Three bands, nonstop energy, and a crowd that never slowed down!
Metal fans don’t need much of an excuse to pack into The Aztec Theatre, and Thursday night was another reminder of that. Long before the lights went down, black band shirts filled the venue, conversations centered around favorite albums, and everyone seemed eager to see how the North American Duel Tour would unfold.
One thing became obvious almost immediately. This wasn’t a show where people planned to save their energy for the headliner. Every band on the bill was treated like the main event, and the crowd responded with the same intensity from the opening note until the final encore.
With Entheos, Crystal Lake, and Jinjer sharing the stage, the lineup offered three different approaches to modern heavy music while still feeling connected. The room stayed loud all night, the barricade remained busy with security helping crowd surfers, and the pit rarely had a chance to settle down. It was one of those shows where simply standing still wasn’t really an option.
ENTHEOS
Opening a metal show isn’t always easy, but Entheos wasted no time making an impression. Their blend of progressive death metal immediately grabbed the room, thanks to sharp musicianship and the commanding presence of vocalist Chaney Crabb.
Songs like “All For Nothing,” “Empty On The Inside,” and “Absolute Zero” set a fast pace that never really let up. Later, “Hell Is A Part Of Me,” “Golden Crown,” and “The Sinking Sun” showed just how technical the band can be without sacrificing intensity.
The audience quickly caught on. Heads started banging, fists went into the air, and by the end of their set, they had clearly won over plenty of people who may not have arrived as longtime fans.
CRYSTAL LAKE
If Entheos lit the fuse, Crystal Lake poured gasoline on it.
The Japanese metalcore group formed by guitarists Yudai Miyamoto and Hisatsugu Taji, bassist Mitsuru, drummer Gaku Taura, and guest vocalist Myke Terry, came out swinging with “Everblack,” “Bludgod,” and “Neversleep,” each song pushing the room into another level of chaos. Circle pits opened almost instantly, and crowd surfers began making their way toward the barricade one after another.
The middle of the set kept the momentum going with “Hail To The Fire,” “Aeon,” and “Dystopia,” before wrapping things up with “Apollo.”
One of the best things about Crystal Lake is how naturally they balance melody with aggression. The breakdowns landed exactly where they needed to, but there were still enough memorable hooks to keep fans shouting lyrics back at the stage. By the time they walked off, it honestly felt like they could have headlined their own show.
JINJER
North American Duel Tour
When Jinjer finally took the stage, the anticipation that had been building all evening exploded.
They opened with “Duél,” “Green Serpent,” and “Fast Draw,” immediately locking into a groove that showed why they’ve become one of the most respected names in modern metal. Tatiana Shmayluk remains one of the most fascinating vocalists in heavy music today. Watching her shift from soaring melodic passages to devastating growls still catches people off guard, even if they’ve seen the band before.
Behind her, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov, bassist Eugene Kostyuk, and drummer Vladislav Ulasevich played with remarkable precision. Every riff hit with purpose, and every rhythm change landed cleanly despite the band’s complex arrangements.
The set continued with “Vortex,” “Disclosure!,” “Tantrum,” and “Teacher, Teacher!” before closing with “Someone’s Daughter,” “Rogue,” “Pisces,” and “Sit Stay Roll Over.”
The reaction from the audience never faded. Crowd surfers constantly floated toward the front, only to run around and dive back into the action. The mosh pit stayed active for nearly the entire performance, while people around the edges threw up horns and headbanged along without missing a beat.
Even during “Pisces,” arguably the band’s most recognizable song, there was a noticeable moment of appreciation before everything erupted again once the heavier section kicked in.
San Antonio Came Ready!
One thing that stood out all night wasn’t just the music. It was how involved the audience stayed from beginning to end.
It didn’t matter which band was playing. Fans treated every set with the same enthusiasm. Crowd surfing became almost constant, with security working nonstop as fans climbed over the barricade before racing back into the crowd to do it all over again. Mosh pits opened naturally, strangers picked each other up after every collision, and plenty of people simply stood smiling while taking in the controlled chaos around them.
It was loud, sweaty, and exactly what a metal show should feel like.
Metal Without Boundaries
Formed in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2008, Jinjer have steadily built an international following by refusing to stay inside one genre. Their music blends metalcore, progressive metal, groove metal, and djent while giving every member room to shine.
Fronted by Tatiana Shmayluk, whose remarkable vocal range has become one of the band’s defining trademarks, Jinjer earned worldwide attention through relentless touring and albums that challenged expectations of modern heavy music. Rather than relying on the same formula, they continue to evolve while keeping the technical musicianship and emotional intensity that first attracted fans.
