Uptown Theater — Kansas City, MO | Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Words and photos by Thomas Woroniak
Kansas City has never been a city that demands persuasion when it comes to heavy music, and on Wednesday night, the Uptown Theater stood as proof. With Trivium headlining, Jinjer in direct support, and Heriot opening the evening, the historic venue hosted a lineup that showcased modern metal’s breadth—technical, emotional, and unapologetically heavy.
Heriot: Industrial Weight and Punishing Precision
UK newcomers Heriot opened the night with a sound far bigger than an opening slot might suggest. Kicking off with “Foul Void,” the band immediately set a hostile tone, blending industrial textures with hardcore aggression. “Siege Lord” and “Commander of Pain” landed with punishing force, while “Demure” and “Mourn” added a suffocating sense of atmosphere that held the crowd’s attention rather than simply bludgeoning it. Closing with “At the Fortress Gate,” Heriot left the Uptown primed for what followed—tense, alert, and fully engaged.
Jinjer: Controlled Chaos and Emotional Weight
That tension exploded into motion with Jinjer, whose reputation as one of metal’s most commanding live acts remains well-earned. Opening with “Duél” and “Green Serpent,” the band immediately demonstrated their effortless command of groove, technicality, and rhythmic complexity. Tatiana Shmayluk’s vocal performance was the undeniable centerpiece—shifting seamlessly from brutal lows to melodic clarity without losing intensity.
Mid-set staples like “Teacher, Teacher!” and “Perennial” drew massive reactions, while “Someone’s Daughter” provided one of the evening’s most emotionally charged moments, resonating deeply with the Uptown crowd. Closing with “Pisces,” Jinjer delivered a masterclass in controlled chaos—building tension slowly before unleashing it in a way that left the room breathless and buzzing ahead of the headliner. “Jinjer’s closing performance of ‘Pisces’ left the room breathless, tension hanging heavy in the air before the headliner arrived.”
Trivium: A Career-Spanning Assault
By the time Trivium took the stage, the Uptown Theater was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, energy at a peak. Opening with “In Waves,” the band instantly ignited the room, setting a high-octane pace that rarely dipped. Early classics “Like Light to the Flies” and “Strife” reinforced Trivium’s ability to bridge generations, uniting longtime fans and newer listeners under the same thunderous choruses.
The setlist flowed effortlessly between eras and emotional tones. “Into the Mouth of Hell We March” and “Throes of Perdition” showcased razor-sharp precision, while “Until the World Goes Cold” and “Dying in Your Arms” offered melodic breathers without sacrificing momentum. Deep cuts like “Bury Me With My Screams” and “A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation” were met with roaring approval, rewarding diehards with moments of unfiltered nostalgia.
As the night pushed toward its finale, “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr” and “Down From the Sky” turned the Uptown into a unified mass of movement and voices. Modern-era tracks “The Heart From Your Hate” and “The Sin and the Sentence” closed the set with authority, underlining just how confidently Trivium has evolved without losing their core identity.
A Night That Showed Metal’s Range—and Its Strength
By the end of the night, it was clear that this wasn’t just another stop on a winter tour. From Heriot’s bleak intensity, through Jinjer’s technical dynamism, to Trivium’s arena-ready command, the show stood as a powerful reminder of metal’s continued vitality. On a cold December Wednesday, the Uptown Theater became a furnace—and Kansas City once again proved it remains a city where heavy music thrives. “This wasn’t just a tour stop; it was a reminder of how modern metal continues to evolve without losing its bite.”
Trivium setlist:
- In Waves
- Like Light to the Flies
- Strife
- Into the Mouth of Hell We March
- Throes of Perdition
- Until the World Goes Cold
- Bury Me With My Screams
- A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation
- Struck Dead
- Dying in Your Arms
- Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr
- The Heart From Your Hate
- Down From the Sky
- The Sin and the Sentence
Jinjer setlist:
- Duél
- Green Serpent
- Fast Draw
- Hedonist
- Teacher, Teacher!
- Perennial
- Rogue
- Someone’s Daughter
- Pisces
Heriot setlist:
- Foul Void
- Siege Lord
- Demure
- Commander of Pain
- Mourn
- At the Fortress Gate
Photos by Thomas Woroniak for Antihero Magazine



