Last weekend was New England’s riff-heavy showcase, the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival XVII in Worcester, Massachusetts. Several bands brought on-stage devastation for three days (unfortunately, photographer Mark Valentino was only available for two). Contained below the cut, we have a short review of the day as well as dozens of stunning photographs of the bands dominating The Palladium in Worcester.

April 17th, the first day of NEMHF, Phinehas took the stage, a metalcore band from Los Angeles, California. Although the band had a short 20 minute set, they managed to have a great performance. After Phinehas, The Atlas Moth, a sludgy post-metal band from Chicago. Never a disappointment on stage and highly recommended for anyone and everyone to see if they’re ever in your city. Following The Atlas Moth was Fit for an Autopsy, a death metal/deathcore band from New Jersey/Long Island. New vocalist, Joe Badolato is a great replacement for their last vocalist, Nate Johnson.

Next up was Jasta, the Connecticut hard rock/metal side project of Hatebreed‘s Jamey Jasta. Pretty great act to see, even if they aren’t Hatebreed. On Broken Wings, a hardcore band from Boston, was on the schedule after. Killer live band, with nonstop movement from the crowd—perfect reaction for a hardcore setting. Overcast, another metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts who got back together in 2014, was up next. Overcast is Brian Fair (Shadows Fall) first band from 1991, and they brought a pretty serious show. Headlining the upstairs stage was Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids), a hardcore band from Pittsburgh. They released one of the best albums of 2014, I Am King, and even though they play pretty frequently, their sets get more violent every time.

After Code Orange wrapped up, the crowd headed back down to the main stage for the rest of the night, starting with Death Angel, a thrash metal band from the Bay Area in California. As always, a special treat to see live. Following Death Angel was Cavalera Conspiracy, currently Max Cavalera‘s main project after Sepultura and Soulfly. I was never really a fan of the bands that the Cavalera brothers were a part of, but to say “I’ve seen Cavalera Conspiracy” is a pretty cool thing. After that was the almighty The Red Chord, a deathgrind band from Revere, Massachusetts. This was their fourth show back as a band since they played their “last” show at Metal Suckfest in 2011, with the first “reunion” show being at Pump Up The Volume Fest in August 2014. Finally, headlining the first day was the mighty Between the Buried and Me, North Carolina’s number one progressive export. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that their live shows are definitely something to experience and they just get better and better, regardless of whatever musical direction they seem to go.

That about wraps it up, so please enjoy the photos of the first day below!