BY MAUI CABRAL There are bands you photograph once and move on. Then there are bands like Wage War. Bands that somehow manage to hit ju...
BY MAUI CABRAL
There are bands you photograph once and move on. Then there are bands like Wage War. Bands that somehow manage to hit just as hard the fourth time as they did the first. I’ve spent a lot of nights in this room, and I’ve spent a lot of nights shooting Wage War. This was my fourth time photographing them, and at this point, I already knew what was coming. Or at least I thought I did. Because somehow Wage War still found a way to make the room feel brand new.
Opening the night was Nevertel, a band that’s been steadily building momentum by blending alternative rock, hip-hop influences, electronic elements, and massive hooks into a sound that’s difficult to put into a single category. Live, that mix up works. Their set brought a different kind of energy than the rest of the lineup. Less focused on sheer heaviness and more focused on creating a connection with the crowd through melody and atmosphere. By the end of their set, people who may not have known their music when they walked in were paying attention and truly fell in love with their sound.
And if Nevertel warmed the room up, Orthodox kicked the doors off the hinges. Coming out of Nashville, Orthodox has become one of the most respected names in modern hardcore and metalcore circles. Their sound is raw, aggressive, and unapologetically heavy. No gimmicks. No flashy production. Just riffs designed to start pits. The second they took the stage, the atmosphere changed. Bodies started flying. The pit opened up. And suddenly The Ritz felt a whole lot smaller. Orthodox was exactly what you’d expect. chaos, movement, and a nonstop stream of moments happening faster than you could react to them.
For nearly a decade, Wage War has been one of the defining names in modern metalcore.They’ve built a reputation for balancing crushing breakdowns with massive choruses, creating songs that hit just as hard emotionally as they do physically. And that’s a big reason why they’ve connected with so many people. Songs like "Stitch," "Low," "Circle the Drain," and "Manic" have become staples of the genre because they don’t just rely on heaviness they carry real emotion behind them. Live, that’s impossible to miss.
This being my fourth time shooting Wage War, something felt different this time. The first time you shoot a band, you’re trying to figure everything out. The second time, you’re anticipating moments. By the fourth time, you start appreciating the consistency. Every member knows exactly where they need to be. Every transition feels polished. Every song lands exactly the way it’s supposed to. And that’s not something that happens by accident. It’s the result of years of touring, years of growth, and years of becoming one of the most reliable live bands in heavy music.
The Ritz Was alive. What stood out most wasn’t just the band. It was the crowd. From the first breakdown to the final note, The Ritz was moving. Crowdsurfers flying overhead. Fans screaming every lyric. People throwing every ounce of energy they had back toward the stage. The relationship between Wage War and their audience feels earned. You can tell these songs mean something to people. And when that happens, a concert becomes more than just a performance. It becomes an experience shared by everyone in the room. As a photographer, shows like this are why I keep coming back. The lighting. The movement. The emotion.
Everywhere you pointed the camera, there was something happening. A vocalist screaming into the lights. A guitarist launching into the air. A fan screaming lyrics with everything they’ve got. The challenge isn’t finding moments. It’s deciding which moments to capture.
Wage War reminded everyone why they’ve become one of the biggest names in modern metalcore. Four times behind the lens. Four times watching them command a room. And somehow, it never gets old. Because when Wage War comes through Raleigh, one thing is almost guaranteed: the Ritz is going to shake. And this night was no exception.
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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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