- Jinjer w/Entheos & Crystal Lake
- 07/14/2026 The Sylvee, Madison, WI
- ©Justin Nuoffer
On a gorgeous, but scorching, Tuesday evening in Madison, Wisconsin, people took to the town to enjoy their last moments of the day. With the sun’s rays shining down and allowing people to bask in the warm summer breeze coming off Lake Mendota, the patios across the city were packed. The vibes were high, and that good feeling we all crave was here.
Outside, one of the crown jewels of the Midwest, The Sylvee glowed brightly as sunlight gleamed off its glass facade. The marquee above the sets of glass doors read, “Jinjer Tonight.” Along the front side of the venue, a line of fans stretched down South Livingston Street to East Washington Avenue and around the corner. Fans decked out in their finest band shirts or gothic wear were smoothly escorted through the security check and ticket scan area beyond the front doors. Once inside the venue, the tour merchandise was tucked into a cubby to the right. Various shirts, vinyl records, and posters were available for purchase.
The Sylvee’s stage looks cut out of the wall and provides a massive performance space. Above it, on the second level, two rows of seats wrap around the room with two standing-room levels behind them as well. Space is maximized, which is critical to the perfect sightlines throughout the music arena.
Kicking off the night’s festivities was Crystal Lake from Tokyo, Japan. Things started off incredibly strong with “Everblack” until the stage power completely cut out. This became a common occurrence throughout their set. It got to the point where the band was never able to finish their scheduled time. However, frontman Myke Terry made the best of it by talking with the crowd. At one point, he asked if someone could get him a beer.
The band did manage to fire off “Blud God,” “Never Sleep,” and “Hail to the Fire” before things completely shut them down for good. Terry once again waited at the front of the stage, and eventually his beer from a fan arrived. The crowd chanted “chug” over and over as he pounded it down.
Check out the Crystal Lake concert photo gallery below:
Fans were disappointed because what they were able to perform was incredibly good. Chalk it up as another reason to catch them on another tour down the road. It wasn’t Crystal Lake‘s fault. Sometimes things happen.
Entheos, the Santa Cruz, California, death metal act, has garnered massive buzz through social media with vocalist Chaney Crabb‘s videos displaying her power and range. Crabb is a force of nature, much like Jinjer frontwoman Tatiana Shmayluk. The band is led by Crabb and drummer Navene Koperweis. The two founders are the lone official members, with touring musicians accompanying them during live performances. Regardless, the band as a whole was in lockstep from the very first note of “All or Nothing.”
The unsuspecting crowd was blasted with heavy riffs and deep guttural screams. Kicking out tracks like “Absolute Zero,” “I Am the Void,” “Life in Slow Motion,” and “A Thousand Days,” the mosh pit was in full force. Bodies flew all over the floor. Crabb often peered out into the metal abyss. With a new album coming in October titled Empty on the Inside, Entheos performed three tracks: “Empty on the Inside,” “Hell Is a Part of Me,” and “Golden Crown.”
Check out the Entheos concert photo gallery below:
The new material is entirely next level for them. Closing the night with “The End to Everything” and “The Sinking Sun” were statements. They’ve arrived, and this tour run only proves they’ll be headlining soon enough.
No introduction needed to be made as Jinjer took to the stage. The dimmed lights hid the stage, but the lighting panel along the back wall illuminated it with the band’s logo. Jinjer slowly eased into the intro of “Duel” as Tatiana Shmayluk ran onto the stage and launched into the song full force. Her vocals are a well-known combination of soft singing and deep guttural screams. She bounced around the stage wearing a chainmail top that covered her head and flowed freely at the bottom. Moving through “Green Serpent” and “Fast Draw,” one thing was certain. This was going to be a fun evening.
Eugene Abdukhanov is a weapon on stage. His hair is pulled back under a ball cap. His intense focus on the strings is intimidating. Very few bassists play the way he does, and hardly anyone creates the sounds he does. He sways back and forth with his instrument strapped high on his body.
Across the stage, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov is also a silent assassin. His movements are subtle as he shifts back and forth, often tucked into the corner. On occasion, he moves to the front of the stage to tap his pedalboard. His guitar riffs are a thing of beauty. They aren’t over the top but remain firm and unique.
The early part of the set pumped out “Vortex,” “Disclosure!,” “Tantrum,” and fan favorite “Teacher, Teacher!” Along the back wall, a massive video screen ran the width of the stage. It displayed visuals that correlated with each track, but “Kafka” stood out as the lyrics appeared as if they were being written around the screen while small images popped up throughout. On stage, Shmayluk stood center stage with her microphone stand as spotlights shined down on her. It was a tender moment until she unloaded the deep, heavy screams she is known for.
The back half of the set pushed the envelope. Drummer Vladimir Ulasevich was perched high above center stage. His kit glowed as the lights reflected down onto it. He rumbled through “Judgement (& Punishment)” and “Hedonist” with remarkable smoothness and efficiency, but when the band moved back into older material like “I Speak Astronomy,” his playing became even more violent and bruising.
The Ukrainian foursome had the fans in the palm of their hands. Shmayluk often took a moment to ask if everyone was having a good time. Each and every time, it was met with a roar from the Madison crowd. Soon enough, though, their voices would be heard, but first came the utter chaos of “Perennial” from the 2019 Micro EP. The floor shook with every rapid breakdown.
The fire and intensity pouring off the stage were incredible, but the soft singing that followed was an emotional ride. It led to the beautiful moment when the fans began to sing along to “Someone’s Daughter.” That moment of unity, with a song that clearly holds deep meaning and tells a powerful story, is something to remember.
Check out the Jinjer concert photo gallery below:
The heavy deathcore-like anthem “Rogue” from Duel felt perfectly placed since it simply allowed all hell to break loose without a moment to rest. Then Jinjer once again flipped the script and launched into the song that put them on the map, “Pisces.” The viral sensation overwhelmed the crowd at The Sylvee. It was everything, and then some, to finally hear the song performed live.
After a brief encore break, Jinjer returned to the stage to unleash “Sit Stay Roll Over.” The heavy hitter was a punch to the gut. It left the crowd with something to remember the performance by.
Their passion and talent are hard to miss, but the music is everything one could hope for. Jinjer is one of those bands that always makes giant leaps forward. They haven’t strayed from their sound but have expanded upon it over the last few years, and that should be commended. Touring behind their latest album, Duel, is continuing to build their following, and there is no doubt they are destined for even bigger stages.
Catch Jinjer on the Road…
