INFECTED RAIN, STITCHED UP HEART, FROM ASHES TO EMBERS & BACHELOR'S GROVE Deliver Massive Night of Heavy Music in Joliet, IL

5/26/2026

By: Evan J. Thomas

Saturday night at The Forge was a relentless collision of crushing riffs, emotional intensity, and pure metal chaos as Infected Rain headlined a stacked lineup alongside Stitched Up Heart and local Chicago heavy hitters From Ashes To Embers and Bachelor’s Grove.

The energy inside The Forge felt electric. Fans packed the venue early, ready for a night filled with breakdowns, screaming vocals, and nonstop movement. The lineup blended national heavyweights with rising local talent perfectly, creating one of the strongest metal shows to hit the area this year.

Opening the night were Chicago area bands From Ashes To Embers and Bachelor’s Grove, both proving the local metal scene is alive, aggressive, and hungry.

Bachelor’s Grove brought a dark and aggressive atmosphere that fit perfectly inside The Forge to kick off the evening. Their set hit with intensity and precision, delivering crushing riffs and powerful vocals that kept the crowd fully engaged. By the end of their performance, the venue had officially transformed from a concert crowd into a full metal crowd.

From Ashes To Embers massive energy as they attacked the stage with the confidence of a band determined to leave a mark. Their set balanced melody and heaviness well, pulling the crowd in early and immediately getting heads moving throughout the venue. The band’s chemistry and stage presence stood out, especially during their heavier breakdown driven moments that shook the floor.

When Stitched Up Heart took the stage, the night elevated to another level entirely. Frontwoman Mixi commanded the room with a combination of emotional vulnerability and explosive aggression that immediately connected with the audience. The band sounded massive live, blending hard rock hooks with metal intensity while keeping the crowd fully engaged from start to finish.

Their set carried an emotional weight that hit just as hard as the music itself. Between soaring choruses and crushing instrumentals, Stitched Up Heart delivered one of the most balanced performances of the evening equal parts emotional and destructive.

The crowd response only grew louder with each song, and by the end of their set, the venue was completely fired up for the headliners.

Then came Infected Rain and absolute chaos followed. From the second the band hit the stage, the room erupted. Circle pits opened instantly, fans screamed every lyric, and the energy inside The Forge exploded into nonstop movement.

Frontwoman Lena Scissorhands delivered one of the most commanding performances The Forge has seen in recent memory. Her ability to shift between haunting melodies, brutal screams, and complete stage domination was mesmerizing. She controlled the crowd effortlessly while feeding off the audience’s intensity all night long.

Musically, Infected Rain sounded devastating. The band’s mix of groove, nu metal influence, modern heaviness, and atmospheric elements hit with incredible force live. Every breakdown landed hard, every transition felt massive, and the entire set carried a dark, cinematic intensity that never let up.

What made the performance special wasn’t just the heaviness it was the connection between band and crowd. The audience wasn’t simply watching the show; they became part of it. Fans screamed lyrics back, raised fists in the air, and gave every ounce of energy right back to the stage.

The combination of local talent, emotional hard rock, and international metal intensity created a perfect storm at The Forge. From Ashes To Embers and Bachelor’s Grove showcased the strength of Chicago’s underground heavy scene, Stitched Up Heart delivered emotionally charged power, and Infected Rain closed the night with a performance that felt absolutely explosive from beginning to end.