Butcher Babies frontwoman Heidi Shepherd has opened up about what she found most difficult following Carla Harvey’s 2024 departure from the band, as she became the sole singer. Shepherd shared her thoughts in comments made via Spin.
Shepherd reflected on how Harvey’s exit affected her personally and the band as a whole. She described the hardest part of the change and discussed how she has moved forward with Butcher Babies.
“I think the hardest part about it all was really just the loss of a best friend of 20-something years, you know?” Shepherd said. “I didn’t know it was going to be so hard.”
“I had this link on my arm, a BFF right here with me for 20 years. And now it’s, like, where do I stand as an individual not attached to that? It’s still something that I have to look at and think, will I ever get to that friendship again with someone else? Or is that friendship gone forever?”
Shepherd acknowledged Harvey’s choice to leave the band while explaining her own commitment to its future. “When somebody decides that all the years and all the work and stuff that you put into something, that they’re finished with it, that’s fine. And I have had to keep telling myself, that’s okay. I respect it. But my journey is not done. Henry’s journey is not done. And I feel like I have a duty, not just to myself, but to our fans, to our managers, to our agents, to our lawyer, people that have been with us for almost 20 years.”
She added that the band represents something larger than any single member. “This is so much bigger than two people. This is so much bigger than five people. This is so much bigger than a band. I had to look at it and say, all right, we need to keep this going. And honestly, I feel stronger than ever.”
Shepherd made these remarks as she discussed becoming Butcher Babies’ sole frontwoman following Harvey’s departure from the band.
Butcher Babies were formed in 2010 by Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey as co-vocalists. In July 2024, Harvey announced she was leaving the metalcore group after 15 years, making Shepherd the band’s sole frontwoman. The founding member had worked on two EPs and five full-length albums with the band, along with countless tours throughout her time as part of Butcher Babies.
Following her departure from Butcher Babies, Harvey moved on to new musical projects. In January 2025, Harvey joined Lords of Acid as a member. She also formed a musical group called The Violent Hour with her husband Charlie Benante.
The band has continued to perform and expand its schedule since Harvey’s exit. Butcher Babies played their first show without Harvey at the Stonehenge Festival in Steenwijk, Netherlands on July 27, 2024, with Shepherd handling the vocal parts. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Heidi Shepherd, guitarist Henry Flury, drummer Dave Nickles, and bassist Sean Violet.
The band’s forward momentum includes new musical material and tour dates. Their first album without Harvey is titled Nightbloom. Butcher Babies also announced plans to replace Oceano on Attila’s 2025 America’s Rejects tour, alongside Ded, Dealer, and Nathan James on the bill. The band is expanding its live schedule with a headlining tour planned for the fall.
