Ukrainian metal giants captivate Wallingford with a crushing performance as Crystal Lake and Entheos set the stage for an unforgettable night of intensity and technical precision.
By Jared Miller | Stage Rush Music
June 10, 2026 – The Dome at Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT
Metal fans descended upon The Dome at Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford on June 10 for a stacked lineup featuring Entheos, Crystal Lake, and Ukrainian progressive metal powerhouse Jinjer. While the approximately 1,600-capacity venue didn’t quite sell out, attendance was strong and the crowd steadily grew throughout the evening, culminating in a packed floor by the time the headliners took the stage.
The Dome remains one of Connecticut’s more unique concert venues. Its circular design and soaring domed ceiling create an intimate atmosphere despite its size, wrapping the audience around the stage and giving the room a distinctive character. The architecture seems to focus both the sound and the energy back toward the crowd, making it an ideal setting for a night of heavy music.
The audience looked exactly as one might expect for a modern metal show—an ocean of black concert t-shirts representing favorite metal, metalcore, and hard rock bands. While the crowd was somewhat sparse during the opening set, more fans continued filing in throughout the evening, creating a noticeably fuller room for Crystal Lake and eventually a highly energized audience for Jinjer.
Entheos opened the night with a fierce and highly energetic 40-minute set. Like many modern metal tours, both Entheos and Crystal Lake performed under extremely dark, atmospheric lighting. The moody visuals added to the intensity of the performances and created a dramatic experience for the audience. From a concert photographer’s perspective, the limited lighting presents challenges during the standard three-song photo pit window, but it certainly helped establish the dark, immersive atmosphere both bands were aiming to create.
Regardless of the lighting choices, Entheos came out swinging. Vocalist Chaney Crabb was absolutely relentless, stalking the stage and unleashing punishing growls that perfectly matched the band’s aggressive personality. Her intensity never let up as she commanded the audience’s attention throughout the set. The band even attempted to spark a circle pit, though the crowd hadn’t quite reached critical mass at that point in the evening. Their tightly packed set featured “All For Nothing,” “Empty on the Inside,” “Hell Is a Part of Me,” “I Am the Void,” “Life in Slow Motion,” “A Thousand Days,” “Golden Crown,” “An End to Everything,” and “The Sinking Sun,” along with a brand-new song that hinted at exciting things ahead for the band.
By the time Crystal Lake took the stage, the room had noticeably filled. The Japanese metalcore veterans have undergone significant changes in recent years, including the addition of vocalist John Robert Centorrino. Any concerns about the band’s future were quickly erased by the audience’s reaction.
The crowd immediately embraced the new frontman, screaming along with every crushing vocal line and feeding off the band’s relentless energy. Crystal Lake delivered a powerful set featuring “Everblack,” “Bludgod,” “Neversleep,” “Hail to the Fire,” “Crossing Nails,” “Aeon,” “Dystopia,” “The Weight of Sound,” and “Apollo.” The band’s combination of thunderous breakdowns, technical precision, and nonstop movement transformed the room from attentive spectators into active participants. Even through the darkness, the energy pouring off the stage was impossible to miss.
Then came Jinjer.
Formed in Donetsk, Ukraine in 2009, Jinjer has steadily become one of the most respected and innovative bands in modern metal. The current lineup consists of vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov, bassist Eugene Abdukhanov, and drummer Vladislav Ulasevich. Through relentless touring and acclaimed releases including King of Everything, Macro, and more recent material, the band has built a worldwide following by blending progressive metal, groove metal, metalcore, and technical musicianship into a sound that is uniquely their own.
From the opening notes of “Duel,” it was immediately apparent why Jinjer has become such a force in heavy music.
Tatiana Shmayluk is one of the most captivating frontwomen in metal today. From the moment she stepped on stage, she commanded every inch of it. Constantly moving, engaging with fans, making direct eye contact with audience members, and occasionally flashing heart signs toward the crowd, she created a connection that felt both personal and powerful. Whether reacting to a fan’s shirt, acknowledging someone in the front row, or simply feeding off the audience’s energy, she maintained complete control of the room from start to finish.
What continues to amaze many listeners is her extraordinary vocal versatility. One moment she delivers beautiful, melodic clean vocals with remarkable control and clarity. The next, she seamlessly transitions into the savage growls and screams that have become a hallmark of modern metalcore. Seeing those dramatic shifts happen live is every bit as impressive as hearing them on record.
Jinjer’s set showcased the full range of the band’s talents. Songs such as “Green Serpent,” “Fast Draw,” “Disclosure,” and “Tantrum” highlighted the group’s technical precision, while fan favorites including “Vortex,” “Perennial,” and the always-anticipated “Pisces” generated some of the loudest reactions of the evening. Newer songs such as “Someone’s Daughter” and “Rogue” fit naturally alongside established favorites, demonstrating the band’s consistency as both musicians and songwriters.
The band tore through a sixteen-song set consisting of “Duel,” “Green Serpent,” “Fast Draw,” “Vortex,” “Disclosure,” “Tantrum,” “Teacher, Teacher!,” “Kafka,” “Judgement (& Punishment),” “Hedonist,” “Speak Astronomy,” “Perennial,” “Someone’s Daughter,” “Rogue,” “Pisces,” and “Sit Stay Roll Over.”
Musically, Jinjer was flawless. Eugene Abdukhanov’s bass work remains one of the band’s secret weapons, often taking center stage in songs where lesser bands would simply follow the guitar. Roman Ibramkhalilov delivered technically impressive riffs and solos throughout the night, while Vladislav Ulasevich’s drumming provided the thunderous backbone that drove every song forward. Together, the quartet displayed a level of chemistry that only comes from years of performing together on stages around the world.
Jinjer’s performance was intense, engaging, technically brilliant, and thoroughly entertaining. Between Tatiana Shmayluk’s magnetic stage presence, the band’s flawless musicianship, and a crowd that grew more energized with each passing set, this was a memorable night at The Dome. It’s a band I would absolutely make a point to see again, and for anyone who has not yet experienced Jinjer live, they come highly recommended. This was one of those shows that reminds you why heavy music continues to inspire such passionate audiences around the world.
