REVIEW: Saturday, Milwaukee Metal Fest Day 2

(May 17, The Rave/Eagles Club)

Death Angel

If Day 1 was the warm-up punch, Day 2 was the haymaker. From thrash legends to tech-death savants and goblins with synths, Saturday’s lineup was stacked.

Exodus

The Heavy Hitters

Exodus didn’t just play, the band controlled the venue. The second they stepped onto the Blue Grape Music Stage (Controversially, not the headlining one.), fans went wild. Crowd surfing and large mosh pits lasted throughout the whole entire set with little break. (Thank you security!!) The only real problem was being able to pick between them and Nekrogoblikon who was playing at the same time.

Devin Townsend

Devin Townsend gave the festival a temporary relief from the heavy thrash, instead offering a more experimental sound which fans took with open arms, and raised fists. This set was especially special for the metal community after Townsend’s announcement that had been posted on YouTube and social media, stating, “So I've made the decision to take a break from touring — an indefinite one,”

Macabre

Macabre packed their earlier set with theatrics and costumes that I honestly wasn’t even awake enough the expect. The band played hard for the growing crowd that was showing up after the late night that was day 1, and left nothing on the table, (and me a little flabbergasted.)

Sludge, Speed, and Screams

Eyehategod, New Orleans based sludge band,  played like they were trying to destroy the sound system. Which the large crowd growing in the smaller “Copycat Media” stage didn’t seem to mind one bit.

3 Inches of Blood

3 Inches of Blood made their comeback count. The band had just started up touring in 2024 after a nearly decade long hiatus, 3 Inches of Blood is still able to hone in a crowd as they did years ago. Cam Pipes still belts the band’s heavy metal songs and the crowd responded by slamming into each other and throwing up devil horns.

Nekrogoblikon played a set that packed the  bar stage, a set that definitely would have benefited from at least being in the Rave stage. For the fans that were able to see the band, it was well worth the chaotic crowd. Their mix of melodic death metal and the goblin… theme (?) somehow works.

Black Label Society

The Headliner

Black Label Society closed the night. Although it felt a little out place given the rest of the lineup (they’re more biker-bar metal than the heavier stuff that held out through most of the night), but Zakk Wylde and the band held out, with a large crowd growing, and nearly half of them with matching Black Label Society back patches, you couldn’t doubt the band.

Final Thought: Milwaukee Metal Fest is back in full swing. If you like your weekends loud, sweaty, and surprisingly organized for an event of this caliber, Day 2 proved it’s worth marking your 2026 calendar for.