrance Hobbscontinues to lead the group, joined by Ricky Myers on vocals.
Distant is a newer band from the Netherlands and Slovakia, formed in 2014. They’ve released multiple albums and recently signed to Century Media. Their latest record, Tsukuyomi: The Origin, came out in 2024 and features collaborations with members of other well-known heavy bands.
The Canal Club is a live music venue in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. It’s housed in a former warehouse and has long been a go-to spot for touring metal, hardcore, and EDM.
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