The last two days were an absolute blur of intensity, adrenaline, and breathtaking performances—and somehow, the third and final day came along ready to turn it all the way up.
And damn… did it deliver.
The bands brought everything they had. The music was loud, the performances were on fire, and somehow the whole day rolled like a perfectly tuned machine. No major technical disasters, no drama—just great music, great people, and one hell of a good time.
But the best part wasn’t just what happened on stage.
It was everything in between.
The laughs. The stories. The late-night hangouts. The ridiculous moments. The friendships. The feeling of being surrounded by people who understand exactly why we do this in the first place.
Three days. Countless songs. Sweat, noise, laughter, and memories that will be burned into our brains forever.
This wasn’t just a weekend of music.
It was three days of rock & roll, brotherhood, friendship, and living in the moment.
The amps may be quiet now, but the memories are going to be loud for a long damn time.
What a ride.
Celestial Wizard opened the final day of the festival with an energetic set that immediately established the band’s willingness to challenge conventional boundaries within heavy metal. Their sound is grounded in power metal, while incorporating elements of death metal that give their material a darker and more aggressive edge.
One of the more distinctive aspects of the performance was the use of dual vocals. The contrasting vocal approaches added considerable depth and color to the songs, complementing the band’s dynamic and often unpredictable arrangements. Rather than relying on familiar genre formulas, Celestial Wizard demonstrated a clear interest in exploring different ideas and expanding the possibilities of their sound.
The band’s unconventional approach initially appeared to leave some members of the audience uncertain about what to expect. As the set progressed, however, the crowd became increasingly receptive, responding to the energy and individuality of the performance.
Celestial Wizard delivered an engaging opening set that emphasized creativity and experimentation. Their willingness to take risks and move beyond established conventions made for an enjoyable and distinctive performance, setting an appropriately adventurous tone for the final day of the festival.
California’s Velosity arrived onstage with one objective: play fast, play hard, and leave the audience gasping for air. This three-piece delivered a relentless dose of traditional thrash metal at breakneck speed, unleashing one high-octane track after another with very little time for the crowd to catch its breath.
“Roadrunner metal” is an apt description for Velosity’s approach. Their songs are built around speed and momentum, but the performance was far more than an exercise in velocity. Despite the demanding pace of the material, all three musicians demonstrated impressive technical proficiency and rigorous precision. Every instrument remained clearly audible, allowing the individual performances to shine through the wall of sound.
Guitarist Oscar Castillo was particularly impressive, delivering a series of sharp, aggressive solos that added another dimension to the band’s attack. The intensity never compromised the execution, and Velosity maintained a remarkable level of control throughout the set.
The band approached every song as if they were going for the kill, and they accomplished that mission with convincing results. Their enthusiasm was impossible to miss, while their genuine affection for heavy metal came through in every riff, beat, and screaming guitar lead.
That energy extended beyond the stage as well. The members of Velosity proved to be one of the most charismatic and entertaining groups of the festival offstage, with plenty of laughter and good-natured interaction following their performance.
Velosity may have arrived with speed on their minds, but they left behind something equally important: a memorable performance fueled by musicianship, personality, and an unmistakable love for the genre.
Wisconsin’s Bray Road has become a familiar presence at this festival, performing on an annual basis and contributing far beyond their time onstage. The band members provide equipment and assist with many of the technical aspects of the festival, making their eventual appearance onstage feel like a natural opportunity to step away from the work and simply let loose.
And that is exactly what they did.
Bray Road delivers thrash metal with a strong sense of melody, combining the aggression and intensity of the genre with memorable songwriting. Over the years, the band has built a sizeable local following, and appearances such as this provide an excellent opportunity to introduce their music to new listeners while reconnecting with their established audience.
The band played a solid and confident set, with several songs clearly familiar to members of the crowd. Those tracks received particularly enthusiastic responses, demonstrating the connection Bray Road has developed with its audience over the years.
Onstage, the band projected plenty of energy and appeared to genuinely enjoy the opportunity to perform. There was a relaxed, enthusiastic quality to the set that complemented the festival atmosphere perfectly.
After spending so much time helping make the festival happen behind the scenes, Bray Road deserved the opportunity to step into the spotlight—and they made the most of it. Their performance was a strong reminder that the heart of a local metal scene is often built not only on the bands themselves, but on the people willing to contribute their time, effort, and passion to keep the music alive.
As Castle was being introduced by the production manager, the evening took an unexpected turn. Before the band even took the stage, he announced his retirement and then surprised his girlfriend with a marriage proposal. Thankfully, she said yes—and if Castle keeps making nights like this memorable, they may have just secured themselves a future wedding gig.
Jokes aside, once the engagement celebration was over, Castle got down to business, and what followed was a remarkable performance.
The band had plenty to celebrate beyond the engagement. Their brand-new album, Carrie Chains, had just been released, and Castle was clearly eager to bring some of that new material to the stage. Like a locomotive gathering steam, the band took some time to build momentum, but once they reached full power, there was absolutely no stopping them.
Guitarist Mat Davis uttered a tone that was impossible to ignore. Piercing and razor-sharp, his guitar sound cut through the room with an intensity that seemed to penetrate both body and mind. Earplugs or not, that guitar was getting through.
Fronting the band, Elizabeth Blackwell proved once again that she was born for the role. Handling both bass and vocals, she brought a commanding physical presence to the performance. Her connection to the music was unmistakable; she didn’t simply perform the songs, she appeared to be submitting herself completely to them. Every movement seemed to come from the music itself, turning her into a conduit for the emotion and energy of the performance.
And that energy was contagious.
As Castle continued to build momentum, the intensity pouring from the stage became increasingly difficult to resist. The band’s collective energy seemed to work its way into the audience, drawing everyone deeper into the experience until surrender became the only reasonable option.
It was dark, powerful, hypnotic, and undeniably wicked.
Castle didn’t simply play a show—they created an atmosphere that took over the room.
Castle shined brightly tonight.
Coven 6669 delivered a particularly memorable performance this evening, not only because of the intensity of their set, but because the show marked an important moment in the band’s history.
The band featured two vocalists, Jamie Carter and Charlie Aust, creating a dynamic front line that added considerable character to the performance. However, this appearance carried additional significance, as Carter had decided to retire and this was his final show with Coven 6669. Having both frontmen perform together for this farewell performance made the occasion especially meaningful, with the evening effectively becoming a passing of the torch from one vocalist to the other.
Despite the emotional significance of the night, Coven 6669 kept the atmosphere energetic and entertaining. Their set was intense from beginning to end, but the band also injected a healthy dose of humor into the performance, preventing the occasion from becoming overly solemn.
The audience responded enthusiastically. The floor was filled with people thrashing, moving to the music, and clearly embracing the moment. There was a strong sense of celebration throughout the set, as fans witnessed both the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Coven 6669 delivered the kind of performance that makes a festival memorable—not only through the music, but through the moments and emotions surrounding it. For Jamie Carter, it was a farewell. For Charlie Aust, it represented a new beginning. And for the audience, it was a chance to witness both unfold on the same stage.
Forced Entry was arguably the most anticipated band of the evening. Their first live performance in decades carried enormous expectations, and there was inevitably a certain amount of pressure on the musicians to maintain after such a long absence.
One notable change in the lineup was the absence of original guitarist Brad Hull, whose position was filled by Steve Campbell. Any concerns about how the new lineup would translate to the stage, however, were quickly put to rest.
From the opening notes of “Anaconda,” it was immediately apparent that everything was in place. Forced Entry hit the stage with tremendous force, and the audience responded instantly. The band went down like a storm, with the songs gaining momentum as the set progressed and one powerful performance following another.
Bassist and vocalist Tony Benjamins proved that the passage of more than three decades had done little to diminish his presence. His vocals remained powerful, while his distinctive stage persona retained the charisma that helped define Forced Entry in the first place. Watching him command the stage again was one of the evening’s highlights.
The band’s long-awaited return was met with an audience that was more than ready to welcome them back. There was a palpable sense of excitement throughout the room, and Forced Entry responded with a performance that made the wait feel worthwhile.
The band saved an especially effective moment for the finale, closing their set with a wicked rendition of Metallica’s “Creeping Death.” It was a fitting way to end a performance that had been building anticipation for decades.
After such a long absence, Forced Entry had plenty to prove. Judging by the reaction in the room, they made their return count.
Morbid Saint may have been a late addition to the festival lineup, but they certainly didn't perform like a band that had arrived at the last minute. From the moment they took the stage, they unleashed an unrelenting assault that threatened to tear the room apart.
The Wisconsin veterans approached their set with the kind of intensity that has long been associated with their underground reputation. Relentless from beginning to end, Morbid Saint wasted little time between songs and made every minute onstage count. Their aggressive attack immediately got the crowd moving, raising the intensity level of the festival in the process.
There was nothing unnecessary about the performance. The set was direct, focused, and brutally effective, with the band maintaining a relentless pace throughout. Morbid Saint came to play, and they had no interest in letting the audience catch its breath.
Seeing one of Wisconsin's most respected underground metal bands take part in the final edition of Blades of Steel was particularly fitting. The band represents an important part of the region's metal history, and their appearance added another significant chapter to the festival's farewell.
Morbid Saint played a powerful performance, left everything on the stage, and took no prisoners.
For a late addition to the bill, they made one hell of an impact.
Raven is a spectacular live band, and their performance this evening provided another reminder of why. With a powerful catalog of songs, an intense stage presence, and seemingly limitless energy, the band delivered one of the most physically demanding performances of the festival.
It was especially meaningful to see John Gallagher back in action following a period away from the stage to address serious health issues and recover from surgery. His return was met with the same determination that has characterized Raven throughout its long career. Alongside his brother Mark, John remains a natural-born performer—someone who seems incapable of simply standing still when there is a stage in front of him.
The addition of drummer Mike Heller completes a lineup capable of generating an almost absurd amount of energy. From the opening song, Raven exploded onto the stage and maintained that intensity throughout the entire set. There was no gradual build-up and no noticeable let-up. The band simply went for it from beginning to end.
Watching the Gallagher brothers perform is an experience in itself. They give everything they have to the audience, and then somehow find another gear. Raven’s performance felt less like a conventional concert and more like a full-body workout, with an extraordinary amount of energy and, inevitably, plenty of sweat.
The set list offered an effective balance between Raven’s classic material and newer songs, demonstrating that the band’s current material can stand comfortably alongside the songs that established their reputation. Decades into their career, the music remains every bit as forceful and engaging onstage.
There is something genuinely unique about seeing Raven perform. Their combination of musicianship, personality, physicality, and sheer enthusiasm is difficult to replicate. They play as though every performance could be their last opportunity to leave everything on the stage—and that urgency is precisely what makes them so compelling.
Raven once again proved that heavy metal can be loud, fast, demanding, and incredibly fun. By the end of the set, the band had left the stage drenched in sweat and the audience thoroughly energized.
Some bands play a concert.
Raven puts you through the workout with them.
Metal Church headlined the final edition of Blades of Steel, bringing an appropriately historic performance to a festival that had already delivered three days of memorable heavy metal. With a current lineup featuring bassist David Ellefson and vocalist Brian Allen, the band arrived with both an impressive pedigree and a new album, Dead to Rights, continuing the legacy of one of American metal’s most enduring acts.
Metal Church wasted no time establishing control of the room. Opening with “Ton of Bricks,” the band immediately connected with the audience, and each subsequent song seemed to raise the intensity another notch. Rather than attempting to cover their entire career, the set concentrated heavily on material from the first three albums—a decision that proved particularly effective.
The early catalog remains one of Metal Church’s greatest strengths, and hearing these songs performed by a well-rehearsed and highly focused lineup demonstrated just how durable the material has become. The band came prepared to deliver, and there was a sense of purpose behind every song.
Brian Allen handled the classic material with confidence, bringing his own character to songs that have been part of the band’s history for decades. His performance helped breathe new life into the familiar tracks, while the audience responded with remarkable enthusiasm. Song after song was greeted with an increasingly passionate reaction, providing a powerful reminder of the lasting connection these compositions have established with metal fans.
The main set concluded with the title track from the new album, Dead to Rights, giving the audience a glimpse of the band’s current direction before they returned for the encore. “Beyond the Black” and the anthemic “Metal Church” provided a fitting conclusion, sending the crowd off with two songs that have become essential parts of the band’s identity.
You simply cannot go wrong when the material is this strong.
Metal Church closed the final edition of Blades of Steel with the authority and conviction expected from a headliner of their stature. Their performance celebrated both the enduring power of their classic material and the continuation of the band’s story into a new chapter.
It was more than the final set of the festival. It was the final word, and it came from Kurdt Vanderhoof and his crew.
Metal Church delivered the closing blessings to Blades of Steel, bringing three days of heavy music, friendship, and unforgettable memories to an end—and giving a very special festival the send-off it deserved.
As the night came to a close, there was an overwhelming feeling that something truly special was coming to an end.
From the first note of Living Fast to the final chord of Metal Church, Blades of Steel rocked hard. For three days, the festival presented powerful performances, unforgettable moments, and the kind of atmosphere that can only exist when a community of metal fans comes together under one roof.
Promoter Randy Kastner brought the festival to its final chapter with a triumphant sold-out show, an appropriate conclusion to an event that had become so much more than a series of concerts.
Over the years, close friendships and lasting relationships formed around Blades of Steel. There were always familiar faces in the crowd—the people you expected to see, even if you didn't necessarily know them personally. Somehow, that didn't matter. There was a sense of camaraderie that extended throughout the entire room. For a few days each year, everyone belonged to the same tribe.
That may ultimately be what made this festival so special.
It wasn't just about the bands. It wasn't just about the music. It was about the people, the shared experiences, the laughter, the friendships, and the countless memories created along the way.
And now, after all those years, the lights have gone down for the final time.
As Ronnie James Dio once sang, “Good things never last…”
Perhaps that's what makes them so precious.
Blades of Steel may be over, but the music will continue, the friendships will endure, and the memories will remain. Somewhere out there, the amps will be turned up again, the guitars will start screaming, and we'll all remember what it felt like to be there.
Until then, raise a glass, turn the music up loud, and remember three incredible days of heavy metal.
Madison will never rock this hard again!
Long live Blades of Steel!
Mark Kadzielawa
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