All Photos By Rocky Kessenger/@through_the_metal_lens
Review Contributions From Lillith Kessenger
Friday didn't just launch Milwaukee Metal Fest, it baptized us in sweat, smoke, and steel. From the moment doors opened, there was no denying the gravity of what this weekend meant to the metal faithful. After decades of dreaming about attending this fest, walking into the venue felt like stepping through the gates of Valhalla. And what greeted us inside? Nothing short of mayhem.
The first salvo came from 6FIVE6, setting off the Copycat stage with raw energy and youthful fury. The crowd demanded SLAYER energy, and these guys didn't hesitate to deliver. Next up, horror-thrash maniacs THE LURKING CORPSES took theatrics to wild extreme masks, robes, and a jester laugh straight from your worst nightmare, captured in the glow of stage lights like frames from a twisted horror flick.
Early sets were filled by fierce local talent like SUREFIRE, BURY MY DEMONS, and AVERNUS, each carving out a moment of brutal clarity. The mood plunged deeper into doom as DUSK layered on melancholy riffs thick enough to drown in, while NEST and LEGIONS OF DOOM stomped hard, commanding the attention of everyone within earshot.
The pit fully ignited when FUGITIVE erupted onto the Blue Grape Music Stage around 4:40PM, creating sheer chaos. Shooting from the barricade, bodies flew past me, fists raised, sweat flying, the entire floor moved like a living beast.
Darkness descended further as ROTTING CHRIST enveloped the Sumerian stage in shadowy grandeur, immediately followed by doom legends PENTAGRAM, whose TikTok renaissance had obviously not diluted their loyal and vocal crowd. Their set reinforced exactly why they've lasted since doom's inception uncompromising riffs delivered without gimmicks.
Progressive death madness arrived courtesy of GIGAN, contrasting sharply against SUICIDE SILENCE, whose set felt like an assault. Catching the unguarded grin from guitarist Chris Garza through the lens was a genuine, subtle reminder of what this fest truly meant to everyone, band members included.
Atmospheric black metal giants WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM brought ritualistic intensity, while S.O.D. Tribute provided a jolt of nostalgia, fronted by a visibly energized Jamey Jasta. We knew he'd front this project, but seeing it unfold again on the big stage felt electrifying, like capturing history repeating itself through my lens.
At 8:20PM, my personal highlight arrived: CHIMAIRA. I won't lie, I was there specifically for them. Their reunion was ferocious, emotional, and visceral. From behind the camera, feeling the raw power they unleashed, knowing this was a moment fans had long hoped for, was something I'll remember forever.
Singapore's grindcore masters WORMROT absolutely demolished the Rave Room, while gothic legends PARADISE LOST added a lush, sorrowful atmosphere. LEFT TO DIE honored the history of death metal with reverence and raw brutality, followed by ENSLAVED, who turned the stage into a Norse epic, weaving mythic storytelling and progressive metal mastery into something transcendental.
Closing the night was DOWN, delivering a Southern sludge sermon. Photographing this set felt surreal, Phil Anselmo stalking the stage, his gravelly roar echoing through the venue. As someone who grew up idolizing PANTERA and DOWN, capturing their set with my own lens was grounding and deeply gratifying a reminder of why this music matters so much.
Check out some more photos from Day 1!
All Photos By Rocky Kessenger/@through_the_metal_lens
