The Rickshaw Theatre didn’t pack the house tonight, yet those who walked in brought energy like a full crowd. Size didn’t matter – passion did. With five intense acts lined up, the evening was set for heat, wild moments, because raw force ruled from start to finish.
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CRUCIFICTION
Crucifiction kicked things off with a tight set that heated up the space fast. Even though the bass player faced away most of the time – making him feel distant – the singer made up for it, sprinting around bare-chested, pumping his arms, pushing every ounce of fire into the crowd. Not exactly a blowout start, still – it sparked motion, primed everyone’s nerves for what came next.
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CELL
Come on – CELL wasted no time turning up the heat. The singer didn’t walk onstage – he exploded onto it, pacing like a caged animal while spraying spit with every snarl. Folks near the front? They were dodging flying droplets during each pause in the chaos.
Funny how messy things got, yet CELL tore into their show like a run through shattered streets. Crazy energy, no warning – just pure fun from start to finish.
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OV SULFUR
The lights faded out while the vibe changed fast – Ov Sulfur hit harder than anything before. Their sound felt huge, dark as burnt stone, like walls collapsing in an old church, mixing sky-high echoes with gut-punch drops. People tuned in right away when they started playing, drawn in without even thinking. Every second pulled you deeper into what they were doing.
Ov Sulfur? Straight-up amazing, no doubt. Their tightness, raw feel, plus massive sound hits so deep you can feel it in your chest. Because they’re coming back to Vancouver in February, mark that date – this is your heads-up: come ready. They aren’t just playing music – they take over.
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DISTANT
If total mayhem ever needed a soundtrack, Distant would be making it. These wild guys from Holland charge the stage like they’re begging for trouble. Their heavy parts explode like bombs, yet the group doesn’t slow down – ever.
Yet what everyone discussed after dark?
That bassist.
Was he like ten feet high or something?
He seemed to hold just a regular bass – yet to those watching, it might’ve been a giant upright. Each step he took made the venue appear smaller, like walls shrinking back. Just being there, he changed how everything sat in the space.
Fueled by raw power and an unstoppable vibe on stage, Distant crushed it – hands down one of the craziest highlights of the evening. The kind of group you’d catch live without hesitation, every single time.
INGESTED
Ingested wrapped up the evening with raw power few bands ever earn. Not just loud but focused, their performance sliced through the crowd – one crushing riff after another, each one heavier than the last. Vocals cut loose like alarms, ripping attention front to back. No flash, no filler, just relentless drive from start to finish.
Yet the part folks won’t forget happened near the middle tune.
Josh Davies climbed on a monitor – suddenly it wobbled, tipping him backward right into the middle of the stage. Not just a slip – a hard fall, sudden and rough. The moment he landed flat, a sharp gasp shot out from his chest, loud enough you might’ve thought it matched the beat. Just for an instant, everyone up front stopped breathing.
Then – no delay – he twisted up, stood again, burst into the tune as if it never stopped. Not a single stop. Zero interruption. Forget waiting; just raw reflex, tough will, yet sharp skill.
It isn’t only about being tough.
That’s frontman reflex.
This is sticking tight to your work.
Ingested didn’t merely close the show hard – they hit with a performance showing precisely why they stand among the most intense acts in brutal metal right now.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The place wasn’t packed, yet that didn’t faze anyone. Fans showed up loud, each act delivered hard-hitting sets, while the Rickshaw kept showing exactly why it’s central to Vancouver’s heavy music vibe.
It was loud.
It was chaotic.
But totally nailed it when the loud stuff kicked in.
Another wild evening over at The Rickshaw.
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