The historic Buckhead Theatre provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of crushing modern metal on Thursday, as Ukrainian heavyweights Jinjer brought their explosive live show to Atlanta, Georgia. Built in 1930 in a striking Spanish baroque style, this 1,800-capacity venue balances old-world elegance with contemporary concert intensity, highlighted by its glowing chandeliers hanging above a general admission floor and seated balcony. With its intimate layout offering excellent sightlines from every corner of the room, the Buckhead Theatre would hopefully once again prove to be an ideal setting for a musical performance where the connection between band and audience should be felt as immediate, loud, and unrelenting.
Few bands in modern metalcore generate the kind of immediate physical reaction than opener Crystal Lake does onstage, and their mosh pit–inspiring performance on Thursday, beginning at 7:00 p.m., only reinforced that reputation. Riding a renewed wave of momentum behind guest vocalist Myke Terry (of Volumes and Fire From The Gods), the Japanese metalcore veterans attacked the stage with a level of intensity that felt almost combustible. From the first note of “Everblack,” Crystal Lake pushed their material into overdrive, delivering a display of musical ferocity that was impossible to ignore throughout the set.
Terry has clearly established himself as a commanding frontman for Crystal Lake, delivering everything from throat-ripping screams to soaring hooks while maintaining constant engagement with the crowd. Behind him, the band’s musicianship remained airtight, navigating rapid-fire tempo shifts and intricate arrangements without sacrificing momentum. The result was a performance that felt both brutally precise and completely unhinged in the best possible way. It served as a reminder that, more than two decades into their career, the band continues to evolve while retaining the explosive live chemistry that made them a force in the global metalcore scene in the first place.
Crystal Lake
Yudai “YD” Miyamoto — Lead guitar, backing vocals
Gaku Taura — Drums
Mitsuru — Bass
Hisatsugu “TJ” Taji — Rhythm guitar
Myke Terry — Lead vocals (touring)
Setlist:
1.) Everblack
2.) Bludgod
3.) Neversleep
4.) Hail to the Fire
5.) Aeon
6.) Dystopia
7.) The Weight of Sound
8.) Apollo
Fresh off a widely praised North American headline run, additional opener Entheos delivered a performance that showcased why they have become one of progressive death metal’s most respected acts. Vocalist Chaney Crabb commanded the stage with a seamless blend of ferocious gutturals, piercing screams, and melodic textures, while the band’s razor-sharp musicianship transformed complex arrangements into something both devastatingly heavy and remarkably accessible. Every intricate riff and rhythmic shift landed with precision, drawing the Atlanta audience deeper into the band’s communal chaos.
What made Entheos particularly compelling was their ability to balance technical mastery with genuine emotion. The material performed throughout their 10-song set carried as much atmosphere and feeling as it did instrumental firepower, allowing the songs to resonate beyond sheer musicianship. The chemistry among the band members remained evident throughout the performance, resulting in a set that felt powerful, organic, and intensely engaging. By the final notes of “The Sinking Sun,” Entheos had delivered a reminder that progressive death metal can be both intellectually impressive and viscerally impactful.
Entheos
Navene Koperweis — Drums, synthesizers
Chaney Crabb — Lead vocals
Michael Stancel — Guitars, backing vocals
Scott Carstairs — Guitars, backing vocals
Setlist:
1.) All for Nothing
2.) Empty of the Inside
3.) Absolute Zero
4.) Hell is a Part of Me
5.) I Am the Void
6.) Life in Slow Motion
7.) A Thousand Days
8.) Golden Crown
9.) An End to Everything
10.) The Sinking Sun
Jinjer arrived in Atlanta fueled by the momentum of their highly successful North American tour and delivered a set that underscored why they remain one of modern metal’s most respected international acts. Fresh off a string of sold-out appearances, the Ukrainian progressive metal quartet immediately seized the room’s attention when they took the stage shortly before 9:15 p.m. with the title track, “Duél,” from their most recent release. Their signature fusion of intricate rhythms, towering grooves, and sophisticated songwriting resonated throughout the venue, as newer selections from Duél (February 2025), including “Green Serpent” and “Hedonist,” blended cohesively with established fan favorites such as “Judgement (& Punishment).”
At the center of the evening was 39-year-old Tatiana Shmayluk, whose remarkable vocal range enabled her to transition effortlessly between ethereal melodies and thunderous growls. Alongside bassist Eugene Abdukhanov, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov, and drummer Vladislav Ulasevich, she guided the audience through a collection of songs that showcased both technical dexterity and artistic depth. Rather than drawing attention to complexity for its own sake, the band’s musicianship enhanced the emotional character of every composition, giving each arrangement a distinctive sense of purpose.
Jinjer’s greatest strength remains their ability to transform progressive metal’s complexity into something immersive and accessible. The audience embraced every syncopated groove, dramatic crescendo, and meticulously crafted passage, creating an atmosphere of sustained engagement throughout the performance. By night’s end, Jinjer had presented far more than a display of instrumental excellence; they had crafted a compelling live experience that fused intensity, nuance, and conviction into one unforgettable performance, capped off by a single-song encore featuring “Sit Stay Roll Over” from the band’s critically acclaimed second studio album, King of Everything (2016).
Jinjer continues its North American run for another month before wrapping up the U.S. leg of the tour on Saturday, July 25, at Warped Tour Long Beach 2026 in Long Beach, California.
Jinjer
Tatiana “Tati” Shmayluk — Lead vocals
Roman Ibramkhalilov — Guitars
Eugene Abdukhanov — Bass
Vladislav “Vladi” Ulasevich — Drums
Setlist:
1.) Duél
2.) Green Serpent
3.) Fast Draw
4.) Vortex
5.) Disclosure!
6.) Tantrum
7.) Teacher, Teacher!
8.) Kafka
9.) Judgement (& Punishment)
10.) Hedonist
11.) I Speak Astronomy
12.) Perennial
13.) Someone’s Daughter
14.) Rogue
15.) Pisces
Encore
16.) Sit Stay Roll Over
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Elliott is a music photographer covering shows in Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The highlight of his photography career was back in the early ’90s, when he sold Neil Diamond the rights to his negatives from a show and then purchased a set of tires for his 1979 280ZX during college with the money.