Richmond, VA – An evening of grindcore, power violence and punk with Virginia Beach’s goregrind outfits Redundant Protoplasm and Kryptcest, Richmond’s underground grindcore band Suppression, Norfolk’s punk rockers BATO and Suffolk’s power violence band Mercy Mission.
It has been over two years since I attended or photographed a show at the Taphouse, the last one being Exhumed with Vitriol, Escuela Grind and Castrator. Since that time, the Taphouse has become a “punk palace”, a spot where local and regional punk and hardcore bands come to play because over the last year or so punk shows have been rare. This could be due to the less than stellar promotion and me not knowing all the area punks.
Kicking off the night was Mercy Mission, the first power violence band I have seen live in some time. They were fast, brutal and short. The lead singer gave the impression that they had more songs to play and abruptly ended the set. There were a number of their fans in the audience and they were quite happy with what they played.
Mercy Mission SETLIST
Trapped Inside
Mind as Prison
P.I.G.S.
Unreasonable Attachment
Especially Heinous
Widespread Bloodshed
I am thinking that I had seen Kryptcest play a show for American Classic Tattoo, but the last one I have is from 2014. In either case, it has been way too long since anyone has thrown down with these guys. They knocked the rust off and kicked ass. It was good to see them live again because in either case it has been way too long.
Kryptcest SETLIST
Smile
Cemetery Pervert
In Dog We Thrust
Bizarre Lust
Perverse Prowler
Coffin Coitus
Morgue Molestor
Casting Couch
Gender Fluid
Gargling Adipocere
Funeral Intimacy
Defleshed By Flies
BATO is the first punk band I have seen live since Leftover Crack last November. What I like about them is they keep it simple, get pissed off and throw down. It does not get much better than that.
BATO SETLIST (incomplete)
Boiling Point
Monotony
Dead End
The Hit
For Redundant Protoplasm, this show was not only the album release show for their latest effort “Torrents of Depravity: An Exercise in Corrupted Deviance”, it also was the start of a short tour with Richmond’s grind legends Suppression where they play the Fuzzy Cactus in Richmond as well. To be expected, the guys came out firing on all cylinders and left only destruction in their wake. Man, I miss these guys!!!!
Redundant Protoplasm SETLIST
High Caloric Dysphagia
Gettin’ a Leg Up
Running, Pissing, Punching
Runaway Systolic Arterial Rupture
Meltdown (Electro Hippies Cover)
Bile Bleve
Lurid Miasma of Mummified Detritus
Street Trash
Grease Trap Aphrodesiac
Malaise of Torment
Emaciatophobia
Intravenous Leptosporosis
Pulling the Womb Over Your Eyes
Forced Ingestion Of Endometrium Abscess Discharge
If your ass wasn’t kicked by the first four bands, Suppression finished the job!!! I haven’t seen them live in twelve years and they still bring the one-two punch. I had a little trouble interpreting the setlist, so I included a photo of it. A lot of people came out just for Suppression and I think everyone got their money’s worth.
The crowd was mostly kids under 21, including a number of ladies and they were ready to mosh!!! It was cool because if someone fell, and quite a few people did (myself included), there were hands out to pull you up. This was incredible night of music, something that doesn’t come very often. This is a show that is still being talked about on Facebook and Instagram. You should have been there.
Show Date: 4.25.2025
