FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
HOG: Fest Shock and Awe
w/ Marilyn Manson // The Funeral Portrait
Fiserv Forum – 7/17/25 – Milwaukee, WI
©Crystal Buchberger
On July 17th, 2025, Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum became the epicenter of chaos, thunder, and unfiltered rock energy as HOG Fest: Shock & Awe lived up to its explosive name. Thousands of fans poured into the arena – draped in black and covered in tattoos – to witness a lineup that promised both carnage and catharsis. From the moment the doors opened, the energy was electric. You could feel the tension in the air – anticipation charged with adrenaline, the kind of buzz that only comes before a night you know will go down in local rock history.
The evening launched with a blazing performance from The Funeral Portrait, a rising powerhouse in the modern metal scene. Dressed in horror-inspired glam and fueled by pure adrenaline, they came out swinging with relentless riffs and fierce vocals that jolted the crowd into action. Their theatrical edge and fierce command of the stage had even the early arrivers jumping up and down by the second track.
Check out The Funeral Portrait concert photos below:
They weren’t just opening – they were announcing themselves, kicking down the door to a night of mayhem. By the time their set ended, it was clear: these guys weren’t warming up the stage; they were setting it on fire.
The arena lights cut, the stage was drowned in fog, and the unmistakable, twisted world of Marilyn Manson descended. Known for his eerie and unsettling presence, Manson delivered a hypnotic, gothic fever dream of a performance. With disturbing visuals, pulsing strobes, and stage props that looked like they were ripped from a dystopian nightmare, he tore through classics like “This Is the New S**t” and “The Beautiful People” while mixing in newer material that showed he hasn’t lost his bite. His voice was raw, full of venom, and oddly vulnerable in moments, creating an atmosphere that was both thrilling and unnerving. Each song was a chapter in a dark, theatrical ritual, and the audience loved every twisted minute of it.
It was Five Finger Death Punch who detonated the night into pure metal madness. Storming the stage, frontman Ivan Moody wasted no time whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Their set was a relentless barrage of sound, light, and emotion. From thunderous anthems like “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Lift Me Up,” to the soul-punching intensity of “Wrong Side of Heaven.” Fans chanted every word, fists in the air, sweat dripping, fully immersed in the sonic blitz. The band’s chemistry was tight, polished, and aggressive, and the production value brought every drum hit and breakdown to towering life.
Check out the Five Finger Death Punch concert photos below:
“This place is like a home for me,” Moody reminisced about spending many of his summers growing up in Wisconsin. “I came out here tonight very sentimental. I don’t feel like being angry. I’m in a great fucking mood.” Moody’s command of the stage was unmatched – at times snarling and intense, at others cracking jokes or reaching out to fans at the barricade. The night closed with a haunting encore – an unexpectedly stripped-down, almost bluesy version of “The Bleeding” that let the emotional weight settle in. It was a rare, reflective moment after a night of total fury – and it hit hard.
From the fresh blood of The Funeral Portrait to the twisted theatricality of Mailyn Manson and the arena-crushing power of Five Finger Death Punch, Hog Fest: Shock & Awe didn’t just raise the bar – it set it on fire and dropped it into the pit. If you missed this one, you missed a defining night for the Milwaukee rock scene.
