MetalVice

Episode 138: Milwaukee Metal Fest - 2025

As spring winds down we return to Milwaukee, as we have done that past two years, for Milwaukee Metal Fest! It’s become an annual must see festival for us. Not only because it's held at one of our favorite venues of all time, The Rave, but because we know that Jamey will pack the line up with must see bands from the bottom of the bill to the top. This year was no different. Headlining this year we got Down, Black Label Society, and Gwar. With support from Chimaira, Paradise Lost, Rotting Christ, Ov Sulfur, Nekrogoblikon, Repentance, Arch Enemy, Frozen Soul, The Acacia Strain, and so so many more. Even though the temperature outside was cooler this year, there was more than enough energy in The Rave to keep us going.

Episode 137: Arch Enemy

Arch Enemy returns to one of our top venues in the city, The Vic. With support from Fit For An Autopsy (our first time seeing them since the inaugural Headbangers Boat), Baest, and Thrown Into Exile. All things considered for Brian, it was a great night of heavy riffs and good vibes.

Episode 136: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Most of the time, the shows we go to, we know at least one of the bands. On a rare occasion we will go to a show where we know none of the music.  However, when we do this its because we know the music is metal, and of course we will have a good time. Well not on this night. Sort of. Brian knows only two Nick Cave songs; Red Right Hand (because of Scream and the intro track to Ice Nine Kills, also probably because of Scream) and Lover Man (because of the mighty mighty Metallica!). So with the hopes of hearing at least one of these songs, Brian drug Karen to the show.

Episode 135: Trivium/Bullet For My Valentine

We have already seen some amazing shows where bands are celebrating their 20th or 25th anniversary of key albums. From brands like Slipknot, Lamb of god, Mastodon, and Disturbed. This tour, The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour, is no different. With both Trivium playing Ascendancy and Bullet For My Valentine playing The Poisoned in full. With these two bands playing these two albums it would have been a killer time, but of course they had to drag their friends along with. It was a choose your own adventure tour in terms of opener, and for the St. Louis show, we got August Burns Red and Bleed From Within. It was a quick trip south for us, but we made the most of it in an incredible city, with amazing people, a killer venue, and a show to remember.

Episode 134: Paleface Swiss

It was almost a year ago, at Milwaukee Metal Fest 2024, when we saw Paleface Swiss live for the first time. It was one of the best performances of the fest, leaving wanting more. So when they announced their headlining tour ending in Chicago we were excited. Then we saw the venue, Thalia Hall. This is a venue we have known about for some time. Mostly because every person who found out we have never been here had the same statement, ‘You must see a show at Thalia Hall’. From the moment we walked in, we knew this was one of the best venues in the city. Don't get us wrong, the performances from all three bands (Paleface Swiss, Stick To Your Guns, and Nasty) were amazing. The sold out venue just took the show to the next level.

Episode 133: While She Sleeps

Most of the time, it's the top of the bill that draws you to the show. On this night it was the bottom, the first opener that brought us out. While we have seen Vended more times than we can remember, and each show is almost exactly the same, it’s a killer show every time. Regardless of the size of the crowd. This show was no exception. An added bonus, we would get to experience two bands for the first time; While She Sleeps (the headliner) and Bury Tomorrow. By the end of the night one of these two bands would be a major surprise and steal the show for us. Leaving a lasting impression for us. In the end, all of the music was amazing with all of the bands leaving everything on the stage to a less than sold out crowd.

Episode 132: The 66.6 Percent Show

It seems like most shows are going to the four act structure. The days of the three band bill seem to be not the norm. We are not sure why. But when it comes to a tour with three older bands like Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, and Carcass what more could you want. Well, unfortunately for us, we only got to see 2 out of three. Which we hear is not bad. Carcass would let us get a Headbangers vest show checked off, which Brian WANTED to get done. Then there's three killer bands on one stage, on one night, at the start of the week. Who doesn't NEED that.  But then again, the show was at the LiveNation Venue of Aragon Ballroom, which we do not LOVE. Join us as we relive this night and find out what 33.3% we missed out on. 
 
EvilNation: https://www.evilnation.net/

Episode 131: Whitechapel - Hymns In Dissonance Tour 2025

House of Blues Chicago was one of our favorite venues in the city for many years. Over time though we have come to lowth the place. For many reasons. For instance if you are not on the main floor it's easy to find yourself behind a pole without a view of the stage and piss poor sound. Let's also not forget it's a LiveNation venue. For Karen, it’s often a hard pass if a band announces a show at HOB Chicago. We will often skip the show or look to see if the tour is making a stop somewhere else close, like MKE. Then Whitechapel announced a show at HOB, with Brand of Sacrifice, 200 Stab Wounds, and Alluvial. This was a show Karen was not going to miss. So HOB here we come.

Episode 130: Tech For A Day

Our friends in Trash Of The Titans have started a new band, MegaBallad. Instead of a tribute to the Big 4, it's a night celebrating the Hard Rock Power Ballads of the 80’s. Playing decade defining songs from Def Leppard, GNR, Skid Row Bon Jovi and so many more. When we heard they were playing Sherwood Forest Event Center in their home town of Des Moines for their first show we knew we had to be there. Not just to enjoy amazing music by killer musicians, but to lend a helping hand wherever we could. While Brian was expecting to just help load in and out, he may have bit off more then he could chew when he agreed to be Jerry’s guitar tech for the night. Well, not a true guitar tech, but helping to change out guitars in between songs. Still, a small fuck up could spell disaster for the first MegaBallads show. Join us to find out.

Episode 129: Two Shows One Night

When a show is announced and tickets go on sale we will jump on them as soon as we can. Mostly to ensure we get tickets before scalpers grab them all up and resell them for a huge markup. Fuck scalpers. This means that we will have to skip any show that is announced after the first. That's exactly what happened with Dream Theater’s 40th Anniversary tour and Disturbed The Sickness 25th Anniversary tour. We already had tickets to Dream Theater when Disturbed announced. It was going to be a homecoming for Disturbed, playing The United Center, one of the largest venues in the city. So what should we do? Well Brian went to Dream Theater with a friend while Karen went to Disturbed. Join us as we share our experiences seeing two shows in one night.