hexed strikes again
Hexed Miami truly outdid themselves with their second annual World Goth Day celebration on May 17 & 18, 2025, proving once again why they reign as South Florida’s top gothic event organizers. Talent for the weekend was curated by Shirl Legion, whose keen eye for dark, dynamic acts helped shape a lineup that resonated deeply with the gothic community. This two-day darkwave dream was a masterclass in curating live performances, from Chile’s Diavol Strain to standout South Florida acts such as Obsidian and Life in Sodom, offering an immersive weekend steeped in gothic rock, post-punk, and the relentless, mechanical pulse of industrial sound. The afterparties surged into the early hours, driven by the dark sound of DJ Dino, DJ VamPoison, and DJ Heathen, plus eerie vendors, photo ops, and a tight-knit community, The event delivered more than music, it summoned a full-fledged celebration of goth culture that won’t soon be forgotten.
the night reigned supreme
world goth day
From the moment the doors opened at Bar Nancy, the atmosphere was drenched in dark elegance and a palpable sense of gothic enchantment. Hexed Miami flawlessly blended international talent with homegrown artistry, creating a lineup that celebrated every shade of the gothic spectrum. Guiding the night with wit, style, and unapologetic goth flair was the magnetic host Day, whose presence tied the entire experience together. With every introduction and interaction, Day kept the crowd engaged, energized, and steeped in the spirit of the scene. The crowd, a stunning mix of seasoned night creatures and new initiates, came dressed to kill, proving that style and spirit are alive and thriving in the South Florida goth scene. Enhanced by haunting visuals from Pagan Films, backed by sponsors like Freak House, ZZ Bookings and Jolt Radio, and fueled by a sense of unity that echoed through every bassline and fog-drenched corner, World Goth Day 2025 wasn’t just an event, it was a powerful declaration of gothic pride.
gothic pride
Diavol Strain
Diavol Strain, the darkwave/deathrock duo from Valparaíso, Chile formed in 2015 by Lau M (bass, vocals) and Ginger Blue (guitar, backing vocals) graced the stage in South Florida, marking their Miami debut with a night that felt both ceremonial and revolutionary. It also happened to be their 10-year anniversary, a dark milestone in their decade-long crusade through the underground. They emerged in stillness, cloaked in silence, statuesque under blood-red lights then the first beat dropped. What followed was a storm of pure deathrock fury, drenched in overdriven basslines, jagged guitars, and deep-toned vocals that erupted into guttural growls. Visually, they embodied everything their sound promised. Lau M stood at the front with a teased deathrock mane, square patterned tights, and layers of gothic jewelry that shimmered with menace. Ginger Blue moved like a shadow behind her, clad in fishnets and black, adorned with chokers and ritualistic accessories. The duo’s look was fierce, femme, and feral, equal parts punk priestess and gothic warrior, commanding the stage as much with their presence as their sound. Diavol Strain’s sound is thick with tension and beauty, pulling heavily from the darker corridors of European deathrock, where the music feels less like a performance and more like a ceremonial unraveling of the soul. Midway through their set, they offered a shoutout to the goth lesbians in the crowd, and the response was electric. Cheers erupted, hands shot up, and a wave of unfiltered joy surged through the room. It wasn’t just a moment of acknowledgment; it was a celebration of identity, solidarity, and shared space on the dancefloor of the undead. Their performance wasn’t just a set, it was a visceral, gothic rite that had the crowd completely entranced.
pure deathrock fury
sneak peek
A Glimpse into Their Dark Realm
Obsidian
Obsidian returned to the Hexed Miami stage with the kind of thunderous magnetism only they can conjure, delivering yet another unforgettable performance. As Obsidian prepared to take the stage, the crowd began to gather, quickly filling the space in front of the stage. Fans moved in with excitement, ready to move, dance, and get lost in the rhythm of their sound. Leading the charge was frontperson Missy Mortis, enigmatic as ever, draped in a pale trench coat, their towering deathhawk slicing through the stage lights like a blade. This time Missy Mortis took the performance beyond the stage, stepping down into the crowd, microphone in hand., shattering the barrier between artist and audience. Their voice, equal parts ghost and flame, wrapped around every lyric, pulling fans deeper into the Obsidian ritual. Behind Missy, the band summoned an unrelenting storm. Danny Drums, in black shades and a backwards cap, unleashed seismic rhythms from behind the kit, his all-black fit catching flashes of red light with each pounding beat. Ryan Rivas loomed stage left, sharply dressed in black, commanded the low end with thick, driving bass that echoed through the venue like a heartbeat in the dark. In contrast, Kathy D, wrapped in gothic glam, leather, mesh, and a commanding presence, stood at her synth altar weaving shimmering, otherworldly textures through the air. Obsidian’s performance wasn’t just music, it was communion. Their collective aesthetic, dark, defiant, and utterly magnetic, was in perfect harmony with the storm they conjured onstage. With every echoing note and every step into the crowd, they blurred the line between performance and ritual. It was evident from the crowd’s roars and thunderous applause that Obsidian had once again bewitched their audience.
baptized in gothic sound
sneak peek
A Glimpse into Their Dark Realm
Miss FD
A true mistress of dark electronica, she transformed the stage into her own altar, one pulsing with ethereal energy and decadent atmosphere. Draped in an intricately laced black corset dress that fused romantic gothic elegance with dark fantasy drama, Miss FD embodied the aesthetic heartbeat of the night. Her look was a visual feast: raven-black boots laced to the knee, delicate gloves with dangling lace fabric that cascaded down her arms like wisps of shadow, and a statement necklace that shimmered like a talisman under violet stage lights. Her dress, tiered, asymmetrical, and corseted with ribbon lacing at the sides, flowed like a sentient shadow, swaying with her every movement. Vocally, Miss FD is a shapeshifter. Her voice danced between whisper-soft incantations and fierce, commanding declarations. Her tonal range carried the crowd through misty dreamscapes and industrial battlefields alike, each note drenched in emotional gravity. She moved with subtle, hypnotic grace in front of her microphone, her voice floated between breathy, ethereal passages and rich, commanding mid-tones, drawing the audience deeper into her sonic world. In moments of intensity, she leans into the darker textures of her voice, delivering lines with a sharp, almost incantatory quality that enhances the gothic and theatrical nature of her music. Her ability to both command the stage and stay connected with the crowd showcased the depth of her presence as a performer. As the first performer of the night, Miss FD set the tone with poise and precision, casting the opening spell that ushered the audience into the evening’s dark embrace. With every note and movement, she proved herself the perfect catalyst for the night’s plunge into gothic euphoria.
gothic elegance
sneak peek
A Glimpse into Their Dark Realm
Feyleux
Feyleux may be a relatively new force in the dark alternative scene, but their performance on day two at World Goth Day Miami proved they are already masters of their own nocturnal domain. Formed in mid-2023, this duo merges lush dreampop textures with driving darkwave rhythms, creating a sound that is both haunting and hypnotic. Comprised of Laurie Ruroden (lead vocals) and Erica Gilstrap (guitar, keyboard, vocals) Feyleux’s live presence is as visually striking as it is musically entrancing. Laurie Ruroden commanded the mic with magnetic intensity. Her voice floated and flared, shifting from dreamy, breathy passages to mid-tone belts. And she doesn’t just sing, she embodies the sound. Laurie danced from start to finish, utterly animated, with expressive gestures, deep sways, and a visceral connection to the music. Erica Gilstrap brought equal energy to the stage, wielding both guitar and synths with wild elegance. She was playful with Laurie throughout the set, trading glances, leaning into shared moments of chaotic delight. At one point, Erica raised her guitar high above her head mid-riff, shredding through the air like a darkwave Joan Jett in communion with the night. Her sound shimmered between clean, chorus-laced dream tones and punchy, distorted riffs that gave weight to Feyleux’s ethereal side. Between songs, Laurie took a moment to express their love for the city. “We love Miami!” she exclaimed, beaming with gratitude. The crowd erupted in response, returning the sentiment with thunderous applause. The entire set struck a rare and powerful balance, intimate enough to feel personal, yet electrifying enough to shake the walls. Feyleux didn’t just perform; they conjured a world of sound, style, and emotion that lingered long after the final note.
haunting & hypnotic
sneak peek
A Glimpse into Their Dark Realm
Retractor
When Retractor stormed the stage on the second night of Hexed Miami’s World Goth Day gathering, the atmosphere inside the venue transformed instantly. The air grew heavier, the lasers cut sharper, and the crowd braced themselves for impact. This wasn’t just a performance, it was an industrial siege. Frontman Milton Sanchez, originally from Puerto Rico and the creative force behind Retractor, emerged cloaked in shadow, his face masked and his body illuminated by piercing LED lights that pulsed from his chest like a mechanical heart ready to detonate. Draped in dark layers and hooded like a futuristic insurgent, his presence was both dystopian and magnetic. The visual paired perfectly with the sound: punishing EBM rhythms, throbbing basslines, and synth-driven warfare that hit the crowd in waves. But it wasn’t just the sonic assault that seized our attention, it was Milton himself. Animated and electrified, he didn’t just command the stage; he became the pulse of it. His movements were pure industrial, sharp, staccato, and charged with kinetic tension. He danced like a machine possessed, lurching, stomping, and swaying with calculated intensity, embodying every beat as if the music were being transmitted directly into his circuitry. The crowd responded in kind, moving, stomping, surrendering. As someone with a deep love for industrial music and the catharsis of dancing to it, Retractor hit all the right nerves. The pounding beats, serrated synths, and militant energy took over my body completely, I wasn’t just watching the show; I was inside it. Retractor delivered everything I crave: unrelenting force, layered synths, and that irresistible drive that pulls you straight to the dancefloor. Their set was a punishing and precise blend of industrial power and electrified EBM assault, harsh, hypnotic, and steeped in the spirit of underground electro warfare. As the second act of the night, they elevated the energy and lit a fire that never went out.
one man's war
sneak peek
A Glimpse into Their Dark Realm
Life in Sodom
It was still light out… so sadly, we missed Life in Sodom’s set. Vampire problems. Tragic? Maybe. But in a twist of gothic serendipity, we won a raffel and got our claws on their album Fate, a band t-shirt, and a pin. Coincidence? No. This was clearly the universe whispering, “You missed the show, but you were meant to hear this.” And so, what follows is not a live performance review, but something perhaps more intimate: a sonic communion with Fate, an album that speaks volumes even without the visuals. Life in Sodom, currently composed of vocalist Gerrie Brand, Danny Heinze, vocalist Virginia Fuillerat, bassist Billy Nightmare, and drummer Dino Rio, isn’t just a band. They’re a haunting, long-burning flame within the South Florida goth and art scene. Gerrie Brand, the founder and poetic core of the group, has shaped their identity since 1990 when Life in Sodom first rose from the fog. Listening to Fate feels like stepping into a candlelit cathedral built of synth, sorrow, and shadow. Brand’s voice is deep and deliberate, carrying the weight of every lyric like a dark confession. Fuillerat’s vocals add a spectral softness, drifting through the songs like a mourning waltz. It’s the kind of record that lingers long after the final note, an elegant meditation on mortality, desire, and the delicate illusion of control. Fate doesn’t just ask you to listen; it invites you to feel your own fragility, one beautifully haunted track at a time.
a sonic communion
sneak peek
A Glimpse into Their Dark Realm
Communal Vibes
As the final live act stepped offstage and the amplifiers faded into a haze of echo and electricity, Hexed Miami’s World Goth Day celebration proved that its heartbeat wasn’t confined to the stage alone. The DJs were the lifeblood between acts, keeping the night alive, the crowd moving, and the dancefloor pulsing with unholy rhythm from the first band’s final note to the last breath of the afterparty. On Day One, DJ Dino and DJ VamPoison took turns behind the decks, creating an atmosphere that was equal parts euphoric and ethereal. DJ Dino, a Cuban-American born and raised in Miami and a cornerstone of the city’s goth and synth scene since the mid-1980s, delivered an impeccable blend of new wave, synthpop, minimal synth, and dark electro. Every beat felt like a bridge between memory and momentum that honored the old while igniting the new. DJ VamPoison, a deathrocker and goth archaeologist based in North Carolina, brought her fierce energy and razor-sharp selections to the floor. With her iconic deathhawk and a deep reverence for the underground, she unearthed tracks, which fused gritty deathrock, dark punk, and shadowy anthems. There was something ceremonial in her transitions like she was digging through the ruins of sound to unearth the perfect track. Her set didn’t just keep the crowd moving; it stirred something ancestral. Together, Dino and VamPoison made sure the energy never dipped between bands and ensured the afterparty roared until the final flicker of light. On Day Two, DJ Heathen took the reins and led us through a storm of post-punk, goth, darkwave, and industrial. A veteran of Florida’s underground scene and known for championing the lesser-played and underground gems, Heathen’s set was raw, unrelenting, and magnetic. Between live performances and long after the last band left the stage, Heathen kept the room alive with a relentless rhythm that wrapped around the crowd like a velvet noose. Throughout the weekend, these DJs did more than fill space, they kept the night alive, fueling the dancefloor between sets and resurrecting it during the afterparties. They took us way back and reeled us into the now. It was the perfect fusion of nostalgia and new memories. It was an unforgettable journey through sound. Hexed Miami never disappoints, each event a dark spectacle you won’t want to miss. Keep your eyes peeled for their next gathering… the shadows are always stirring.
pulsing dancefloor
dark thoughts
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