DJ Maggie’s – Milwaukee Metal Fest – Highlights
POSTED:: May 22, 2025
FILED UNDER:: Concert Review, Concerts
Death Angel – photo by Maggie
Here are Poundcake Punk DJ Maggie’s highlights from Milwaukee Metal Fest this past weekend:
5. 3 Inches of Blood
While I tend to stray away from cleaner vocals and heavy metal in general, I have a soft spot for 3 Inches of Blood. Cam Pipes’ falsetto is balanced by Justin Hagberg’s growl. Though they have had line-up changes over the years (like probably most bands on the bill), this roster was cohesive and fun to watch (specifically Nick Cates). Always a blast to see a Tony Hawk soundtrack alum live, and the crowd lit up for “Deadly Sinners.” Also the happiest-looking crowd post-show–everyone was buzzing.
4. Tracheotomy
A 5-piece out of Fort Lauderdale, these guys kicked off Sunday with a deathcore bang. They looked excessively young, especially in a square block that has more aging bald-and-bearded dudes than a Harley meet up. It was their bassist’s birthday, and they were self-aware enough to wish him a happy 15th (I’d guess 21st, conservatively). It can be difficult to start the day off and play to a large room before the festival hordes arrive (they were on the Blue Grape Music Stage aka the Rave), but they left a great impression on those of us who were there. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t empty–the energy they brought deserved a wall-to-wall crowd though.
3. Toxic Holocaust
I’m sure it’s impossible to figure out how to place some of these groups in the wildly varied capacity rooms, but Toxic Holocaust could have played a larger stage. I found myself wedged up against the speakers (against which my crude foam earplugs were EXTREMELY effective) with a subpar view but the energy was unmatched. Highlights include: a woman in a niqab stage diving to “War Is Hell” and getting the hell out of that smelly sauna of a room after the set was done.
2. Dillinger Escape Plan
Complete with original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis in tow, I felt super fortunate to be able to see them perform Calculating Infinity. Minakakis recounted how the band had performed at the 1998 iteration of the festival and was met with heckling for not being “metal enough,” a dated sentiment that seemed laughable given this year’s inclusion of a folk-punk act. While maybe not as rowdy as they were upon the initial release of the album, there was a mic stand thrown and exceptional stage dives by Minakakis and Ben Weinman.
1. Exodus
At the top of my list is another performance I felt lucky to see. Tom Hunting is an absolute monster who propels the band forward at a break-neck speed, a remarkable display of fitness and endurance for a man who is 60 years old and in cancer remission. Rob Dukes (who honestly terrifies me) is back on the mic, bringing out Death Angel’s Mark Osegueda for “A Lesson in Violence.” Gary Holt is a living legend who makes even the most complex solos look simple. Covering ground from Bonded by Blood to Persona Non Grata, this was surely a highlight for any thrash fan at the festival.