- Sepultura w/Cradle of Filth, Exodus, Suffocation, Biohazard, Ghost Bath, Tribal Gaze & Cultus Black
- 05/17/2026 - The Rave - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- ©Justin Nuoffer
With the birds chirping and the wind blowing in from Lake Michigan, the city of Milwaukee was buzzing and warm. The downtown was full of events, and people were taking advantage of the season. Outside of the historic Eagles Ballroom, that sentiment was no different. Folks came out early to hang out with friends and share time together as the line to enter the venue started to build. With an early start to the show, pre-gaming in the timeless Wisconsin tradition of tailgating was mandatory.
With two tours joining to make one mini festival, it was a perfect way to celebrate the long-running history of Sepultura. Having played the city eleven times previously, Milwaukeeans already knew what to expect out of the thrash legends, and as the doors to the venue opened, the anticipation of the night grew quickly.
Ushering fans through the side of the building and into the security check, the fans were checked and sent up the stairs into the box office and main foyer. Once tickets were claimed, they were scanned as fans were sent out into the courtyard, where food and drink stands awaited them. Re-entering the venue, the barroom held all of the tour merchandise; the Rave Hall and Craft Beer Lounge were straight ahead, and the stairs back down lead to the Rave 2.
Fans were everywhere and exploring everything the massive venue provided. Early on killer sets from Cultus Black, Ghost Bath, and Suffocation shook the basement room. Meanwhile, on the main Rave stage were Tribal Gaze and New York punk crossover legends Biohazard, but Exodus came and delivered a set to remember. The early set times didn’t deter fans from showing up either. Both rooms were packed to the gills. The bars were overflowing with people hanging out and enjoying cocktails together.
The headliner on the Rave basement stage was Cradle of Filth. The last time they performed in Milwaukee was in this very room four years earlier. This time, an entirely new backing band surrounded frontman and founder Dani Filth. The aesthetics remained the same regardless of who he performed with, making the transition seamless for those catching up with the band. The gothic decor and symphonic sounds that overwhelmed the Rave basement kicked off instantly with “To Live Deliciously” from their 2025 release, The Screaming of the Valkyries. Cradle of Filth hit hard as the band rolled through the early portion of their set. Tracks like “Demagoguery,” “Malignant Perfection,” and “The Principle of Evil Made Flesh” had the room going wild. The circle pit running between the support beams opened up wide. Onlookers along the sides either waited to join or headbanged along.
The extreme metal band from Suffolk, England, was not messing around. With a devilish grin, Dani Filth guided the band into one of their all-time fan favorites, “Nymphetamine.” The explosion of cheers and screams shook the hardwood flooring of the former bowling alley. The band as a whole was an impressive display of gothic artistry. The dark decor paired with the purple and blue lighting created an almost neon-like effect, reminiscent of black lights. That atmosphere pulsed as the extended instrumental passage took hold, with a light layer of fog and condensation filling the stage during “Creatures That Kissed in Cold Mirrors” and “A Bruise Upon the Silent Moon.” Those few minutes calmed the room and lowered the temperature, if only briefly.
Milwaukee was going nuts, and Cradle of Filth had three more tracks planned to unleash everything unholy and devilish. Guitarists Donny Burbage and Joff Bailey manned the outside edges of the stage and carried that sinister visual with power. Longtime drummer Martin Škaroupka was set up behind glass in the corner of the stage, looking like a rabid caged animal as he blasted away. Bassist Daniel Firth lived on the very lip of the stage, moving freely across its entire width and joining each guitarist as they riffed. Cradle of Filth was a dominant unit, and the final run of songs, beginning with “The Promise of Fever” and continuing into “Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids,” showcased the fervor and fire they still possess. The material from around the turn of the century was what longtime fans clamored for, but closing with “Her Ghost in the Fog” was an epic experience. A song that received heavy airplay on MTV2 was etched into the memory of every millennial in attendance. It gripped the eardrums and had hearts pounding one last time as Dani Filth unleashed his dynamic screams.
Check out the Cradle of Filth concert photog gallery here:
Dani Filth is a man of few words despite being the band’s mouthpiece. He occasionally offered brief song introductions and plenty of thanks, but it was obvious he wanted to maximize the band’s shortened set time and give the Filth faithful every reason to let their inhibitions go. The entire performance felt special. It was a return from a tumultuous chapter in the band’s history to a smaller, more intimate, and much more crowded Rave basement room. That combination had all the makings of an incredible evening, and it absolutely delivered. Cradle of Filth remain at the top of their game.
Sepultura are legendary. The Brazilian thrash metal gods have a long and winding history with some of the most notable releases that helped shape an entire genre into what it is today. Knowing that, it was no surprise that as they walked onto the stage, the “Beneath the Remains” instrumental played throughout the venue’s PA. Frontman Derrick Green was the last to arrive. His large, imposing figure stood center stage. Barefoot, he began bouncing around and throwing punches through the air. Right fist, left fist. Over and over again as he moved across the stage. Then, with microphone in hand, he unleashed a scream that sent the venue into a frenzy. Blasting out “Inner Self” and “Beneath the Remains,” The Rave exploded. Crowd surfers came fast and heavy.
That initial rush of enthusiasm and excitement was warranted. This was a celebration of the band’s extensive career. It was a setlist designed to cover both eras as much as possible. Tracks like “Desperate Cry,” “Kairos,” “Means to an End,” and “Attitude” pounded through the front half of the show. Green’s vocals were in peak form. Material he wrote and material Max Cavalera wrote couldn’t have been delivered any better. His command of his voice, paired with his commanding movements on stage, showed Milwaukee just how significant this performance was.
The middle of the evening was where longtime members bassist Paulo Junior and guitarist Andreas Kisser really came alive. It felt like they were building toward something bigger, determined to give the fans everything they had. Trekking through “The Vatican” and “The Place,” Sepultura arrived at “Choke” from Against, the album that marked Derrick Green’s first appearance as vocalist. Green’s fire was uncontainable, and the emotion written across his face told the story of that song in particular. His beginnings with Sepultura were impressive then, and they remain impressive twenty-eight years later. The band as a whole was in complete command.
With “Kaiowas,” the sounds of Brazilian tribal rhythms came alive. Drums mounted around the stage while members of Biohazard joined Green to pound away. The vibe flowed through everyone in attendance. The primitive, primal atmosphere took over the venue. The mosh pit was full of crazies air-drumming and headbanging along. The moment was unforgettable, and it led into a track from the band’s final release, The Cloud of Unknowing. “Beyond the Dream” was a departure from the standard Sepultura sound. The newest material carries a strong sense of melody that sets it apart from the rest of the catalog.
It served as a segue into the final run of songs that captured our hearts, the songs that became the foundation for so many bands that followed. That includes young drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who joined in 2024 for the band’s final run of performances.
Kisser was a man possessed as he shredded through the timeless “Dead Embryonic Cells,” a song that appears on many lists of the greatest thrash songs ever written. He tore through the solo as fans held their hands in the air and twiddled their fingers. Kisser smiled and nodded along with the riffs. The song’s impact on the genre was never lost, and that was important because the next three songs, “Slave New World,” “Territory,” with its grandiose drum lead-in, and “Refuse/Resist,” all came from one of the most important albums in metal history, Chaos A.D.
The impact this stretch had on everyone in attendance was undeniable. The entire upper deck was shaking as fans went wild. Below, the floor looked like ants scrambling between flashes of light. It was chaotic and beautiful. Sepultura were operating at peak performance, and the connection between Paulo Junior and Greyson Nekrutman was unquestionable. You could see it as they played directly in front of one another. As a rhythm section, they were incredible.
With the final three songs approaching, it was safe to say nearly everyone knew what was coming, and “Arise” kept the walls and floorboards rattling. The boot stomps and basslines pounded together in perfect harmony. The legendary track unleashed another flurry of activity. It got into your soul, but as the final notes faded away, the lights focused on the drum kit as Nekrutman slowly built into an unpredictable solo before leading into the tribal jam “Ratamahatta.”
The testosterone started to rise and the blood began pumping because one of the greatest metal songs of all time still remained. Before launching into it, Green stepped to the microphone to thank the fans, the venue, and everyone who had supported the band throughout the years. Deafening cheers filled the venue. Once the applause settled, that legendary intro kicked in with Kisser grinning as he watched the havoc unfold.
Together as one, the entire city of Milwaukee screamed “Roots, Bloody Roots” over and over again. The pit moved more viciously than ever before. Sepultura somehow found another gear to close out the night. Hair and fists flew through the air. Bodies cruised over the security barricade. It was everything a good old-fashioned metal show should be.
Check out the Sepultura concert photo gallery below:
Despite our focus primarily being on the enduring story of Sepultura, this mini festival and collision of two tours was a fun event and should absolutely be considered again at The Rave. The night served as the perfect warm-up of muscles and energy for Milwaukee Metal Fest, which was only weeks away. Tonight, though, Sepultura proved that their legacy and music are immortal and will continue to inspire future generations of metalheads, even 5,200 miles away from where it all began.
Catch Sepultura on the Road…
