Black Spikes

Black Spikes are a rising modern metal band from Lithuania, blending progressive songwriting with electronic elements and a distinctly dark, cinematic atmosphere.
Going into Black Spikes’ set in Nijmegen, expectations were fairly open but what unfolded was a surprisingly complete and confident live performance. As an opening act on this tour, they didn’t just fill time; they set a tone, immediately pulling the room into their dark, theatrical world.

What stood out most was how deliberate everything felt. Their music already leans cinematic on record, but live it translated into something more immersive, helped by a stage presence that felt carefully thought out rather than improvised. That sense of intention is something reviewers on other dates of the tour have also picked up on, describing their shows as both a “visual and aural spectacle” rather than just a straightforward metal set.

The addition of a performer/dancer elevated that even further. Instead of feeling gimmicky, it reinforced the band’s conceptual approach—mirroring the themes in their music and adding movement to what could otherwise have been a dense wall of sound. It gave the performance a ritualistic edge, something closer to a staged piece than a typical support slot.

Butcher Babies

Butcher Babies are a Los Angeles–based metal band known for blending groove metal, metalcore, and thrash into a high-energy, modern sound.

Butcher Babies arrived in Nijmegen carrying a bit of baggage, not in a negative sense, but in the form of a very visible transition. For years, the band’s identity leaned heavily on the dual-vocal chaos and a deliberately provocative image, something older live reviews often highlighted as equal parts aggression and spectacle. What we got this time felt different almost immediately.
With Heidi Shepherd now fully at the helm, the band’s demeanor has shifted in a way that’s hard to miss. The emphasis is no longer on shock value or the “big personality” aesthetic that once defined them, but on control, presence, and intent. Shepherd commands the stage with a kind of stripped-down authority, less theatrical in the obvious sense, but arguably more effective because of it.

That change also tightens the band as a whole. Without the dual-vocal interplay, the performance becomes more direct and focused, and the band leans harder into the weight of the music itself.

Musically, they were exactly what you’d expect: heavy, groove-driven, and sharp. But what stood out wasn’t just the sound, it was the sense that the band is actively redefining itself. Where earlier eras sometimes blurred the line between image and music, this version of Butcher Babies feels like it’s deliberately choosing to be taken seriously.

And honestly, it works. What could have been a difficult reset instead comes across as a band recalibrating in real time, less about what they used to be known for, and more about what they want to be now.

Infected Rain

Infected Rain are a Moldovan metal band blending metalcore, nu-metal, and modern alternative influences into a dynamic, emotionally charged sound. Fronted by Lena Scissorhands, the band has built a reputation for intense live performances and a distinctive balance between aggression and melody.

As headliners, Infected Rain stepped on stage with the kind of confidence you’d expect from a band that has steadily built its reputation through years of touring and they delivered a set that felt both polished and genuinely intense.

Lena Scissorhands remains the focal point, and rightly so. Her vocal performance is still one of the most technically impressive in this corner of modern metal, shifting effortlessly between harsh screams, melodic lines, and rhythmic phrasing that feels almost percussive at times.

What stood out more than ever, though, was how much the rest of the band has caught up with that level of presence. In Nijmegen, the band felt balanced: tight, engaged, and fully part of the performance rather than orbiting around it.

That balance gives the whole show more weight. The riffs hit harder, the electronic elements feel more integrated, and the transitions between aggression and atmosphere land with greater precision. It turns the set into something more immersive, less about standout moments but more about a consistent, driving energy.

There’s also a sense of maturity now. Not in the sense of losing intensity, but in how controlled everything feels. They know exactly when to push, when to pull back, and how to keep a crowd locked in without overplaying their hand.

For someone already familiar with the band, this felt like confirmation of a steady evolution. Infected Rain didn’t just headline the night, they showed how they’ve grown into that role, with a performance that’s no longer carried by one standout figure, but by a band that’s finally operating as a complete unit.