I was invited to photograph and review a hardcore metal show for the first time in my life, and it awakened, validate and healed the rage inside my broken heart!

Cavalera Conspiracy returned to Las Vegas on March 29 for their “Third World Trilogy Tour” at Backstage Bar and Billiards, bringing an electrifying lineup with them. Necrot and Dead Heat joined the bill alongside three powerhouse Vegas locals: Haddonfield, Madzilla, and Body of Filth. The night kicked off with raw, high-octane performances from the hometown bands, setting the tone for a cathartic, head-banging experience. My heart pounded in anticipation.

And what better timing to do my first shoot than after dealing with a brutal breakup with a deceitful ex. My blood was boiling. I craved the dark, aggressive energy, the screamo, the chaos, the mosh pits. I wanted music that mirrored the betrayal I felt.

The night started with me crying in the car at 6:30 p.m., making sure I had all my camera gear packed. I felt like it was the first day of school, except with a heart shattered and bleeding. I nearly missed several freeway exits. When I finally reached downtown Fremont, a guy in a truck tried to snag my hard-won parking spot in front of La Mona restaurant. I was fuming, but I politely explained I was photographing the show. He let me take the spot, thankfully, I didn’t want to end up seeing him in the pit. (Kidding. Kind of.)

I quickly grabbed my gear and walked through the nice, warm evening air. I took in the stunning parade of fashion: goths, emos, punks, studded belts, and heavy eyeliner. I knew I was headed through the right direction, at the corner of Backstage Bar and Billiards. The Vegas Fremont lights looked stunning as the sun went down, casting a warm glow over 6th Street. I felt like I was in a gritty and glamorous music video—fittingly so, since people were shooting a movie right behind me.

As I walked towards Billiards, I secured my wristband, and the show officially began. I felt like I had just stepped into the ultimate metal experience. The venue was alive with energy. Merch booths lined the space, the bar was buzzing and the crowd was a visual spectacle. Fans had come from all over—California, Spain, and right here in Vegas—united by their love for metal.

Haddonfield was up first. Named after the slasher town in “Halloween,” the local Las Vegas band is known for their explosive mix of thrash and groove metal. Their music is fast, aggressive and filled with an infectious energy that makes them stand out in the local scene. Haddonfield’s music reflects a similar sense of chaos and intensity. Their sound is marked by hard-hitting drums, fast guitar work, and vocals that deliver the punch to match their raw, relentless style. As one of the opening bands at the “Third World Trilogy Tour,” they proved that Las Vegas is home to some truly impressive up-and-coming metal talent. Fans in the crowd shared their excitement, with John Kelley from Vegas exclaiming, “Haddonfield’s bass player kicks ass!” Another fan, Brad, praised the band, saying, “My friend’s band is really good and musically talented with a great guitarist.” They were a killer start.

Madzilla followed, another Vegas local gem, bringing a mix of thrash, groove, and metalcore influences, and they absolutely dominated the stage. Seeing a woman shredding on stage alongside three guys was exhilarating. She headbanged like a warrior. The chemistry between guitarist and bassist was wild—lightning-fast fingers, perfect sync.

Their performances were characterized by a balance of heaviness and melody, with a stage presence that draws in the crowd. “I’m just here to support a friend playing with Madzilla. I love their music, and I’m super proud of them.” Tod from Vegas said. One of my standout favorites was bassist Daniel Gortaire, whose studded collar leather jacket and wild facial expressions added to the band’s electrifying presence. He shared his deep connection to the venue, saying, “We have been playing together for years. It’s one of our favorite spots to play at. It’s where local Vegas rock lives.” The crowd erupted with enthusiasm, fully immersed in Madzilla’s powerful performance, they were captivating and owned that stage.

Body of Filth was up next. Their sound was guttural, haunting, and deeply emotional. And damn, their anger—deep. They had to get on and off stage fast to keep the schedule tight, and you could feel the tension from the sidelines. The angry glares, were truly epic. And exactly the type of rage I needed to see. Plus: a mosh pit with pool noodles? Yes, you read that right. I nearly dove in if not for my camera gear. I swear I also randomly saw a Howard Wolowitz’s doppelgänger in the mosh pit from “The Big Bang Theory,” but maybe it was just the cigarette smoke in the air messing with my head.

Body of Filth were seriously an immersive experience that pulled listeners into their world of chaos and darkness. The lead singer, Michael Fundip, unleashed some of the deepest growls I’ve ever heard in my life—like a scream from the underworld. His voice was so raw and hauntingly deep that it made you feel every ounce of emotion behind the music. Definitely a “Fun Dip” of ferocity and passion! I could not believe how the he managed to sustain such powerful vocals throughout the set. His deep growls were absolutely intense. It was both terrifying and beautiful. Ferocious and healing. Their attitude and passion was truly intense and powerful—plus the pool noodles, a great balance.

Then came Dead Heat, straight out of Los Angeles, and their set was a giant “hawk-tuh” and middle finger to anyone who ever broke your heart. Their thrash and hardcore punk fusion hit me right in the soul. Dead Heat brings a ferocious intensity to the stage, making their live shows a chaotic, cathartic experience.

After the show, they shared gratitude on Instagram for Cavalera and Necrot: “words can’t express but a very big thank you to Cavalera Conspiracy for taking us out with them and letting us have such a great time on this tour. And as always, it was a blast to tour with our brothers in Necrot! Thank you to everyone who came out or showed us support on this run! Until the next one in May.” That genuine gratitude and fierce camaraderie came through on stage, and fans of fast, furious music flocked to their set, fully embracing the mayhem.

Necrot, hailing from Oakland, CA, is a staple of the modern death metal scene. These three men sounded like raw angels—their aggression and heaviness reflective of old-school death metal.

Since forming in 2011, Necrot has been known for its intense live shows and brutal music. Their lyrics often deal with themes of mortality and the macabre, underscored by punishing guitar riffs and thunderous drums. With their recent album, Lifeless Birth, Necrot continues to build on their reputation, and their performance at the “Third World Trilogy Tour” was an unforgettable display of death metal mastery. Their head-banging and hair was by far the best I’ve ever seen, and their rustic look was solid and intense!

After the show Nectrot band members, Dead Heat and Cavalera took a picture together and said, “Thanks to the Cavalera family and everyone who came to the shows, bought a shirt, sweat in the pit and had a great time with us. Always great to be on the road with our friends.”

And finally, Cavalera Conspiracy.

As the clock struck closer to midnight, the legendary Cavalera Conspiracy took the stage, and the energy in the room transformed into pure, primal adrenaline. It wasn’t just a performance—it was a resurrection.

Max and Igor, the iconic Brazilian brothers who originally co-founded Sepultura, brought decades of thrash and groove metal history roaring back to life. The crowd surged forward, fists in the air, sweat flying and hair whipping in a frenzy of movement. I felt like I was witnessing the gods of metal themselves deliver salvation through sound. The crowd knew every lyric, screamed every riff, and felt every pulse of the double bass drum. For me, this wasn’t just music—it was medicine. Fans were left speechless and exhilarated by the show’s raw energy and emotional power.

“That was one of the most intense sets I’ve ever seen,” said a fan named Rosa, who traveled from San Diego. Another concertgoer, Marcus, added, “Cavalera doesn’t just perform, they exorcise your demons. I’ve never screamed that hard in my life.” Another showgoer, Tom from Las Vegas, said, “I love Cavalera because of the dynamics, the vintage vibes, and the memories.”

Their sound mirrored everything I had been holding in: the betrayal, the darkness, the ache. Their music reached into the wreckage of my heart and gave it something to hold onto. It didn’t just soothe the pain—Cavalera transformed it. Everyone walked out feeling a little more alive and less heartbroken than before.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
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