The O2 Institute Birmingham played host to a heavyweight meeting of modern metal minds, as Jinjer, Unprocessed, and Textures rolled into the city for a bill that promised precision, power, and progressive ambition in equal measure.
Spanning three distinct approaches to contemporary heavy music, the night brought together Jinjer’s groove-laden aggression, Unprocessed’ sleek technical modernism, and Textures’ seasoned progressive weight.
Textures
Veteran Dutch progressives Textures approached their set with the confidence of a band fully aware of their legacy—and still capable of making it feel vital. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, their performance at Birmingham’s O2 Institute framed their material as living, breathing compositions, sharpened by time rather than dulled by it.
They opened decisively with Closer to the Unknown, immediately setting a high bar. Dense, angular riffs collided with sweeping melodic passages, the band sounding both muscular and controlled. New Horizons followed seamlessly, expanding the sonic palette while maintaining momentum, before Reaching Home offered a slightly more restrained moment without sacrificing atmosphere.
The mid-set stretch was where Textures truly flexed their progressive instincts. Timeless balanced technicality with emotional weight, while Measuring the Heavens emerged as a clear highlight—epic in scope, surgically tight, and met with a surge of recognition from long-time fans. It was a reminder of just how influential Textures’ approach to modern metal has been.
Late-set tracks Awake and Laments of an Icarus brought a more reflective close. While these moments didn’t hit with the same immediate force as earlier peaks, they added contrast and depth, allowing the set to breathe rather than ending in pure abrasion.
Textures delivered a performance rooted in experience and craft. This wasn’t a maximalist assault, but a carefully paced, mature set that rewarded listeners who stayed engaged with its shifting textures, subtle dynamics, and quiet authority.
Setlist
Closer to The Unknown
New Horizons
Reaching Home
Timeless
Measuring the Heavens
Awake
Laments of an Icarus
Unprocessed
Modern prog outfit Unprocessed arrived with a setlist that left no room for easing in. From the opening moments, this was a performance built on momentum, clarity, and sheer technical authority—yet never at the expense of emotional pull.
They detonated the set with 111 and Sleeping With Ghosts, establishing a ruthless pace straight out of the gate. Both tracks landed with surgical tightness, syncopated riffs snapping into place while the band locked into grooves that felt physical rather than academic. Beyond Heaven’s Gate sustained the intensity, blending melody and weight with a confidence that suggested a band fully in command of its sound.
Mid-set bruisers “Thrash and Glass injected rawer energy, stripping things back just enough to keep the crowd moving without breaking flow. Sacrifice Me and Snowlover then raised the bar again—emotionally charged, expansive, and delivered with a polish that translated impressively in a live setting.
The closing stretch was where Unprocessed truly sealed the deal. Lore acted as a final reset before the one-two punch of Solara and Terrestrial, both of which hit with scale and conviction. These tracks felt less like an ending and more like a statement: modern progressive metal can be immersive, heavy, and heartfelt all at once.
Unprocessed proved they are far more than studio technicians. Their live show is dynamic, emotionally resonant—precision used as a weapon rather than a shield.
Setlist
111
Sleeping With Ghosts
Beyond Heaven’s Gate
Thrash
Glass
Sacrifice Me
Snowlover
Lore
Solara
Terrestrial
Jinjer
Jinjer don’t structure a live set to gently warm an audience—they design it to test stamina, attention, and emotional range. This show was a masterclass in pacing heavy music without ever flattening its dynamics, driven by a setlist that balanced aggression, groove, and moments of genuine vulnerability.
They opened with Duél and Green Serpent, immediately establishing intent: tight, confrontational, and rhythm-forward. Fast Draw kept momentum high, while Vortex and Disclosure! eased slightly into groove-heavy territory without losing bite. Tantrum was a standout early peak—feral, sharp, and met with instant crowd ignition.
Mid-set, Jinjer leaned into their more complex material. Kafka hit with precision and menace, while Judgement (& Punishment)—though still effective—felt slightly restrained compared to its usual explosive reception. Hedonist quickly corrected course, restoring urgency and weight.
The emotional arc arrived with I Speak Astronomy and Perennial, offering contrast rather than catharsis. These quieter moments felt intentionally placed, allowing space before the set’s most powerful stretch. That space paid off. Someone’s Daughter and Rogue were the undeniable high points—devastating in impact and emotionally charged, with Tatiana Shmayluk commanding the room through sheer presence rather than theatrics. The crowd response here was visceral, unified, and loud. The closing run—Pisces and Sit Stay Roll Over—felt almost understated by Jinjer standards, more reflective than explosive, bringing the set to a controlled rather than chaotic conclusion.
This wasn’t a greatest-hits spectacle—it was a deliberately shaped performance that trusted the audience to follow every turn. Jinjer remain one of modern metal’s most disciplined live acts: precise, emotionally intelligent, and utterly uncompromising.
Setlist
Duél 
Green Serpent
Fast Draw
Vortex
Disclosure!
Tantrum
Teacher, Teacher!
Kafka
Judgement (& Punishment)
Hedonist
I Speak Astronomy
Perennial
Someone’s Daughter
Rogue
Pisces
Sit Stay Roll Over
