Butcher Babies stop in Albuquerque to perform at the Launchpad

Butcher Babies stopped in Albuquerque for a show at the Launchpad, a small bar on Central Ave, off the historic Route 66. All the openers were local bands: TAJ, Abandon Saviors, and Illumina A.D. When I arrived at the bar, the street was blocked off due to a street festival, so parking was a challenge. As the doors opened, the crowd slowly poured in. It was a mix of local band fans and diehard Butcher Babies fans.

TAJ is a two-piece metal band from Grants, New Mexico. Comprised of bassist/vocalist Samantha and drummer Anthony, TAJ is here to be heard – loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically heavy. They commanded the stage as they opened the show.

Check on their social media to see what else they are doing as they have a busy 2026 plan:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582754220858

https://www.instagram.com/tajband505

Abandon Saviors is a five-piece metal band from Albuquerque. Andres Diaz on vocals, Luis Orozco and Richard Sena on guitars, Aaron Vega on bass, and Oscar Rodriguez on drums. With the stage filled with fog and candles, the band brought their message in a 30-minute set and seemed to have a huge following.

Here are a few links to follow:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551937769878

https://www.instagram.com/abandonedsaviors

Illumina A.D., a west coast metal group, forged in the shadowlands of Albuquerque. They are a five-member band with a western gothic style, led by singer Nepthisis, guitarists Justin Ennis and Alexander Bane, with bassist Austin Van Henstchel and drummer Justin Cavis. They bring a heavy groove metal and progressive metal atmosphere. They have a powerful presence with their latest album, Days of Blood & Fire, acclaimed by fans and critics alike. They have toured with bands like Butcher Babies, Upon A Burning Body, and Stitched Up Heart. The future looks good for Illumina A.D. as things ramp up for 2026.

https://www.lightafterdeath.org

https://www.facebook.com/illuminametal

https://www.instagram.com/illuminametal

Butcher Babies, a nationally known heavy metalcore band, came to Albuquerque a little shorthanded, but vocalist Heidi Shepherd, guitarist Henry Flury, and bassist Ricky Bonazza, who took on the role of the drums in Albuquerque, filled every crevice of the room with intensity. The crowd was confused as the band was setting up – the drums and two platforms were the only things on stage. With Bonazza behind the drums, Flury jumps on stage with Shepherd entering last.

They started the show off with “BACKSTREETS OF TENNESSEE“ followed by “Red Thunder“ and then their 2015 hit “Monsters Ball,” which really got the crowd shouting and dancing. After that Shepherd starting by telling the crowd that their bassist, Bonazza, was playing the drums because their drummer Dave Nickles had been arrested the night before, the crowd went wild as Shepherd told the crowd don’t worry Dave didn’t actuallt get arrested, he was at a wedding but they didn’t want to cancel the show, so they talked Bonazza into learning the drums in three days. If you didn’t know he was the bassist, he totally convinced us he was a drummer.

This whole show was so different from the four other times I have captured Butcher Babies. The size of the venue, the smaller crowd, and the condensed band made it feel like an intimate night with Heidi Shepherd as they performed an array of older songs. She spent time interacting with the crowd, while Flury worked the crowd to get them jumping and singing with every song. It was a great night of entertainment, and I could tell it was truly unforgettable for the Butcher Babies fans.

If you want to know more about what is going on in the Butcher Babies camp, follow these links and check out what city they are going to next.