BY MAUI CABRAL Some shows are just heavy. Some shows are just fun. And then there are nights where everything kind of lines up in a way...
BY MAUI CABRAL
Some shows are just heavy. Some shows are just fun. And then there are nights where everything kind of lines up in a way that makes you stop for a second and think, “Man... this is really what I get to do.” This was one of those nights.
With Infected Rain headlining, and Stitched Up Heart, Dying Oath, and Internal Shadow opening the night, this show had a little bit of everything: heavy riffs, strong vocals, emotion, chaos, and some really cool full-circle moments for me personally.
Internal Shadow started the night off and helped set the tone early. There’s always something cool about watching the first band of the night come out and earn the room. People are still walking in, getting settled, finding their spots and it’s the opener’s job to wake everybody up. Internal Shadow did exactly that. They brought that raw, heavy energy that feels heavy and straight to the point. No extra nonsense, just a band coming out and giving the crowd a solid start to the night. With the world to prove!
Then Dying Oath came out and pushed the night a little heavier. Their set had that mix of aggression and emotion that I always appreciate in heavy music. The breakdowns hit, the vocals carried weight, and the energy on stage felt real. From behind the camera, this was one of those sets where you could tell the band was locked in. You’re not just trying to catch cool shots you’re trying to catch the feeling of the performance. And they definitely gave me moments to work with.
Then came Stitched Up Heart, and this one was honestly wild for me. I’ve known of them for a while, but actually getting to shoot them live was a really cool moment. They’ve got that mix of hard rock, metal, and emotion that works really well live. Heavy enough to hit, but still melodic enough to stick with you. And Mixi has a presence that pulls your attention right away. Confident, powerful, and completely in control of the stage. But the part that really stood out was hearing “Lost” live. That song features Sully Erna from Godsmack, and hearing it in the room was already cool enough , but knowing I’d be shooting Sully again just a couple days later made it feel even crazier. Shit , to look back at my very first show.. It was Godsmack. This is WILD. It’s one of those full circle things that probably sounds small to some people, but behind the camera, moments like that hit different. Shooting Stitched Up Heart, hearing a song with Sully on it, and then knowing he’d be in front of my lens again soon… that was a pretty surreal feeling.
Then Infected Rain took the stage and closed the night out strong. Coming from Moldova, Infected Rain has built a sound that doesn’t really sit in one lane. They mix metalcore, nu-metal, groove, electronic elements, and a lot of emotion into something that feels heavy but also very personal. And live, it fucking kills! Lena Scissorhands is a force on stage. She can go from brutal screams to melodic moments so naturally, and the band behind her keeps everything tight and heavy.
Their set had a different kind of energy dark, aggressive, but also empowering. You could feel the confidence in the way they performed. Like they know exactly who they are, and they’re not trying to fit into anyone else’s idea of what heavy music should be. That’s always something I respect.
This was not a sold out show, the crowd was not massive. These bands all came out, played the show like they were playing in Madison Square Garden. They gave us their all. Internal Shadow started the night strong. Dying Oath brought the heaviness. Stitched Up Heart gave me one of those personal “this is crazy” moments. And Infected Rain came out and owned the room. It wasn’t just another heavy show. It was one of those nights that reminded me how wild this whole journey can be.
One night you’re shooting a band performing a song featuring Sully Erna... and a couple days later, you’re shooting Sully himself again. That’s the kind of stuff I don’t take for granted.
This was a strong night from start to finish. Every band brought something different, and Infected Rain closed it out with a performance that felt powerful, heavy, and completely their own. But for me, the thing I’ll remember most is that full-circle feeling. Camera in hand. Heavy music in the room. And another reminder that this path keeps putting me in some pretty unreal places. And I’m grateful for every second of it.
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- JOSH "MAUI" CABRAL
Hey! I'm Maui. Originally from Queens, New York, now making Raleigh, NC my new home. I'm a touring photographer and Nomadic Motorcycle Rider, obsessed with seeing the world through different lenses!
Read Maui's posts here
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