Richmond’s new Allianz Riverfront Amphitheater has seen packed crowds all summer, but it didn’t feel truly broken in, not until last night, when GWAR and Hatebreed opened the gates and Lamb of God slammed them shut behind a wall of fire and distortion.
GWAR, naturally, brought their chaos carnival to full boil. The latex and blood flew. Elon Musk got the axe (literally) and President Trump split wide open gushed blood on the crowd. It was messy, grotesque, and completely glorious exactly the kind of hometown ceremony this venue needed. South Park might have taken a satirical swipe at the powers that be, but GWAR has been drowning them in stage blood for decades. Born from the sludge of the James, these monsters came home to feast.
But it was Lamb of God’s night. Fresh off a career-defining moment playing Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s final show, Lamb of God hit the stage like they had something to prove and absolutely nothing left to lose. Frontman Randy Blythe prowled the platform like a demon with unfinished business, spitting venom and summoning fire with every guttural scream. Flanked by three guitarists who looked like sorcerers from a scorched realm, and framed by flames and a mountain of drums. It was a powerhouse performance and we were blessed to be there.
Photographer Vinny Candela was in the pit, capturing every blistering moment for the faithful who were there, and the unlucky ones who weren’t.
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