- Dethklok w/Amon Amarth and Castle Rat
- 05/16/2026 - Landmark Credit Union Live - Milwaukee, WI
- ©Justin Nuoffer
In downtown Milwaukee, the streets were packed with people taking in a gorgeous Saturday in May. The sun was out, and the air was warm. Around the Deer District at Fiserv Forum, the bars and restaurants overflowed. Every outdoor patio was jam-packed. A wedding at the Miller High Life Theatre flooded the sidewalk with onlookers. The liveliness of the area was infectious.
This night, though, was about the brand-new Landmark Credit Union Live and The Amonlock Conquest Tour. The massive venue is a state-of-the-art arena built for a maximum fan experience. It opened mere months ago and has already gained a reputation for impressive sound and visual presentation. The exterior features a large glass facade and an upper-level outdoor space. The side of the building is decorated with paintings of wolves, prairies, and other natural themes associated with the history of Wisconsin.
Walking through the glass doors and into the security checkpoint, you quickly realized how massive the building actually is. Past the ticket scanners and into the main entrance area, the stairs and elevators leading to the private suites and upper-balcony seating sit to the left. On the right, a hallway leading to the coat check runs alongside the merchandise stand. All of this greets you immediately upon entering.
Stairs leading to the main floor are monitored closely as staff keep track of the pit area to prevent overcrowding. Wristbands indicate who is allowed into the space. The balcony above feels sky-high and seemingly endless.
Right now, there might not be a hotter band on Earth than Castle Rat. Looking around Landmark Credit Union Live, the venue was packed from the very first note. The doom metal outfit from Brooklyn, New York, is not only a legit kick-ass band but also an entire theatrical performance.
Riley Pinkerton, the Rat Queen, and Franco Vittore served as guitarists and vocalists. Charley Ruddell handled bass duties. Perched at the back of the stage, the Druid, Joshua Strmic, manned the drums.
Starting the night with “Dagger Dragger,” their sound transported the crowd back to the 1970s and the era of classic rock and metal albums. Pinkerton’s voice soared over the audience, while Vittore’s guitar licks captivated everyone in attendance. The entire band engaged with the crowd throughout the set. Fans along the security barricade received plenty of attention as they oohed and awed over the performance.
Check out the Castle Rat concert photo gallery below:
The Rat Reaperess, Madeline Wright, appeared repeatedly to push the storyline forward. Armed with a scythe, she caused chaos as the band played through “Wizard” and “Siren.” The grand finale arrived during “Serpent.” The Rat Queen and Rat Reaperess engaged in a sword fight that led to the Rat Queen’s death, only for her to be revived by the Plague Doctor and his vampiric blood in a bottle.
Pinkerton began convulsing and flailing around before spitting the blood out with a sword in hand. She paused to let the blood drip from her mouth before returning to the microphone and finishing the show with her sword raised high in the air. No other band performs quite like this. The theatrics elevate the already impressive music to another level. Castle Rat will, without a doubt, become a headlining act soon enough.
The next band on the bill, Amon Amarth, needs no introduction. The legendary Swedish melodic death metal group has played Milwaukee numerous times over the last twenty-five years and always brings an incredible live show. Their stage production featured inflatable Viking effigies and a massive sea creature. Behind the band, a giant video screen displayed visuals connected to each track being performed, adding another layer to the atmosphere. On stage, a massive Viking helmet served as a drum riser, lifting drummer Jocke Wallgren high above the rest of the band.
Opening with “Raven’s Flight” and “Shield Wall” from Berserker, the circle pit expanded almost immediately as bodies and hair whipped around in a frenzy. The crowd was vicious and full of life. Frontman Johan Hegg delivered intense vocals, barking and roaring through the lyrics with relative ease while stomping around the stage.
Every song touched on Norse mythology. “Live for the Kill,” “Cry of the Black Birds,” and “Death in Fire” all explored different stories and themes. Guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg proved themselves masters of their craft as they roamed the stage. Their fingers danced across the frets while they smiled and shouted toward the adoring crowd.
At one point, the band alerted security to an emergency on the main floor. A fan appeared to have passed out and was carried over the barricade by fellow concertgoers before being escorted to the medical area. Hegg made sure to thank the audience for helping the man, emphasizing the importance of taking care of one another.
Then, with Ted Lundström striking his bass, Amon Amarth launched into another relentless run of songs. As always, “Put Your Back Into The Oar” and “We Rule The Waves” led to one of the band’s most famous traditions. The entire general admission floor sat down and mimicked rowing while Hegg commanded the crowd. Even fans in the balcony joined in.
The energy in the room pushed Amon Amarth toward a thunderous conclusion. “One Thousand Burning Arrows” and “War of Gods” bathed the venue in a golden-orange glow. The warmth and crushing heaviness intensified the chaos throughout the room. As the set continued, the music only became heavier and more punishing.
Check out the Amon Amarth concert photo gallery below:
Before a short encore break, the legendary band thanked the crowd. Cups were raised throughout the venue, and Hegg removed the drinking horn from his hip and filled it in celebration, leading directly into “Raise Your Horns.” The positive energy carried into the encore as Amon Amarth returned to roaring applause.
The screen behind the Viking helmet shifted to scenes of a Viking raid as “Saxons and Vikings” blasted through the speakers. Still, the song everyone was waiting for was “Twilight of the Thunder God,” which closed the set. The track unleashed a massive scene of moshing brotherhood, with fans linking arms and moving together as one. The strength of the Norse gods had arrived in Milwaukee and proved its worth.
Then came one of the strangest moments imaginable. Dethklok was next to take the stage. Smoke filled the room and rolled into the eager crowd. At first, the stage sat empty until Gene Hoglan walked to his drum kit. Raising his arms, he flashed metal horns to the crowd. Moments later, the screen behind him lit up with static and displayed the question: “Is Dethklok Back?” As the cheers grew louder, the meter shifted to “YES.”
The rest of the band appeared onstage, led by creator and musical mastermind Brendon Small. Guitarist Nili Brosh stood to the left, while bassist Bryan Beller took position on the right. Since 2007, the band originally created for the animated series Metalocalypse has evolved into a real touring act. That unusual origin story is what makes Dethklok so unique. Fans demanded the fictional band come to life, and eventually it did.
That journey led to this night at Landmark Credit Union Live. The crowd’s excitement intensified as Milwaukee chants of “Deth. Klok.” echoed through the venue before the band launched into “Deththeme.” Music videos and scenes from Metalocalypse played behind the performers, making the entire experience feel like one massive live episode of the show.
With the introduction complete, the band exploded into “Awaken,” and the experience was officially underway. Fog swallowed the floor as the musicians’ silhouettes twisted through flashes of light. Videos featuring the animated characters played behind each song, creating individual stories for every track.
Songs like “Bloodtrocuted,” “Burn The Earth,” and “Bloodlines” rattled the venue with sheer heaviness. Cell phones lit up throughout the crowd as fans recorded the spectacle unfolding before them. The opening portion of the set ended with “Aortic Desecration.” Deep red lights and strobing effects slowly disappeared into the overwhelming haze and fog.
The intermission featured another animated skit, complete with the classic absurd humor of Metalocalypse. The video celebrated the band’s twentieth anniversary and had the crowd laughing throughout. Small’s growls were incredibly precise, syncing perfectly with the animated vocals onscreen as the band tore through “Birthday Dethday.”
Check out the Dethklok concert photo gallery below:
Then the night took a completely unexpected turn. The buildup to “Black Fire Upon Us” felt normal enough. From the back of the room, the venue looked hazy and dim. A few minutes into the song, Small barked through the lyrics while fans headbanged with fists raised high. Suddenly, all of the lights came on, and the stage audio completely cut out. The band stood frozen, looking around in confusion. Moments later, the fire alarms began blaring throughout the venue. Dethklok was quickly ushered offstage while fans were left with no explanation.
In the end, the situation was not the fault of the band. The venue’s air conditioning and ventilation systems became overwhelmed by the amount of fog and shut the entire production down. More than half an hour later, staff evacuated the building. Fans eventually received refunds through the Ticketmaster app. The entire ordeal was awkward and confusing because almost no information was available in the moment. Even so, the performances themselves were absolutely incredible, and the evening ended in perhaps the most Dethklok way imaginable.
The Amonklok Conquest Tour was second to none. The theatrical presentation and stage production were things of beauty, and despite the chaotic ending, the tour was ultimately a raving success.
Catch Dethklok on the Road…
