All Members of Venezuelan Metal Band Van Der Dijs Die in Devastating Earthquakes

The entire lineup of the young Venezuelan metal band Van Der Dijs perished in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 23. The band members, Manuel Van Der Dijs (vocalist), Gabriel Gomez (guitarist), Xander Hernandez (bassist), and Abraham Poko (drummer), were found dead under the rubble of the building where they rehearsed in the Tanaguarena area of La Guaira, the region hardest hit by the twin quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Van Der Dijs, formed in 2024, had been rapidly gaining recognition in Venezuela's music scene by blending nu-metal, rap-rock, and alternative elements influenced by 1990s and early 2000s bands like Limp Bizkit and Rage Against the Machine. Their breakthrough came after a 2025 festival performance for emerging bands, and just five days before the disaster, they played to a full house, signaling a promising future. Their YouTube videos had thousands of views, and their official Instagram account was growing steadily.

The loss has deeply saddened fans and fellow musicians, including the veteran band Desorden Público, who mourned the death of what they called a major loss to Venezuela's rock scene. Rescue teams recovered the bodies amid the widespread destruction in La Guaira, underscoring the severe human toll of the natural disaster on the country's cultural community.