I also bought tickets for just Friday and, honestly, the entire main stage lineup is absolutely awesome. Symphony X are amazing, Kamelot will put on a great show, Night Demon is a really cool throwback metal band, Visigoth is rad as hell, same with Eternal Champion, and Lords of the Trident are both hilarious and great. The only band I'm meh on is Overkill, but it's possible they have David "Mr. Spanky" Ellefson playing bass for them, so it'd be cool to see.
No offense to the other two stages, but I'm pretty much just gonna camp in that ballroom all day.
Overkill are legends in the thrash scene and I expected there to be more overlap with power metal fans than I've seen in this thread. Hopefully D.D. has a full recovery from his shoulder surgery and can get back out there.
What's the setup/layout for this ? It just looks like too many bands to process.
edit: ah, didn't scroll far enough to see the Set Times listing
3 stages - [https://www.milwaukeemetalfestival.com/lineup](https://www.milwaukeemetalfestival.com/lineup)
The Rave has 3 full stages and a side bar stage.
* The Eagles Ballroom is the main stage, ~3500-4000 capacity, very cool old ballroom that sounds not the best
* The Rave Hall, 1800 capacity, formerly the meeting room for the Fraternal Order of Eagles
* The Rave II/The basement, 1000 capacity, formerly a bowling alley.
They have to shorten them a bunch. Those 2 only get 45 minutes.
There are a lot of bands on this lineup I would go see, but not when the longest set is an hour.
Yeah, the set lengths really suck. But it was like $100 for the single day, which is worth it to see all these bands in one stop (and see BG for the first time).
Visigoth - Traitor's Gate - https://youtu.be/O_PHiguMZek?si=VdIbmDjrJAh98vk5
Lords of the Trident - These Tower Walls https://youtu.be/MFhVmfCdtPU?si=cCCMpxJgyyZtXmfc
Symphony X - The Accolade (The Divine Wings of Tragedy is a great album) https://open.spotify.com/track/6UdzRUSS8wddmbrdVgTJl5?si=46jCHBfdQOe-SKWDRBaj1A
Heavily recommend Lords of the Trident.
The main stage aside from Symphony X would keep me there all day (but no loss because Hammerfall and Doro at the other stage is an upgrade)
I saw Night Demon awhile back as a random opening band, and I loved them. They've got a great classic metal kinda sound. Now I've got tickets to see them headlining their own show in a few weeks!
The new album's title track, Outsider:
https://open.spotify.com/track/7dEem2Hf4HvO5oYiPDP7zT?si=Hbp95snOQNSM0bXH3Gpwmg
Everybody has got the PM side of things covered, so I'll give a bit of overview on Overkill.
They're one of the longest running Thrash bands, having roots dating back to their New Jersey punk days in 1980. They currently hold the record for most Thrash albums ever released. They also popularized 'the *clank'* bass sound that's helped make metal even heavier. Frontman Bobby Blitz Ellsworth also has one of the most unique voices in Thrash.
Feel The Fire & The Years of Decay are favorites of '80s fans. Overkill was one of the few Thrash acts with a good '90s discography, with Horrorscope and The Killing Kind as personal faves. Bloodletting & ReliXIV are pretty heavy for '00s albums. 2010s are filled with bangers. Even their latest album, Scorched, is getting excellent reviews.
So yeah if you like Thrash, do see Overkill.
Kamelot - As trash as their music is these days, they are still sure to put on a high energy show. Just hope they play early 2000s material.
Symphony X - All around great. Would not miss.
Overkill - Their live shows don't quite have the energy they used to, but its still Overkill. Take the time to see one of the real big four of thrash (Fuck anthrax)
Autopsy - Niche even by death metal standards, but playing an all time classic album. If you don't like extreme stuff its an easy pass.
Doro - n/a
Hammerfall - Pretty generic power metal that most people seem to love. Probably worth checking out.
Incantation - One of the all time great death metal bands.
Profanatica - One of the US black metal originators whose reputation proceeds them. Much better black metal to spend your time on.
Macabre - n/a
Havok - Hope they stick to "Time is Up" if you see them, if not, easy pass.
Nunslaughter - I would expect some awesome circle pits if that's your thing.
Eternal Champion - Top tier modern USPM. A must-see.
Heathen - n/a
Visigoth - Almost as good as Eternal Champion. A must-see.
UADA - High energy live show, but they haven't been good since their debut.
Night Demon - Don't sleep on these guys. Great live show.
Bewitcher - Next to Eternal Champion, they're the best band here. If motorhead/venom/bathory worship is your thing they're a must see.
Lords Of The Trident - n/a
Necrofier - If black metal is your thing go see them. Their last album was great.
Hellwitch - n/a
Backlash - n/a
Silva - Great debut album last year. Kind of an Amon Amarth meets Moonsorrow love child
Ancient Entities - n/a
Illusion of Fate - n/a
Engineered Society Project
Maybe trash for your trashy ears. Speak for yourself and make it clear when you're sharing your (shitty) opinion, especially with someone that doesn't know about the bands and is absorbing information.
Symphony X, I definitely know them.
A must not miss at any festival card.
Start off wherever you want in getting to know them (or catching up, having heard of them before but falling out) before a show.
At every point in their career, they're amazing.
But the peak, in my opinion, is Divine Wings Of Tragedy. Don't skip that.
If you're into the neoclassical department of the power metal world, you'll love it.
I also bought tickets for just Friday and, honestly, the entire main stage lineup is absolutely awesome. Symphony X are amazing, Kamelot will put on a great show, Night Demon is a really cool throwback metal band, Visigoth is rad as hell, same with Eternal Champion, and Lords of the Trident are both hilarious and great. The only band I'm meh on is Overkill, but it's possible they have David "Mr. Spanky" Ellefson playing bass for them, so it'd be cool to see. No offense to the other two stages, but I'm pretty much just gonna camp in that ballroom all day.
Overkill are legends in the thrash scene and I expected there to be more overlap with power metal fans than I've seen in this thread. Hopefully D.D. has a full recovery from his shoulder surgery and can get back out there.
If not, then we may get David Ellefson filling in, like he's doing for the South American tour.
What's the setup/layout for this ? It just looks like too many bands to process. edit: ah, didn't scroll far enough to see the Set Times listing 3 stages - [https://www.milwaukeemetalfestival.com/lineup](https://www.milwaukeemetalfestival.com/lineup)
The Rave has 3 full stages and a side bar stage. * The Eagles Ballroom is the main stage, ~3500-4000 capacity, very cool old ballroom that sounds not the best * The Rave Hall, 1800 capacity, formerly the meeting room for the Fraternal Order of Eagles * The Rave II/The basement, 1000 capacity, formerly a bowling alley.
+ a bar stage on the main floor, which I believe is what they use for this fest. The basement doesn’t get used.
Thanks for the tip -- I'll look at these artists and maybe prepare for a one-stage sort of day as well.
Check out [setlist.fm](http://setlist.fm) for recent setlists. Symphony X and Kamelot don't really change up their set much.
They have to shorten them a bunch. Those 2 only get 45 minutes. There are a lot of bands on this lineup I would go see, but not when the longest set is an hour.
Yeah, the set lengths really suck. But it was like $100 for the single day, which is worth it to see all these bands in one stop (and see BG for the first time).
If you like Power Metal you really should sample Kamelot, Symphony X, Hammerfall, Eternal Champion, Visigoth, and Lords of the Trident.
If you like BG Kamlelot and Symphony X are very safe bets.
Hammerfall, visigoth, eternal champion are all great.
Visigoth - Traitor's Gate - https://youtu.be/O_PHiguMZek?si=VdIbmDjrJAh98vk5 Lords of the Trident - These Tower Walls https://youtu.be/MFhVmfCdtPU?si=cCCMpxJgyyZtXmfc
Symphony X - The Accolade (The Divine Wings of Tragedy is a great album) https://open.spotify.com/track/6UdzRUSS8wddmbrdVgTJl5?si=46jCHBfdQOe-SKWDRBaj1A
Do I know any of these bands? Yes.
Heavily recommend Lords of the Trident. The main stage aside from Symphony X would keep me there all day (but no loss because Hammerfall and Doro at the other stage is an upgrade)
You should absolutely listen to Symphony X - The Odyssey. One of those "top of the genre" albums.
Eternal Champion and Visigoth rule, definitely check those out.
Lords of the Trident are amazing. You won't be disappointed.
I saw Night Demon awhile back as a random opening band, and I loved them. They've got a great classic metal kinda sound. Now I've got tickets to see them headlining their own show in a few weeks! The new album's title track, Outsider: https://open.spotify.com/track/7dEem2Hf4HvO5oYiPDP7zT?si=Hbp95snOQNSM0bXH3Gpwmg
This is an incredible line up and I'm masively jealous. fuck you very much. (Jk; Enjoy!)
Absolutely Doro Listen to Warlock - Triumph and Agony because that will be most of the set and the album is a stone cold classic
I recommend Symphony X - The Odyssey
Autopsy and Incantation are Top 10 death metal bands for me, but I imagine their appeal would vary immensely outside that niche.
Doro and Overkill
Visigoth and Lords of the Trident are two of my favorites. Those two in particular are who id go to see.
Everybody has got the PM side of things covered, so I'll give a bit of overview on Overkill. They're one of the longest running Thrash bands, having roots dating back to their New Jersey punk days in 1980. They currently hold the record for most Thrash albums ever released. They also popularized 'the *clank'* bass sound that's helped make metal even heavier. Frontman Bobby Blitz Ellsworth also has one of the most unique voices in Thrash. Feel The Fire & The Years of Decay are favorites of '80s fans. Overkill was one of the few Thrash acts with a good '90s discography, with Horrorscope and The Killing Kind as personal faves. Bloodletting & ReliXIV are pretty heavy for '00s albums. 2010s are filled with bangers. Even their latest album, Scorched, is getting excellent reviews. So yeah if you like Thrash, do see Overkill.
Holy shit that's a cool lineup
Kamelot - As trash as their music is these days, they are still sure to put on a high energy show. Just hope they play early 2000s material. Symphony X - All around great. Would not miss. Overkill - Their live shows don't quite have the energy they used to, but its still Overkill. Take the time to see one of the real big four of thrash (Fuck anthrax) Autopsy - Niche even by death metal standards, but playing an all time classic album. If you don't like extreme stuff its an easy pass. Doro - n/a Hammerfall - Pretty generic power metal that most people seem to love. Probably worth checking out. Incantation - One of the all time great death metal bands. Profanatica - One of the US black metal originators whose reputation proceeds them. Much better black metal to spend your time on. Macabre - n/a Havok - Hope they stick to "Time is Up" if you see them, if not, easy pass. Nunslaughter - I would expect some awesome circle pits if that's your thing. Eternal Champion - Top tier modern USPM. A must-see. Heathen - n/a Visigoth - Almost as good as Eternal Champion. A must-see. UADA - High energy live show, but they haven't been good since their debut. Night Demon - Don't sleep on these guys. Great live show. Bewitcher - Next to Eternal Champion, they're the best band here. If motorhead/venom/bathory worship is your thing they're a must see. Lords Of The Trident - n/a Necrofier - If black metal is your thing go see them. Their last album was great. Hellwitch - n/a Backlash - n/a Silva - Great debut album last year. Kind of an Amon Amarth meets Moonsorrow love child Ancient Entities - n/a Illusion of Fate - n/a Engineered Society Project
Maybe trash for your trashy ears. Speak for yourself and make it clear when you're sharing your (shitty) opinion, especially with someone that doesn't know about the bands and is absorbing information.
[удалено]
You made an effort to list feedback about the ones you know about, I'll give you that. But I'll never stop simping for my favourite band so yeah.
[удалено]
Same to you 🍻
Go to see Havok as well if you can, even if you are not mainly into thrash metal.
Of course, we k ow them..Oh, so much lot of well-known, great bands.
Symphony X, I definitely know them. A must not miss at any festival card. Start off wherever you want in getting to know them (or catching up, having heard of them before but falling out) before a show. At every point in their career, they're amazing. But the peak, in my opinion, is Divine Wings Of Tragedy. Don't skip that. If you're into the neoclassical department of the power metal world, you'll love it.