Infected Rain and Butcher Babies Deliver a Powerful Co-Headline Show
The ‘Mutation Phase’ tour brought the explosive co-headline pairing of Infected Rain and Butcher Babies across Europe, and their stop in The Netherlands proved to be a night packed with energy, emotion and relentless metal. With support from Lithuanian rising force Black Spikes, the evening delivered three distinct but equally powerful performances.
Opening act Black Spikes wasted no time igniting the crowd with full-on theatrics and a striking performance. The female-fronted metal band from Lithuania brought raw energy and a fierce stage presence. Their sound blends modern metal influences with intricate guitar work and pounding rhythms, creating a dense and powerful atmosphere. Fronted by commanding vocals and backed by tight onstage chemistry, Black Spikes proved why they are quickly gaining attention across the European metal scene.
Next up were Butcher Babies, and the moment vocalist Heidi Shepherd stepped on stage, my jaw dropped. The Los Angeles metal band stormed out with ‘Backstreets of Tennessee’, instantly grabbing the audience’s attention. Heidi was impossible to look away from – cool, charismatic and unstoppable as she jumped, screamed and kicked the air with endless energy. Midway through the set, she jokingly halted the show after “realising” she’d lost her watch, sparking playful banter with the crowd before launching into the ferocious “It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!” At one point she even jumped off the stage, despite its height, and demanded a circle pit. The crowd immediately responded, and when the song ended, fans gathered around her to give high fives, congratulating her on the performance and help her climb back on stage.
But one of the most powerful moments of the evening came when Heidi opened up about her struggles with mental health and past suicidal thoughts. Her heartfelt reminder that every person in the room matters gave extra weight to the performance of ‘Last December’. The band closed their set triumphantly with ‘Magnolia Blvd.’ and invited fans to meet them at the merch table afterward for free posters and meet-and-greets.
Headliners Infected Rain ensured the momentum never dropped. Formed in 2008 in Chișinău, Moldova, the band delivered a visually striking and sonically crushing performance led by the magnetic Lena Scissorhands, who appeared on stage in a bright red, semi-transparent gown that made her look almost otherworldly. Much of the set drew from their latest album ‘Time’, but fans were also treated to a few brand-new songs, including the recently released ‘Stranger’. One of the night’s highlights came when Heidi Shepherd returned to the stage to join the band for ‘The Realm of Chaos’, creating a thrilling crossover moment between the two headliners.
As the show neared its end, Lena asked the crowd if they wanted one more song. When fans jokingly asked for “five more” instead, she laughed and told them they could barely survive one extra track before demanding the audience split for a massive wall of death. Watching her stand center stage in that vivid red dress, orchestrating the chaos like a metal fairy summoning a storm, was a fittingly dramatic finale to an unforgettable night.
The tour continues across most of Europe until the end of April, so if it’s coming anywhere near you, it’s definitely worth checking out.
