- ORBIT CULTURE w/ Ov Sulfur + Atlas
- 3/20/26 - The Rave 2 Stage- Milwaukee, WI
- ©Justin Nuoffer / NuofferMedia.com
It was a gorgeous day in Milwaukee, with the sun beating down on the parking lot behind The Rave/Eagles Club, where fans gathered early for a pair of competing shows. While thrash legends Testament drew a crowd for the early set, attention here turned to the basement, where Orbit Culture prepared to take over the Rave 2 stage. Long before doors opened, fans lined the street and stretched across an entire block, their excitement impossible to contain. In the lot, trunks were popped, drinks were shared, and laughter carried through the warm air, setting the tone for the night ahead.
Once the side doors opened, the crowd quickly funneled into the venue and down into the Rave 2 room. Inside, the space revealed its past life as a bowling alley, now transformed into an intimate concert setting. The stage sat directly ahead, only a few feet off the ground, creating a close, almost claustrophobic connection between band and audience. The barricade filled instantly, while merchandise lined a makeshift wall in the back corner. Bars ran along both sides of the room, quickly packed with patrons taking advantage of a Friday night in a city known for its beer culture.
Opening the night was Atlas, who brought a dark yet polished aesthetic to the room. Two scrims bearing their logo framed the stage, visible even from the back, while orange backlighting cast the band in shadow. Despite the moody presentation, their energy was anything but restrained, with every member in constant motion and sharing vocal duties.
Their frontman stood out with a clean, composed look that contrasted sharply with the weight of the music. The band’s sound carried emotional depth, with lyrics that clearly resonated on multiple levels, reflected in his expressions throughout the set. For some, their style felt like a blend of Imminence and Orbit Culture.
Check out the Atlas concert photo gallery below:
Much of the set centered on their new release, Sunder, and their performance left a strong impression on those unfamiliar with them, hinting that bigger stages are likely in their future.
Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ov Sulfur returned to The Rave after last appearing during Milwaukee Metal Fest 2025. They wasted no time launching into “Endless//Godless,” greeted by a rowdy crowd packed tightly against the stage. Vocalist Ricky Hoover pushed to the very edge, leaning out over the barricade as he unleashed a barrage of deep growls and piercing screams.
The Las Vegas natives are touring in support of their latest album, released this past January. Endless feels like a journey through suffering, faith, and toxicity, themes that carried over seamlessly into their live performance. To Hoover’s right, fellow founder Chase Wilson handled both guitar and clean vocal duties, delivering riff after riff while effortlessly switching between styles. On the opposite side, Christian Becker covered every inch of the stage, constantly engaging with fans along the barricade and jumping at every opportunity to keep the energy high.
Ov Sulfur delivered a powerful set that blended sonic weight with dynamic vocal range, but make no mistake, this was heavy as hell. “Seed” and “Forlorn” served as the spark, quickly turning the basement into a swirling mass of motion. Behind them, bassist Josh Bearden and drummer Ryan Rivard locked into a tight, unshakable groove. Every rhythm hit with precision, and Rivard hammered his kit while fully decked out in a gothic-inspired look that felt like a throwback in the best way.
Check out the Ov Sulfur concert photo gallery below:
The band tore through “Wither” and “Vast Eternal” before closing their set with “Evermore,” an absolute ripper that showcased their technical precision and timing. Soaring clean vocals and layered synths expanded the track’s atmosphere, while punishing breakdowns and guttural lows kept bodies colliding until the final note. Ov Sulfur piles on layers of crushing riffs and immersive sound, leaving you wanting more even after they’ve already knocked you flat.
Orbit Culture‘s stage setting was wide open. Three microphones lined the front ledge. Along the back wall, a lighting rig with rotating light shades the Swedish melodic death band’s stage in a cold blue. As they took the stage, drummer Christopher Wallerstadt waved and screamed as he sat down and pounded his kit, starting off their Milwaukee stop of the Death Above Life tour with the song of the same name. Pure unfiltered energy poured from the stage.
The vibe was infectious. Bodies began flying around the room at a fevered pace. The band moved quickly and violently as they kicked out two more songs to start the evening off from the Death Above Life album, “The Storm” and “The Tales of War”. This is not Orbit Culture’s first time at The Rave, either. They’ve opened a few shows before this, and had the same exact reaction in the past. The only difference is that this time they are headlining, and their brutal album, released in 2025, is the reason.
Bassist Fredrik Lennartsson bounced around the stage uncontrollably. His low end rattled The Rave’s basement floorboards. He engaged with the audience, screaming the lyrics to the eager crowd that was yelling them back. Shredding through “North Star of Nija,” “Saw,” and “From The Inside,” Orbit Culture had the mosh pit area between the large structural beams crashing into each other. The primal nature being unleashed was a thing of beauty.
With another track from the new album, “Bloodhound,” it was apparent this Milwaukee crowd is well-versed in all things Orbit Culture. Vocalist Nikolas Karlsson’s brutal and raspy vocals hit like a ton of bricks. Every scream is a direct punch, and the material from Nija proved it. “The Shadow” and “Open Eye” simmered for the last six years just to crush the souls of onlookers in the modern age. The songs and album are a life of their own, and Karlsson smiled while crushing it over and over.
Amazingly enough, the real fun began with the final three tracks of the night. Starting with the absolutely killer tune “While We Serve.” Karlsson made it a point to get the circle spinning hard and relentlessly. To his right, fellow guitarist Richard Hansson led the assault. His fingers danced, flicked, and pulled strings with efficiency. The carnal anger and rage kicked up in the crowd had dust and a misty fog rising to the ceiling above. The condensation built and built as the temperature rose.
Check out the Orbit Culture concert photo gallery below:
Orbit Culture didn’t slow down and pushed through “Hydra” before they gathered themselves to thank the crowd, venue, and everyone around. The four-piece stood and looked out into the crowd, taking it all in before the final track, “Vultures of North.” The purple and blue lights mixed and matched the emotional discharge. Everything was clearly planned out to the second, and they delivered a high-end performance. The future is bright and on fire. It’s Orbit Culture’s world, and we are just living in it.
Catch ORBIT CULTURE On the Road…
