Justin Nuoffer
BEWITCHER
w/ Persekutor + Deathchant
3/27/25 – X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI.
©Justin Nuoffer/Nuoffermedia.com
On a chilly Monday evening in Wisconsin, a tour jam-packed full of heat hit the X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy, WI. The X-Ray is a small venue in a small suburb South of Milwaukee. Historically, the venue has been a staple of the local music scene. Like any bar in Cream City, the door to enter is heavy and opens right into the tavern side. The wrap-around bar top was packed full of patrons. The TVs above were tuned to baseball and wrestling. Along the back wall, classic arcade games flickered and rang aloud. Next to the venue’s namesake, the merch tables for all three traveling bands were chock-full of shirts and various goodies. Fans filled the tables, talking to band members and buying up extremely affordable gear. Hanging a hard right into the main room, the floor was packed full of fans. The venue’s open concept from bar to concert room is unique and cool as hell. Back in the concert hall, the walls are painted black, and the stage is a perfect size for a bill like this.
First up, Persekutor. The self-described ice metal mavericks filled up the stage with barely any room to move. As a five-piece, they were still extremely active on stage. Frontman Vlad The Inhaler donned a black ski mask and jumped around the stage while delivering song after song about drug use and sleazy good times. His arms flailed, and he engaged with the patrons up front with high-fives.
He is backed by a pair of guitarists, Inverted Chris and Blake Meahl, who manage to rile up the anxious faithful with slick riffs and dueling solos. On the low end, Adam Murray swings his bass around while stomping. His eyes glare over his Hunter S Thompson-like glasses. He played the part perfectly. On the drum kit, Tyler Meahl pushed the band’s tempo. The speedy snaps as his snare kept heartbeats pumping. The band as a whole operated as one cohesive unit. Whatever genre you want to place them in, think Midnight mixed with European black metal.
Despite only having time for eight songs they managed to place some of their more notable ones like “Snow Business”, “Suck City”, and “Black Death Punk Skins”. If you walked in unfamiliar with who they were, you left wanting to listen more. They are unique and bring that traditional metal vibe of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll.
Check out our Persekutor concert photos below:
Deathchant is the epitome of LA stoner metal. They deliver that deep, grimy guitar riff with flash and arrogance. It is one of the more perfect meshings of genres. With a ten-song set they had plenty of time to feature their capabilities. Frontmen and guitarists T.J. Lemieux and Doug Stuckey share leads and often both share solos. They easily lay down the melodies while kicking back with beers in between songs. The duo impressed from the start with “Holy Roller” and “Gallows,” setting the pace early.
On the skins, Joe Herzog was amazing. His style of play varied through the evening. His attitude and smile behind the kit were infectious. There was no one happier to kick out the jams. His demeanor was matched by bassist George Comacho. Comacho bounced around the middle of the stage. He engaged and played his bass in the faces of those standing up front. The band’s energy was overwhelming. That enthusiasm helped them celebrate their new album Thrones by performing “Tomb”, “Mirror”, “Hoax”, “Chariot”, and “ Canyon”. The new material killed, and by the volume of the screams and moshing that kicked up, it wasn’t hard to notice the positive reaction. Deathchant is a band that you put on your record player and kick back and vibe to.
Check out our Deathchant concert photos below:
Bewitcher hit Milwaukee with a new album, Spell Shock released back in 2024. The album is the first release on their recent partnership with Century Media Records. With the crowd making their way toward the front, Bewitcher’s approach is simple and earnest. They are one of us. Just people who want to slug beers and rip some metal. Opening with “Starfire Maelstrom,” the speedy riffs quickly get the headsbanging. The relentless assault on the body was welcomed.
This three-piece from Portland, Oregon, tore through song after song. The efficiency and pure power shook the darkened room. The solid lighting went from red to purple, and Mateo von Bewitcher‘s ferocious vocals ripped through the crowd. His fingers danced across the frets, and his dreadlocks flew wildly with every headbang. Tearing through “Too Fast For The Flames” and “Speed Till You Bleed,” they came upon “Manifesting Darkness,” which is the lone track from their compilation album, which is full of old demos and unreleased material.
Reaction from the audience was overwhelmingly positive. Bassist Andreus Magus performed every track at a peak level. The pure intensity of his vocals mixed well with his playing. One of their more popular tracks, “Valley of the Ravens,” was placed firmly within the middle of their set list and was used as a great transition piece into the homestretch of rippers.
Leading the final charge into “Out Against The Law”, drummer Aris Hunter, with arms raised and sticks in an X shape, crashed them down on his symbols. The tall, long-haired master of drums was hidden behind his illuminated kit. On a brief occasion, you could catch a glimpse of his devilish smile as he crushed his skins. Whether you saw him or not, you heard him. His sound boomed and shook the hardwood stage. Without a doubt, things like these are behind their sudden growth and appeal as a band.
Fans raged up front and went all in on letting loose with “Spell Bound” and “Satanic Magick Attack”. The powerful face-punching anthems hit like a ton of bricks. However, closing the night out with their beloved self-titled track from their self-titled album “Bewitcher” was the cherry on top of the cake. Fans were in a frenzy. Hair flipped and fists pumped as metalheads screamed “the curse of the Bewitcher”. The soul-clenching solo captivated and gave time to dish out one more round of energy before heading home.
At the end of the show, an eruption of applause was welcomed by the band. Afterwards, the band walked through the crowd, taking selfies and signing items. Extensive time was spent with each fan. This was a large reason they started gaining momentum. To see them perform in a dark, hot, humid club is a gift not to be missed. Soon enough, they will be filling larger rooms across the country.
Check out our Bewitcher concert photos below:
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