Friday night at Phantom Power felt like a snapshot of where heavy music is heading in 2026.
Four bands. Four very different sounds. One packed room ready to move.
The “Tour In The USA” package brought together rising rap metal disruptors LYLVC, hard rock breakout Eva Under Fire, groove metal veterans Butcher Babies, and viral rock hybrid Jeris Johnson. In a room that holds around 400 people, the energy was immediate. No barriers. No distance. Just heavy music right in your face.
LYLVC wastes no time getting the night moving.
Built around dual vocalists Alyse Zavala and Oscar Romero, the North Carolina band blends rap, heavy guitars, and electronic elements into something that feels completely modern. Zavala’s soaring vocals collide perfectly with Romero’s rap delivery, creating a push and pull dynamic that hits hard live.
They open strong with “Barely Human” before moving into the deeply personal “Crawl Space.” Even early in the night, Phantom Power is already loud.
Zavala constantly moves along the front of the stage, leaning toward the barricade and locking eyes with fans while Romero keeps the momentum driving. The band also previews “Starless,” their upcoming single set for release March 10. The track carries heavier emotional weight and the crowd responds immediately.
They close with crowd favorites “Perfect Drug” and “Into Nothing,” leaving little doubt the band is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new acts in modern rock.
Eva Under Fire takes the stage next and immediately raises the intensity.
Frontwoman Amanda Lyberg commands the room from the first note, opening with “Awakening.” Her vocals feel built for arenas, but they translate perfectly inside Phantom Power.
The band leans heavily on newer material throughout the set including “Villainous” and their recent single “Murder Scene.” That track in particular stands out live, its massive chorus turning the entire room into a singalong.
The band’s chemistry is tight. Big riffs, driving drums, and Lyberg confidently controlling the crowd between songs. By the time they close with “Blow,” the room is fully warmed up.
By the time Butcher Babies hit the stage, Phantom Power is ready to explode.
The band enters a new era following the departure of longtime co vocalist Carla Harvey, leaving Heidi Shepherd handling vocal duties alone. Any questions about how the band would sound disappear almost instantly.
They open with “Backstreets of Tennessee” before quickly tearing into “Red Thunder.” The crowd surges forward immediately.
Shepherd never stops moving. Her growls cut through the room while she commands the crowd with constant interaction and energy. “Monsters Ball” sends the pit into chaos and the band feeds off every second of it.
They also perform their new single “Lost In Your Touch,” a more emotional track produced by Howard Benson that still carries the band’s signature heaviness.
They close with “Magnolia Blvd.” and leave the crowd wanting more.
Headliner Jeris Johnson brings something completely different to the night.
Where the earlier bands lean on traditional rock energy, Johnson blends heavy music with internet era remix culture. His show feels part concert, part spectacle.
The set opens with “Damn!” before moving into fan favorites like “My Sword” and “Roses Red.”
Johnson’s “Reloaded” concept plays a big role in the set. Songs like “Kryptonite (Reloaded)” and “Last Resort (Reloaded)” take familiar rock classics and rebuild them with modern production, electronic elements, and huge live energy.
Visually the show leans heavily into the mythic aesthetic of Johnson’s Dragonborn era. At one point he raises a sword above his head while the crowd erupts.
In a club setting it could easily feel over the top, but Johnson commits fully and the room eats it up.
By the time the set closes with “When the Darkness Comes,” Phantom Power feels like it just hosted something far bigger than a club show.
What made the night work so well was the contrast.
LYLVC and Jeris Johnson represent the modern fusion of rock, rap, and electronics that dominates the streaming world. Eva Under Fire and Butcher Babies anchor the bill with big riffs, huge choruses, and traditional heavy rock energy.
Different sounds. Different approaches.
But together they delivered a lineup that feels exactly like what heavy music looks like in 2026.
And inside Phantom Power, it hit exactly the way it should.
