CAVALERA - Dallas, tx - 10/18/2025
Written and photographed by lua white - IG @luasphotos
Pictured: MAX CAVALERA (LEFT), Travis Stone (RIght) - Photographed by Lua White
As a relative outsider, the first thing that strikes me about the heavy metal community is just that- community. Looking out into the energetic sea of bodies that packed Ferris Wheelers last night, I saw enthusiastic fans of every age and walk of life, all united in celebration of the brilliant and forceful Chaos A.D. Given that the album originally hit the shelves in 1993, it was my expectation that most of the show’s attendees would be those who experienced the height of thrash metal firsthand, but I was delighted to find that many of the most fervent headbangers were school aged children; eager recipients of the seemingly eternal torch that is the metalhead identity. In an age of trends that fade out as quickly as they appear, it’s clear that metal fans continue to remain steadfastly loyal to the music that they love- steady pillars in a sea of ephemeral and ever-changing modern subculture.
Pictured: Fans at Gathered at the barrier enjoying the show at Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ in Dallas, TX. Photographed by Lua White
It doesn’t take a connoisseur of the genre to recognize the beauty in that image; though as the night went on, I found myself deeply engaged not only by the electric energy of the fans, but by the songs themselves. Upon watching Cavalera’s set, a newcomer might never assume that many of these songs have been routinely performed for over three decades. Each vocal line, riff, and drum hit was delivered with a freshness and tenacity that made one fact abundantly clear: this is a band that approaches their material with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment to excellence whether it be the first or thousandth performance of a song.
Pictured: Igor Amadeus Cavalera (Left), MAX Cavalera (right). Photographed by Lua white
The moment that the pummeling drumbeat of “Refuse/Resist” rolled out across the lawn at Ferris Wheelers, the air came alive with the sort of electric energy that can only be felt when in the presence of musical greatness. There’s a reason why the Cavalera brothers have maintained such revered status among fans and peers alike- every note was administered with such brutality and precision that it was impossible not to join in the spirited movement of the crowd. Siblings Max and Igor weren’t the only members which commanded attention, however. Bassist Igor Amadeus Cavalera and guitarist Travis Stone held equal dominion over the stage, wielding their instruments with such accuracy and zeal that I found myself frequently lamenting the fact that I had to pull my camera away from any one artist in order to capture the next.
Coming away from the experience, I not only hold a new appreciation for the camaraderie and atmosphere that surrounds the metal genre, but for the music itself; and for Max and Igor Cavalera’s brilliant work in both Cavalera and its predecessor, Sepultura. As I write out the last of my thoughts, the space around me is once again filled with the brutal soundscape of Chaos A.D., though this time, it is the result of my request to borrow my metal-enthusiast husband’s timeworn copy of the record. Though I claim no authority on the subject of heavy music, you don’t have to be a seasoned metalhead to know when you’ve witnessed an incredible performance, and what I witnessed last night was just that. And, who knows- after the interest that this record has sparked in me, the next time a Cavalera show comes through Dallas, you may even catch me at the barricade instead of the photo pit.
Pictured: fans cheering on cavalera. Photographed by lua white
Lorna Shore’s Dallas Inferno: A Night of Extremity, Emotion, and Evolution
When Lorna Shore rolled through Dallas on October 4th, 2025, the walls of the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory barely held together under the weight of the I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me tour. The bill — featuring The Black Dahlia Murder, Shadow of Intent, and Peeling Flesh — delivered not just a night of metal mayhem, but an unforgettable fusion of technical mastery, raw emotion, and the kind of crowd energy that defines a generation of heavy music.
Live at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX – October 4, 2025
Featuring The Black Dahlia Murder, Shadow of Intent, and Peeling Flesh
Written by Crystal Chism| Photos by Crystal Chism - IG: @fixated_media
|EDITOR| Erik Garcia
When Lorna Shore rolled through Dallas on October 4th, 2025, the walls of the Pavilion at
Toyota Music Factory barely held together under the weight of the I Feel the Everblack
Festering Within Me tour. The bill — featuring The Black Dahlia Murder, Shadow of Intent,
and Peeling Flesh — delivered not just a night of metal mayhem, but an unforgettable fusion of
technical mastery, raw emotion, and the kind of crowd energy that defines a generation of heavy
music.
PeelingFlesh: Brutality Without Borders
Local fans who showed up early got exactly what they wanted — unfiltered aggression. PeelingFlesh, the Oklahoma-based death-slam outfit, kicked off the night with an unrelenting barrage that set the tone immediately.
Their setlist pulled heavily from PF Radio 2, including the fan-favorite “D.V.P.B.”, a low-end monster that had the first pit of the night raging within minutes.
Between frontman Damonteal Harris gutturals and the band’s relentless tempo, PeelingFlesh made sure no one would forget the opener’s name.
Shadow of Intent: When Adversity Becomes Art
Next up was Shadow of Intent, but the set came with a twist: vocalist Ben Duerr was absent,
he had to rush to be with his wife who was expecting their newborn baby.(Which we want to
congratulate them on their new baby here at heavy havoc) Rather than pull out, the band made
the bold choice to go on with bassist Andrew Monias taking over on vocals. And he delivered.
From the thunderous song “Flying the Black Flag” to the sweeping melodies of “The Heretic
Prevails,” Monias’s performance carried an emotional gravity that resonated with everyone in
the venue.
The Black Dahlia Murder: Death Metal Royalty, Reign Intact
The Black Dahlia Murder’s set was pure controlled chaos. With Brian Eschbach commanding
the mic and the band’s razor-sharp technicality on full display, their performance was a
masterclass in American death metal.
They tore through a blistering set that included “Statutory Ape,” “What a Horrible Night to
Have a Curse,” and “Nightbringers.” Each track landed like a precision strike, and the pit
responded with feral energy.
The Michigan legends remain one of the tightest live acts in metal today.a mix of precision, brutality, and showmanship that only comes from decades of experience.
Lorna Shore: Majesty Meets Mortality
When Lorna Shore finally took the stage, the atmosphere shifted. The lights dimmed, a haunting orchestral intro swelled, and the crowd erupted as Will Ramos emerged from behind a dropped curtain.
The band’s setlist leaned heavily on material from Pain Remains — including “Sun//Eater,” “Cursed to Die,” and the emotional trilogy “Pain Remains I–III.” Each song bled seamlessly into the next, transforming the performance into something more like a ritual than a concert.
Touring their fifth studio album, I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me, dropped on September 12, 2025 via Century Media Records, marking the band’s first full-length follow-up since Pain Remains (2022). Produced by Josh Schroeder with Adam De Micco heavily involved, the album pushes their sound
further into symphonic deathcore territory, balancing crushing brutality with sweeping orchestration and
deeply personal lyrical themes. Tracks like “Oblivion,” “Unbreakable,” and the haunting single “Glenwood” showcase this blend: technical riffing, atmospheric synths/orchestration, and vocals that shift from guttural rage to emotional vulnerability.
Ramos previously spoke of the new track “Glenwood”:
**“My only hope is that when people hear ‘Glenwood,’ they think about their own lives and the
people they’ve pushed away and ask themselves: ‘Is it really worth being upset for this long?’ I believe all we really want is to go back to that special place — a place where nostalgia triumphs over trauma; a place that we can call home.”**
This night at The Pavillion in Dallas the air was electric, the pit was brutal and even in one unforgettable moment of the night a wall of death erupted in one seismic collision. It wasn’t violence for its own sake; it was communion through chaos. For a few wild seconds, every person in that pit was part of something bigger-a shared surrender to sound and emotion that perfectly embodied Lorna Shore’s power.
Setlist Highlights – Lorna Shore (Dallas, TX 10/4/25)
1. Sun//Eater
2. Cursed to Die
3. Glenwood (new song debut)
4. To the Hellfire
5. Pain Remains I–III
A Communion of Chaos
By the end of the night, the Pavilion felt transformed. The pits had subsided, the lights rose, and hundreds of sweat-soaked fans lingered — not wanting to let go.
This wasn’t just another deathcore show; it was an act of collective catharsis.
Lorna Shore’s Dallas stop captured everything modern extreme metal has become: grand,
emotional, technically fearless, and utterly human. Between Peeling Flesh’s unfiltered rage,
Shadow of Intent’s resilience, Black Dahlia’s veteran precision, and Lorna Shore’s transcendent
storytelling, this tour has proven to be one of 2025’s defining heavy moments.
Of Jupiter New Single "Alien" OUT NOW!
Of Jupiter: A New Chapter Begins with "Alien"
Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jun and Xavier from Of Jupiter to talk about their powerful new single, "Alien."
We dove into everything from the song's intricate guitar work and personal lyrical inspirations to the creative chaos behind the music video.
Jun and Xavier shared how a show with Resilia and Hyperbolic sparked the early ideas for "Alien," blending proggy, dancey vibes with emotional storytelling about personal transformation.
We discussed the deep meaning behind lines like "Cycles of bloom embrace new skin becoming alien," and how the band’s own rebirth parallels the song’s themes of growth and evolution.
"Alien" isn’t just a single — it’s a glimpse into the exciting new era for Of Jupiter, and if Jun's hints are anything to go by, fans should buckle up for a dynamic, unpredictable ride when the full EP drops.
Let's get into it.
Thank you for your time today and I wanted to introduce the people to Of Jupiter
Jun and Xavier join us today to discuss Of Jupiters newest single “Alien”.
Let’s get into it.
Erik: I wanted to point out the fantastic guitar work on this track.
Can you tell me what some of your influences were when writing guitar parts? And if lyrics come first or the music comes first.
Jun: Excellent guitar work indeed! For this one I'll have to hand it over to my guitar player Xavier since he mainly led the direction for this song
Xavier: We were about a month out after our show with Resilia and Hyperbolic when we first started jamming this song, so I was inspired to try to write closer to that style. Specifically Hyperbolic had some wild proggy/dance-y vibes which is what really inspired the verse riff. I just remember showing up to the practice space that day and just knowing I wanted to replicate that vibe, so we wrote half of the song in like 2-3 hours.
Jun: Definitely! I think that show specifically was pretty inspiring for the whole band. It was my first show with the band so after that rush I was itching to get to writing. Since I was new to the band I kinda let them flesh out the song into a workable version and the next time I joined them at the practice space the lyrics came pretty fast. All the guys are machines when it comes to songwriting. I typically just let them do their thing and get structures down before I start writing lyrics
Erik: Alien” delves into themes of transformation and self-discovery.
Can you share the personal or artistic experiences that inspired this song?
Jun: I think for this song specifically I wanted to pull into something deeply personal but also write stuff that could be understood on a wider level too. I think personal growth is something we should constantly try to pursue as people and definitely something I try to work towards as I get older. All the negatives, positives, and experiences of any kind should all help guide you to a better you, so to speak
Erik: The phrase “Cycles of bloom embrace new skin becoming alien” is particularly evocative.
How does this line encapsulate the song’s message about personal growth and change?
Jun: One of my personal favorites from the track so that's a good pick haha.
Life can be very cyclical in regards to personal change. We tend to make the same mistakes over and over again before we eventually will reach that point where we finally can, or are willing to, learn from these mistakes or downfalls. I think that line is born from the idea that fully embracing what you've learned and taking a conscious leap into growth will ultimately bring you to the "new you" It's always conscious
Erik: The lyrics mention “writing this book of mine” and “writing my page.”
How does storytelling or personal narrative play a role in your songwriting process?
Jun: I think it may be cliché but I definitely view life as a book sometimes haha. There's obvious chapters and different stages of our life. One thing I find interesting is that, from my perspective, we are always our own writers of the story. Much of life is things that we can't control but I think the beauty is how we use those experiences to shape out the person and life we want
Erik: “Alien” features a blend of math rock-esque dynamic shifts with definite tasteful “swancore” influences.
What was your approach to the song’s production, and how did it enhance the lyrical themes?
Jun: Definitely another one for Xavier here. I'll let him take it.
Xavier: When we recorded the EP we weren’t sure if we would be playing as a 4 or 5 piece (we usually like to write with two guitars, but we didn’t have a bassist at the time), so it was kind of a challenge deciding how musically dense the recording would be. If we had written with two guitars definitively in mind it probably would sound more Swancore than intended. I think the current production luckily gives the vocals plenty of room to breathe and harmonize.
Jun: Yeah and to touch on the production I think being a producer myself I'm always writing with production in mind as well. If the song has room for loads of vocal harmonies and effects that will give it a better sense of space and immersion I'm always gonna chase that! Shoutout Cody Casillas from Black Oil Recordings for understanding and nailing the vision I had in my head!
Erik: The music video is a fun group “alien” themed laser tag outing.
Can you discuss the creative vision behind the video and how it ties into the song’s narrative?
Xavier: It’s fun on a surface level because it’s just a bunch of Aliens™️ shooting each other on an alien planet. But I think the conflict in the video does kind of speak to the sense of inner turmoil one might feel when breaking out of their old self. Laser tag is also cheap
Erik: The song touches on feelings of isolation and rebirth.
How do these themes reflect your personal journey or the band’s evolution?
Jun: I think rebirth is a great way to put it! It's my first venture with fully fronting a band so it's a lot of . But I also came in at a time of rebirth for the band. With the new lineup and all that stuff going on it was only natural that my writing also touched on that as well. A lot of new territory
Erik: “Alien” seems to mark a new chapter for Of Jupiter.
How does this track fit into your broader artistic vision, and what can fans expect next?
Jun: Well not to give too much away but there's definitely a LOT of variety in the accompanying EP when it comes to sound and songwriting! I would say if you're a fan of Alien be prepared for some surprises and change ups (hopefully good ones haha) It's definitely a new chapter for the band and for myself personally! I hope you guys will follow through with us! (Toooo the endddd) lmao. I had to
Of Jupiter
New Single “Alien” out now.
Live Recap: Southpaw FLHC and Friends Tear Up Haltom Theater (April 10, 2025)
Truth Be Told: Southpaw FLHC and Friends Tear Up Haltom Theater
Words & Photo by Erik Garcia (Owner)
On April 10th, Haltom Theater became the epicenter of raw, unfiltered hardcore as Southpaw FLHC headlined a stacked night featuring Eternal Punishment, Death Rattle TX, Cut Throat, and The Cutthroats from California.
It was a gritty, no-frills show that reminded everyone why we keep showing up — pure connection, heavy energy, and zero pretense.
From the chaos of Southpaw’s set to the diverse sounds of the local support, the night was a celebration of hardcore's beating heart: unity, aggression, and authenticity.
Photographing it was a rush — every mic grab, pit spin, and crowd shout captured the spirit of a scene that's as alive as ever.
Stay tuned for more coverage as Heavy Havoc continues to highlight the bands and nights keeping hardcore loud, real, and unapologetic.
Stay loud. Stay heavy.
— Erik @ Heavy Havoc
TRUTH BE TOLD!
Words & Photo by Erik Garcia (Owner)
On April 10th, Haltom Theater played host to a lowkey but absolutely electric hardcore gig that brought raw energy, sweat, and grit in true DIY fashion. Southpaw FLHC headlined the night alongside a stacked lineup of local bands; Eternal Punishment, Death Rattle TX, Cut Throat and a killer set from California’s own The Cutthroats. It was one of those nights that reminded you why we show up—no frills, no flash, just pure, unfiltered hardcore.
Southpaw’s set was pure chaos—in the best way. With frontman intensity oozing from every lyric and every mic grab, they embodied the essence of what hardcore is all about: connection, aggression, and authenticity. I had a blast photographing the set, trying to keep up with the fury pouring from the stage and the pit.
The local support brought the heat too. Each band added their own flavor to the night, from heavy death metal to the throwback sound of the late 90’s to early 2000’s nu-metal and of course they had the crowd throwing down. It’s that kind of unity that makes these underground shows special. There’s no ego, no barrier between band and fan—just shared energy and love for the scene.
The Cutthroat’s presence was just the right amount of intimidating and thrilling. They brought that Cali aggression with them and turned up the chaos.
Overall, this was one of those shows that leaves you buzzing. From the crowd mic grabs to the spinning kicks, it felt real. Gritty and alive. This is what we’re here for.
Check out one of my favorite shots from the night—Southpaw FLHC in the moment, wild-eyed and unapologetic. Expect more coverage like this as we continue to shine a light on the bands and scenes keeping hardcore loud and alive.
Stay loud. Stay heavy.
— Erik @ Heavy Havoc
