On one of the hottest nights of the summer, the energy inside Dos Equis Pavilion was even hotter. The long-anticipated ‘Psychotherapy Sessions’ tour roared into Dallas with an unrelenting lineup of heavy-hitters, giving North Texas metalheads a night they won’t soon forget. With five powerhouse bands on the bill—BUTCHER BABIES, NONPOINT, GWAR, COAL CHAMBER, and headliners MUDVAYNE—the evening was a nonstop assault of riffs, screams, theatrics, and adrenaline-fueled crowd surges.
For fans of old-school nu-metal and chaotic stage shows, this wasn’t just another concert. This was a revival. A resurrection. A reminder of why these bands dominated the scene in the first place—and why they’re still as vital today as they were decades ago. Every band brought their own flavor of fire to the stage, building layer upon layer of intensity that culminated in a headlining set by one of metal’s most theatrical and enigmatic forces: MUDVAYNE.
BUTCHER BABIES
SETTING THE STAGE ON FIRE WITH FEROCITY AND FLAIR
BUTCHER BABIES opened the night like a lit match in a powder keg. Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey stormed the stage with dual vocal fury, commanding attention with a fearless presence and raw delivery. Blending heavy grooves with catchy hooks, the band tore through tracks like Red Thunder, Monsters Ball, and their feral take on Best Friend. Their energy was relentless from the first scream to the final note.
They didn’t just warm up the crowd—they lit it on fire. The band’s chemistry, stage movement, and constant interaction with fans at the barricade gave the early attendees a full-throttle experience. They proved that opening the night doesn’t mean being overlooked—it means setting the bar, and they did it with style, muscle, and swagger.
NONPOINT
A GROOVE-DRIVEN ASSAULT WITH PRECISION AND POWER
If BUTCHER BABIES lit the fire, NONPOINT poured gasoline on it. Elias Soriano exploded onto the stage with unmistakable presence, bouncing and roaring across the platform like a man possessed. Their set was a precision strike of rhythm and rebellion, anchored by razor-sharp grooves and powerful vocal delivery.
Songs like Ruthless, Breaking Skin, and Bullet With a Name had fists in the air and voices echoing across the pavilion. The band’s tight musicianship and dynamic pacing made every song feel like a call to arms. Soriano’s crowd control was masterful, and the way the band built momentum with each track was a clinic in how to own a stage without overproduced flash—just pure performance and passion.
GWAR
BLOOD, MAYHEM, AND METAL: THEATRICAL CARNAGE AT ITS FINEST
Then came GWAR, and the tone of the night took a hard left turn into beautiful madness. Always a spectacle, never a letdown, GWAR turned the Dos Equis Pavilion into their personal war zone of blood, satire, and heavy metal absurdity. Drenched in fake gore and adorned in their signature alien-warrior costumes, the band brought out the chaos like only they can.
Their set was an outrageous mix of pounding riffs and over-the-top performance art. Decapitations, absurd political commentary, fountains of blood—it was a glorious mess that had fans both laughing and moshing. Beneath the shock and awe is a band that knows exactly what they’re doing musically, and they brought the thunder to back up the madness. GWAR reminded everyone that metal doesn’t have to be serious to be unforgettable—it just has to be loud, wild, and unapologetically itself.
COAL CHAMBER
REUNITED AND REIGNITED WITH EXPLOSIVE NU-METAL ENERGY
The return of COAL CHAMBER was a moment that many fans in attendance had been waiting years for. Reunited and firing on all cylinders, the band charged into their set with the same reckless abandon that made them a household name in the late ’90s. Dez Fafara’s growl was as potent as ever, and the band wasted no time whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
They tore through classics like Loco, Fiend, and Big Truck with bone-rattling intensity. The chemistry between the band members felt effortless, like no time had passed at all. The set closed with the iconic Sway, which saw the crowd bouncing in unison, shouting every word back at the stage. COAL CHAMBER didn’t just return—they reclaimed their place in the metal world with undeniable force.
MUDVAYNE
A THEATRICAL AND CATHARTIC HOMECOMING OF CHAOS
Then came the headliners—MUDVAYNE. The crowd, already riding high from the night’s nonstop chaos, erupted as Chad Gray took the stage with his trademark face paint and all-consuming energy. This wasn’t just a performance; it was a cathartic ritual. The band launched into Not Falling and didn’t let up for a second.
With a setlist that spanned their career—Under My Skin, Death Blooms, Dig, Happy?—the band reminded everyone why they’re considered one of the most unique and experimental acts in metal. Ryan Martinie’s bass work was otherworldly, Greg Tribbett’s guitar riffs were sharp and punishing, and Matthew McDonough’s drumming locked it all together like a rhythmic fever dream. Chad Gray poured every ounce of himself into each song, climbing the barricade, screaming with fans, and creating moments of pure emotional release.
This tour marked a long-overdue headlining return for MUDVAYNE, and they made it count. The band’s visuals were dark and disorienting, adding depth to their sonic onslaught. Every song felt massive, each performance intentional, each scream echoing something deeper than just noise. It was intense. It was theatrical. It was MUDVAYNE in full form.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
The Psychotherapy Sessions tour was more than just a stacked lineup—it was a celebration of heavy music’s ability to evolve, unite, and explode with primal force. Each band brought something distinct to the stage, creating a five-act experience that felt cohesive and climactic. From BUTCHER BABIES’ firestarter performance to MUDVAYNE’s triumphant close, this was a show that left a mark.
For longtime fans, it was a reunion of sound and spirit. For newcomers, it was an introduction to some of metal’s most influential voices. And for Dallas, it was a night of chaos, catharsis, and community in the most beautifully brutal form possible.
