ZOMBIES, MOSH PITS, AND EARTH-SHAKING BASS DEFINE APOCALYPSE
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY CARLI LIND
Apocalypse always feels like stepping into another world. This year, zombies filled the mosh pits, reached over the barricades to grab people's hands like they were stealing souls, and wandered every corner of the festival grounds. The bass was so powerful you could feel it rumbling through the concrete beneath your feet. The Main Stage production was on another level, anchored by giant zombie eyeballs that actually moved and scanned the crowd, making the entire structure feel alive. Between the massive visuals, towering flames, and chest-rattling low end, it felt less like a music festival and more like being dropped into the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
One of my favorite spots all weekend was the Boombox Art Car. Every time I walked past it, something different was happening. Flow artists spun glowing wands through the air, yo-yo performers drew crowds with impossible tricks, and people constantly stopped to take it all in before racing off to their next set. It became the heartbeat of the festival grounds, a place where the energy never seemed to fade.
As wild as the crowds became, one thing never changed: people genuinely looked out for one another. Everywhere I turned, ravers were trading kandi, Polaroids, glow rings, tiny Pokémon cards attached to bracelets, and all kinds of little gifts that somehow become your favorite festival souvenirs. It was one of the safest, most welcoming crowds I've been part of. If someone needed water, they got it. If someone fell in the pit, everyone stopped to help them up before the music continued. That's the side of rave culture you don't always see online. It's something you have to experience firsthand to truly understand.
The music delivered all weekend long. Peekaboo threw down one of my favorite sets, effortlessly balancing euphoric melodies with earth-shaking bass that seemed to vibrate every inch of the venue. Borgore reminded everyone why he's still a dubstep heavyweight, mixing classic tracks with relentless energy that kept the crowd moving from start to finish. Zomboy unleashed pure chaos in the best possible way, with enormous drops, nonstop headbanging, and one of the loudest crowds of the weekend. S.Y.D. ended up being one of the festival's biggest surprises, transforming the audience into part of the performance by opening mosh pits from both the front and back of the crowd. Then came Subtronics, who paused to pay tribute to Oliver Tree before immediately launching everyone back into complete mayhem.
When the festival ended each night, the party was far from over. It simply moved aboard the Queen Mary. There's something surreal about dancing on a historic ocean liner after spending the day surrounded by zombies and bass music. It's equal parts eerie and unforgettable, making it the perfect setting for an Apocalypse afterparty. Distinct Motive and ALLEYCVT absolutely demolished their sets, and by the end of the night, everyone was drenched in sweat, zombie makeup running down their faces, fishnets torn, and latex sticking to their skin, and nobody cared one bit.
One of my favorite memories actually came after the music stopped. Thousands of ravers began making the walk back across the bridge into Long Beach. Looking back, it resembled an endless trail of glowing ants stretching across the water, except these ants were carrying illuminated totems, LED whips, and glowing goggles. Even after hours of dancing, people were still laughing, swapping stories about their favorite sets, and finding enough energy to keep the weekend alive during the walk home. It was one of those unexpected festival moments that sticks with you just as much as any headline performance.
That's what Apocalypse has always been about for me. Sure, the artists and production are world-class, but it's everything in between that makes the festival special. It's the people, the creativity, the costumes, the overwhelming bass, and somehow an entire weekend spent surrounded by zombies that leaves you feeling completely at home.
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