Since their 2014 formation in Melbourne, Florida, Bodysnatcher have been tearing down the music scene with a heavy and consistent stream of fresh deathcore. This hard work has fueled the hunger for their rapidly increasing fan base and propelled me back out to The Conduit for another kickass show.
As I arrived on a chilly December night at The Conduit, a unique, little venue tucked into the corner of a shopping plaza in Winter Park, Florida, I found that parking was scarce. Between all the concertgoers and last-minute Christmas shoppers, it wasn't surprising that it was packed end to end. After all, their sold-out homecoming show was the last chance to catch them on their Vile Winter tour before the group heads overseas to Europe and Australia in early 2025.
Once inside, I found myself shoulder to shoulder, packed in a building that was already bleeding with excitement, ready to tear the place down awaiting a performance that was sure to bring earthquakes to central Florida.
As Bodysnatcher took the stage, the crowd was more than ready to set these plans into motion, with mosh pits and daring acts of stage diving well underway. The band kicked off their intense performance with tracks off their latest EP, Vile Conduct, including "Infested," "Severed," and, later, "Confession." Their set continued with seamless transitions into songs from their older albums, keeping the crowd's energy high and the moshing alive and well. With stray elbows and kicks constantly flying at me, the electrifying performance certainly kept me entertained and my head on a swivel.
Keeping this energy alive throughout the entire night, I walked away from Bodysnatcher’s performance in complete awe. With no barrier to separate me from the crowd, it was exciting to document a show while also nearly losing gear in the process. Although this may scare away some, I appreciated how equally vulnerable and personal this made the show. From risking my life for shots and being able to talk with band members at their merch table to getting memorabilia signed, these touches of personality add a layer of personal connection that don't typically appear at shows in larger venues and stadiums.
After the show, I was able to catch lead singer Kyle Medina for a couple quick questions, like how it felt playing at a smaller venue once again after several years:
"It felt badass! I mean, we play smaller ones on routing shows to tours, but it feels so badass when its one in Florida because nothing is like playing in your home state!"
Following up my first question, I asked if they'd ever be down to play in Daytona Beach (my hometown) at some smaller venues, of course, aside from being total badasses and playing at a festival like Welcome to Rockville: "I would love to, just depends on radius clauses and tours! But we love playing Florida!"
