Infected Rain & Butcher Babies / O2 Institute / Birmingham
Opening tonight I’m hoping we’re in for a real treat. Black Spikes are a Lithuanian modern progressive metal band, who have recently signed with Napalm Records. They recently released the new single Aurea and have an album “Ydos” in the works, due for release in August 2026, exploring the eponymous flaws of humanity interwoven with sophisticated metal with a twist.
They open with Hipnozė and right away you know you’re listening to something new, different and exciting. Sung in Lithuanian, there is a sense of mystery that weaves through each song. It’s alluringly dark and yet captivatingly heavy. Venturing into the gloom at every opportunity. Through the set, they are joined by dancer Gabrielė who adds another layer of mysticism. For one section, she performs under a white sheet, creating eerie and ghost like shapes and patterns with her movements.
Guitarist Yaga is an imposing figure, dressing in black robes and with a fencing-like mask as he delivers some impressive riffs, whilst vocalist Agnieška Vrubliauskienė delivers some incredible vocals, gripping with an impressive range from highs to raw guttural growls.
A newcomer on the UK scene it was great to see how the crowd reacted to them, from initial fascination to complete engagement by the end of the set. A great performance from Black Spikes and a band I’ll be looking out for again !
Setlist
Hipnozė
All Is Taken
Kitas Tu
Sapnai
Jausmus išrašyt
Užkalbėjimai
Ar tiki?
Imperatorė
AUREA
Next up are Butcher Babies from LA fronted by the effervescent Heidi Shepherd, along with Henry Flury (guitar), Ricky Bonazza (bass), and Dave Nickles (drums). They released their debut album “Goliath” in 2013, via Century Media Records. Their forth and most recent album “Eye for an Eye... / ...'Til the World's Blind” came out in 2023.
Butcher Babies are one hell of a live band, who deliver 100% energy every night on stage, and tonight was no different, their impact was immediate and exhilarating. Opening with Backstreets of Tennessee the atmosphere was off the scale. The crowd were having a blast as they jumped and headbanged at the barrier. Heidi is a whirlwind never still for a moment as they romp through Red Thunder and Monsters Ball, and the crowd respond ten fold.
Then Heidi suddenly seems to stop and wander round, looking for something, swearing. She turns to the band ‘it’s gone’ before facing the audience and apologising, ‘Im sorry, we can’t go on, the clock… it’s missing’ before adding ‘does anyone know what time it is?’ The cheers erupt as they launch into It's Killin' Time, Baby!
Amongst the furious material, there’s some more mellow, melodic moments too, such as in Sincerity and Sleeping With the Enemy. But we’re soon returning to the relentless riffs and ferocity, with Heidi jumping down into the pit for Spittin’ Teeth much to the delight of the crowd. Heidi, Henry and Ricky also do a triple jump towards the drum kit, getting some seriously good air !
Ending the set with the magnificent Magnolia Blvd. a fitting set closer if ever there was one. Butcher Babies demonstrated once again, why they are one of the best live metal bands around.
Setlist
Backstreets of Tennessee
Red Thunder
Monsters Ball
Sincerity
Beaver Cage
It's Killin' Time, Baby!
Sleeping With the Enemy
Lost In Your Touch
Black Dove
Spittin' Teeth
Last December
Magnolia Blvd.
A short break to clear, and re-set the stage and it’s time for tonight’s headliners Infected Rain, a Moldovan heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Chișinău. They are currently signed to Napalm Records. Infected Rain are Elena "Lena Scissorhands" Cataraga (vocals), Vadim "Vidick" Ojog (guitars), Eugen Voluta (drums) and Alice Lane (bass).
Their debut “Asylum” came out in 2011, followed by “Embrace Eternity” (2014), “86” (2017), “Endorphin” (2019), “Ecdysis” (2022) and their most recent album “TIME” which came out in 2024.
The crowd roared as Infected Rain stepped out onto the stage, Elena dressed in a long white dress with black leather harness, and her iconic bright orange long dreads, and Vadim resplendent with his blonde dreads. They dive right into Mutation Phase, and the tone is set, the bar raised to it’s highest setting and the amps set to ‘overdrive’ ! Next up are a couple from the “TIME” album THE ANSWER IS YOU and DYING LIGHT delivering monstrous riffs and intricate melodies. Their sound is heavy, with an industrial edge, but also melodic and soft in places, utilising the full range of Elena’s vocal skills.
Elena and Vadim are an impressive sight visually as they flick their hair high. Elena’s stage persona is mesmerising, oscillating between innocent vulnerability and raging, brutal anger. The Realm of Chaos from 2022’s “Ecdysis”was a real highlight and saw Butcher Babies Heide Shepherd join Elena on stage to deliver some insanely good dual vocals, deep and utteral, it’s a monster of a track. It’s followed by PANDEMONIUMfrom the latest album, that has a groovier feel to it, almost symphonic metal in places. Top top stuff !
As the set draws to a close, we enjoy BECAUSE I LET YOU a powerful song about relationships with some insightful lyrics like ‘A curse that brings happiness and sorrow… A light that shines today but fades tomorrow’. The set ends with Judgemental Trap taken from their 2011 debut album “Asylum”. It opens with a deep and dirty bassline before Elena roars into action and Vadim rips out some brutal and aggressive riffs. It’s raw and emotional and has the crowd enthralled.
Infected rain were, once again sensational tonight, delivering a fierce and intense night of metal, ably supported by Butcher Babies, and the impressive Black Spikes.
We want more !
Setlist
Mutation Phase
THE ANSWER IS YOU
DYING LIGHT
Fighter
Orphan Soul
Black Gold
Stranger
The Realm of Chaos (with Heidi Shepherd)
Ut Supra
PANDEMONIUM
NEVER TO RETURN
BECAUSE I LET YOU
Judgemental Trap
