This was not a night for everyone, the Dive Bar hosted a hardcore metal show and only the most hardcore fans showed up for this unexpected show - we didn’t see the flyer anywhere until the day of, and decided to head down to the Dive bar to cover what was anticipated as an amazing show with CLAUSTROFOBIA from Brazil playing for the first time is the US. But first let’s get to the bands who opened this show...
First up from Ventura County it was the band BONE MAGGOT, a hard rockin metal band who have only been together since 2014. Bone Maggot is very underrated great band, and this was the first time they have played the Dive Bar, hopefully we will see this band again soon!
Bone Maggot photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos
TAIPAN….what an amazing band! Hard, heavy... this band is crazy talented and just a few months ago released a ballad featuring Dianne Van Giersbergen who used to sing for Xandria. Lead singer Michael Black has a killer voice and likes to get down in front with his fans. Taipan is a band that has many special guests throughout their tours and include Chris Poland (Megadeth), Aaron Rossi (Ministry, Ankla), Tony Campos (Soulfly, Static-X), Ahrue Luster (Ill Nino, Terror Universal), Jessie Sanchez (Warbringer, Others), Sergey Lazar (Arkona), Sergey Tabachnikov (Nobody One), Diana van Giersbergen (Xandria) and Andrey Nova (Crimson Blue). Taipan is one of the better metal bands we have seen.
Bone Maggot photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos
Next it was time for the headlining band who hails from Sao Paulo Brazil, CLAUSTROFOBIA. These thrash / metalheads are making their first ever appearance in the States, and it was a pleasure getting a chance to see these guys while they are here. This band to me was the classic Brazillian hard core metal band with bone jarring bass and drums along with some killer guitar. Toss in some growling vocals and you have a metalheads dream band. CLAUSTROFOBIA band has shared the stage with the likes Soulfly, Destruction, In Flames, Brujeria, Napalm Death, Vader, Krisiun, Helmet, Hate Eternal, Ratos de Porão, Paul Di Anno and Sepultura amongst many more. The band is listed as having 4 members but on this night they performed as a trio. CLAUSTROFOBIA is another in the line of great Brazilian metal bands , and make sure to catch Claustrofobia while they are still in the US on tour!
Bone Maggot photos: Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos