There’s something beautifully ironic about a band named The Nocturnal Affair igniting a venue like Birmingham’s Asylum before the sun has even fully set. On a night where gothic grandeur met sweltering heat, the Las Vegas dark rock outfit delivered a set that was as emotionally rich as it was musically explosive, proving themselves more than worthy support for Fearless Vampire Killers and the master of macabre himself, Wednesday 13.
The Nocturnal Affair @ The Asylum, Birmingham
Walking into The Asylum, you could feel the anticipation hanging thick in the air, alongside the literal humidity. With sweat already starting to bead on brows before the first note was struck, this was always going to be one of those gigs. Unrelentingly hot, sold out, packed to the rafters, and gloriously unhinged.
From the moment frontman Brendan Shane stalked the stage, clad in leather, no less, it was clear The Nocturnal Affair hadn’t come to play it safe. If anything, the heat seemed to energise them. Opening with moody intensity and building into crushing grooves, their set played like a carefully crafted journey through emotional decay, defiance, and dark romanticism.
Fan favourites like Cross Me Out hit hard, sending a visible ripple through the crowd. You could see it in the movement, the head banging, the swaying bodies, and the shout outs from fans who clearly loving it from the get-go. Brendan’s vocals, aching one moment, roaring the next, carried the kind of haunted conviction that forces a room to listen.
And yet, The Nocturnal Affair never fell into the trap of taking themselves too seriously. Their cover of Haddaway’s What Is Love dropped towards the end of the set like a shot of gothic adrenaline. With a pounding beat, and an irresistible layer of industrial shimmer, the song transformed from club classic to fist-pumping alt-metal anthem. As the chorus hit, the crowd exploded into bouncing bodies and headbanging chaos, leather, sweat, and eyeliner flying in every direction.
It was a brave night to wear anything heavier than a t-shirt, let alone full-stage gear, but Brendan Shane pushed through with theatrical flair but despite the heat, the rest of the bands swirling hair and manic drumming, never once lost momentum. Their set moved like clockwork, tight, dynamic, and unafraid to slow down for emotional weight when needed.
Musically, The Nocturnal Affair blend influences from across the alternative spectrum echoes of Type O Negative and NIN swirl together into something that feels both familiar and new. Tracks like Down and 1000 Ways To Die showcase a knack for marrying melody with menace, and even in support slot constraints with only 30 minutes to impress, they built a world you wanted to stay in longer.
By the time their final song rang out, the Asylum crowd wasn’t just politely applauding, they were roaring. Not the kind of tepid clap usually reserved for opening acts, but a genuine, guttural You’re awesome shout outs from the crowd. For a city like Birmingham, the birthplace of metal itself, especially in one healing from the recent passing of Ozzy, that kind of reception means something.
The Nocturnal Affair may be visitors here, but after tonight’s performance, it’s safe to say they’ve left their mark on this famously hard-to-impress crowd. With the right trajectory, it won’t be long before they’re headlining stages like this on their own terms and if that journey includes a slot at a festival like Download, I think they’ll be well on their way to finding a large fan base here in the UK.
Catch the rest of The Nocturnal Affair’s UK tour as they continue supporting Wednesday 13, followed by dates with Drowning Pool across the Europe. And don’t miss my interview with frontman Brendan Shane, where we dive into the band’s journey, influences, and what’s next on the cards for the gothic metal heads.
Live review & photography of The Nocturnal Affair @ The Asylum, Birmingham, by Henry Finnegan on 26th July 2025. Instagram: @finneganfoto | Facebook: @finneganfoto
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