BY DREW DRAIN When Claustrofobia hit the stage at The Ritz, opening for Sepultura, it felt like an explosion of Brazilian thrash that too...

BY DREW DRAIN
When Claustrofobia hit the stage at The Ritz, opening for Sepultura, it felt like an explosion of Brazilian thrash that took the audience by surprise and got the night off to a fierce start. Hailing from São Paulo, Claustrofobia wasted no time whipping the crowd into a frenzy with their blistering riffs, rapid-fire drumming, and raw, aggressive vocals.

Right from the opening song, Marcus D’Angelo’s snarling vocals and crushing guitar tone set the tone for the rest of their set. With tracks like “Stronger than Faith” and “Thrasher,” the band showed their mastery of blending traditional thrash metal with the more brutal elements of death metal. The energy they brought to the stage was relentless, and it didn’t take long for mosh pits to start forming.

The rhythm section was particularly tight, with drummer Caio D’Angelo delivering punishing blast beats that rattled the walls of The Ritz. The band’s chemistry was on full display as they played with precision and intensity, making it impossible for the crowd to stand still.

As an opener for Sepultura, Claustrofobia perfectly set the stage for what was to come. They embodied that same raw energy and pride in Brazilian metal that Sepultura is known for, creating a seamless transition between bands. By the time they wrapped up their set, the crowd was more than ready for the main act—but it was clear that Claustrofobia had left their mark. Their performance was tight, aggressive, and unrelenting, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with on the global metal stage.

Agnostic Front’s set was pure, unfiltered energy from the moment they hit the stage. The legendary New York hardcore band delivered exactly what fans came for—fast, aggressive, and unapologetically raw music that pulsed through the venue.

Vinny Stigma, the band’s iconic guitarist, was the heart of the night. Midway through the set, he lived up to his reputation by jumping into the middle of a raging circle pit while still shredding his guitar. The crowd roared in approval as he turned the pit into an extension of the stage, all while never missing a beat. Stigma’s energy was contagious, feeding off the chaos and feeding it back into the crowd.

Frontman Roger Miret’s gritty vocals and relentless pace kept everyone moving, as classics like “Gotta Go” and “For My Family” brought the crowd together in unity. The show had that distinct hardcore feel—both intense and welcoming at the same time. Whether it was longtime fans or first-timers, everyone left with the same feeling: Agnostic Front still reigns supreme when it comes to hardcore.

Raleigh’s hardcore scene showed up strong, and with Vinny Stigma playing in the middle of the chaos, it was a night to remember.

When Obituary took the stage after Claustrofobia and Agnostic Front, it was a seismic shift in tone, turning the night into a full-blown celebration of old-school death metal. As the legends from Tampa, Florida, known for pioneering the genre, launched into their set, the room became enveloped in a dark, crushing atmosphere that perfectly contrasted the high-energy thrash and hardcore vibes from the previous acts.

John Tardy’s guttural vocals were as monstrous as ever, sending chills down the spines of the crowd with his signature growl. As the band tore into classics like “Slowly We Rot” and “Chopped in Half,” Trevor Peres’ guitar tone was a wall of crushing distortion, laying down those sludgy, doom-laden riffs that have been defining death metal for decades. Donald Tardy’s drumming, brutal and precise, held everything together with an unrelenting groove, sending ripples through the floor with each kick and snare hit.

The energy in the room shifted into something primal, as fans banged their heads to the slow, crushing breakdowns and exploded into pits during the faster, grinding sections of their songs. Obituary’s set acted like a dark, thunderous storm, bringing a heavier, more punishing atmosphere that left the crowd in awe.

By the time Obituary finished their set, the crowd was amped up and fully primed for Sepultura. It was clear that each band that night had left their own mark, but Obituary’s sheer weight and power was the perfect bridge between the aggression of Agnostic Front and the Brazilian metal titans that were about to take the stage. The anticipation for Sepultura was palpable, but Obituary’s performance had undeniably raised the bar.

When Sepultura finally took the stage at The Ritz after powerhouse performances by Claustrofobia, Agnostic Front, and Obituary, it felt like the ultimate crescendo. The crowd, already energized from hours of thrash, hardcore, and death metal, erupted as the Brazilian legends launched into their set with the same fire that’s kept them at the forefront of metal for decades.

From the opening riffs of “Arise,” it was clear that Sepultura was here to make a statement. Derrick Green, towering over the stage, commanded the room with his brutal growls and magnetic presence, while Andreas Kisser’s guitar work was as sharp and precise as ever. The mix of newer tracks like “Isolation” and classics like “Refuse/Resist” struck the perfect balance, appealing to both longtime fans and newer members of the crowd. The intensity never let up, as Greyson Nekrutman's drumming rattled the walls with machine-gun precision, driving the band’s sound forward like a runaway freight train.

The crowd surged with every breakdown, forming one of the most chaotic pits of the night. But when Sepultura broke into “Roots Bloody Roots,” the venue reached another level of energy. It was a moment of unity, with fists raised high and the entire room chanting along, celebrating the band’s legacy in both Brazilian and global metal.

What made Sepultura’s performance stand out even more was how they managed to elevate the energy despite following such a stacked lineup. Claustrofobia had set the tone with thrash aggression, Agnostic Front injected hardcore chaos, and Obituary brought the weight of death metal—but Sepultura blended it all together with their groove-laden, tribal-infused thrash, creating a finale that felt larger than life.

By the time they wrapped up their set, the crowd was drenched in sweat, exhausted but still wanting more. Sepultura had done more than just live up to the night’s massive expectations—they surpassed them, leaving everyone in attendance buzzing with adrenaline. The Ritz had hosted a metal marathon, and Sepultura closed it with a performance for the ages.
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- DREW DRAIN
Andrew (Drew) Drain is originally from Point Pleasant, WV, and he now resides in Chapel Hill, NC with his daughter. Drew works as a financial risk management professional to pay the bills, but his real passion is photography. He started taking photos of his daughter playing soccer as a way to resist the urge to coach her from the sidelines. Time behind the camera developed into a love for photography that he has paired with his love for sports and live music. Follow Drew’s Instagram, @Drew.Drain.Photo or his MaxPreps galleries, to check out more of his work or contact him if you need photos of your favorite athlete or performer.
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