On a lovely Spring Birmingham evening, the O2 Institute2 transformed into a furnace of modern metal, hosting a triple bill that showcased the genre’s evolving identity. From Baltic mysticism to Hollywood-bred ferocity and Moldovan emotional extremity, this was a lineup that didn’t just entertain—it immersed.
Black Spikes
Opening acts often fight for attention; Black Spikes, a female fronted modern metal band hailing from Lithuania, commanded it. Their set unfolded less like a support slot and more like a slow-burner, drawing the early crowd into a dense, almost ceremonial soundscape.
Tracks such as Hipnozė and Užkalbėjimai leaned into brooding intros before erupting into tightly coiled riffs from Karina Dovilė Virbalaitė on Guitar, while Kitas Tu and Sapnai showcased a dynamic interplay between melodic fragility and crushing weight. The Lithuanian lyrics only deepened the sense of mystique—less a barrier, more an added texture that heightened the band’s identity.
Front and centre, the vocal performance of Agni Vrubliauskienė was gripping—shifting from spectral cleans to raw, throat-tearing aggression. By the time Imperatorė surged through the room, the audience had moved from passive observers to active participants. Closing with AUREA, Black Spikes left behind a charged atmosphere that lingered well beyond their final note.
They didn’t just warm up the crowd—they set the tone.
Butcher Babies
Where Black Spikes mesmerised, Butcher Babies detonated. Their arrival was immediate and uncompromising, launching into Backstreets of Tennessee with a level of intensity that snapped the room into full motion.
The band’s hallmark vocal dynamic remained with Heidi Shepherd showing relentless momentum. Red Thunder and Monsters Ball landed like controlled explosions, while It’s Killin’ Time, Baby! triggered one of the night’s first truly chaotic pit surges.
Yet beneath the aggression, there was notable range. Sincerity and Sleeping With the Enemy injected a more melodic, emotionally grounded dimension, giving the set breathing room without sacrificing energy. The inclusion of Black Dove proved particularly compelling—darker, more layered, and suggestive of a band pushing beyond their established blueprint.
Closing stretch highlights Spittin’ Teeth – with Heidi Shepherd jumping and leading a circle pit last December, and Magnolia Blvd. struck a balance between ferocity and reflection, ending on a note that felt both cathartic and triumphant. If there was any doubt, this performance reaffirmed Butcher Babies as seasoned architects of controlled chaos.
Infected Rain
By the time Infected Rain took the stage, the room was primed—but what followed transcended expectation. Their set was an emotional arc, meticulously constructed and devastatingly delivered.
Opening with Mutation Phase, the band established a thick, industrial-tinged atmosphere before accelerating into THE ANSWER IS YOU and DYING LIGHT—each track tightening their grip on the audience. The sound mix struck a rare balance: punishingly heavy yet clear enough to let every melodic thread cut through.
At the centre stood Lena Scissorhands, whose performance was nothing short of magnetic. Her ability to oscillate between vulnerability and ferocity gave songs like Fighter and Orphan Soul a visceral emotional weight, while Black Gold and Stranger drove the set into darker, more groove-laden territory.
Mid-set highlights The Realm of Chaos and Ut Supra deepened the immersion, layering atmosphere with precision. Then came PANDEMONIUM—a fitting title for the eruption that followed, as the crowd surged in unison, fully surrendered to the moment.
The closing sequence—NEVER TO RETURN, BECAUSE I LET YOU, and Judgemental Trap It wasn’t just about volume or aggression; it was about release. Every note, every scream, every beat contributed to a shared emotional exhale. By the end, the distinction between band and audience had blurred entirely.
A near-flawless evening that captured metal at its most dynamic and proving beyond a doubt that female-fronted metal bands have some of the most powerful, emotional, and technically impressive spaces in heavy music.