Lately, metal hasn’t been as popular among younger crowds, which is disappointing for the genre’s continued growth. At one point last year, I was convinced that the rock and metal scene was diverging in a different direction, losing its intensity and chaos. However, within days of making that statement, I was proven wrong. A wave of modern sounds is constantly evolving, blending old and new ideologies. While today’s metal scene may not be as cutting-edge as the raw, high-energy days of ’80s heavy metal, it is progressing—albeit at a slower, more deliberate pace. With that in mind, we sought out a bill that captured a diverse spectrum of sounds, and we found the perfect one.

The Watcher, a Boston-based act, was part of this multi-dimensional lineup, alongside gothic rock-driven Sonja and Celtic folk metal veterans Primordial. Upon arriving early at the venue, the atmosphere felt dreary, with a heavily overcast sky setting the mood. Despite the weather, the crowd started trickling in, and soon, both TV Eye’s outer bar and ballroom filled up as expected for this bill.

Draped in denim and leather, The Watcher took the stage, bathed in moody blue and red lighting that mirrored the overcast sky outside. The ballroom continued to pack in a growing audience. Having listened to their debut album, this was my first time experiencing them live. While they label themselves as a heavy/doom metal act, their sound carried a strong essence of NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). At the start of the performance, the frontman seemed slightly nervous, but within minutes, an adrenaline rush kicked in, and he found his footing, delivering an impassioned performance. The dual guitarists maintained a relentless assault of double riffs throughout the set, primarily pulling from their debut album, Out of the Dark. Meanwhile, the rhythm section took on a more dynamic, doom-laden approach as the set progressed.

This marked my second time seeing Sonja in the span of a year. The last time I caught them live, it was during a heavy downpour—this time, the gloom persisted, albeit without the rain. The gothic-clad, three-piece Philly metallers took the stage with their signature flair. Though only a trio, they managed to channel the spirit of Iron Maiden with their performance, and the crowd responded immediately with electrifying energy. Sonja’s members bring a diverse range of musical influences to their sound, which was evident in their performance style and stage presence. Ben and Grzesiek commanded the audience with infectious energy, drawing more people from the outer bar into the ballroom as their set progressed.

Finally, it was time for Primordial—a moment I had been waiting for after missing their performance at MDF. By this point, the room was completely packed from front to back, the anticipation palpable as the crowd awaited the Celtic folk metal legends. The moment they stepped on stage, the audience erupted in chants, fully immersing themselves in the band’s rich, atmospheric sound. As the final stop on their tour, the band seemed at ease, yet they delivered an all-out, high-energy performance that felt monumental within the intimate setting. Their two-hour set spanned eighteen songs, pulling from their extensive discography. There’s something undeniably powerful about experiencing a band like Primordial in a tightly packed venue—when the connection between the performers and the audience is immediate, the energy exchange is visceral, and the sweat from the stage mingles with the fervor of the crowd.

In the end, this night reaffirmed that metal’s spirit is far from fading. While the landscape may be shifting, its core intensity remains alive and well, thriving in small, passionate spaces like this.