The Impossibility of Reason
Tonight was one of the hardest shoots I’ve had to endure.
The allotted three-song limit was quickly cut down to half a song as the frantic security in the photo-pit alongside me – had their hands full within seconds of the band hitting the stage. Seconds!
This was akin to a veritable war-zone! Bodies flying everywhere! Three Doc Martin clad headbangers came flying over crashing into the photogs and security before the band had even hit the bridge of the first song and before I could even get my camera settings correct, a stage diver flew right over me, clipping my lens hood as he came crashing into the crowd behind me. Mayhem folks! Mayhem!
For as empty and sparse as the pit was at the Rotting Christ/Dark Funeral gig a couple of weeks ago, is as full and claustrophobic tonight’s was.
There was absolutely no room to move and with Chimaira in absolutely scintillating form (gosh, they were fucking phenomenal tonight!) and a maniacal, rabid crowd who were more like a pack of starving sharks circling a kill – it proved to be an intensely brutal gig. On stage, off-stage, in the pit… everyone got sucked into the blitzkrieg and were spat out the other end in pure Metal ferocity.
Insane! Just insane as the band were in some sorta serious form tonight. Precision like playing and serving song after song in a sublime first-class performance.
Who the fuck knew these guys were this good?
Not me.
So with all the action on offer, as stated, it was a hard gig to shoot. Kicked out of the pit within 90 seconds, I found a spot on the side of the stage and stayed there for the majority of the band’s amazing set where I tried as best as I could to get some shots!
A classic gig!
Phew!
View the complete set over at the Slideshow to the right, or on 
Rad photos dude, really captured the live performance. Especially as you only had half a song to do it!
I know live photography isn’t easy at all.
I’ve been a Chimaira fan since Pass Out Of Existence. Your photos really do them justice.