Photos/Review: GWAR closes Milwaukee Metal Fest 2025 Day 3

Day 3 of Milwaukee Metal Fest closed the weekend with a mix of chaos, catharsis, and just the right dose of absurdity. While some fans had already packed up and headed home, those who stayed were rewarded with one of the most diverse lineups of the entire fest.

Despite it being the final day, the crowd showed no signs of fatigue. Tracheotomy kicked things off strong at the Blue Grape stage, setting the tone for a day full of energy. Hardcore had a strong showing throughout the day, with Maul and Speed stirring up non-stop movement and oversized pits, which were slowed down by Amigo the Devil’s acoustic dark folk set. The Dillinger Escape Plan delivered perhaps the most unhinged performance of the weekend—bodies flying, chaos onstage and off, and a packed room loving every second of it.

The Copycat room remained a hotbed for intensity. Toxic Holocaust and Deceased drew capacity crowds with feral energy and old-school thrash spirit, while Gates to Hell, The Acacia Strain, Full of Hell, and End brought down the house with heavy, punishing sets that pushed the crowd to its limit with fans flying through the air surfing and stage diving all day.

Meanwhile, upstairs at the Sumerian stage, a slew of legacy acts held their own. Exhorder, Frozen Soul, and Sacred Reich reminded fans why they’ve lasted decades, with a steady showing of fans and mosh pits that were ready to throw down in an instant. GWAR closed out the fest in classic fashion—with blood, absurd theatrics, and even a Taylor Swift dissection. Celebrating 40 years, the well-loved extraterrestrials brought out throwbacks like Gor-Gor along with new characters like Elon Musk. By the end of the set, fans were drenched in blood and vomit, and smiles filled the room.

The final day wrapped a strong weekend of metal: with everything from grindcore to prog to folk, Day 3 maintained the momentum and spirit of Milwaukee Metal Fest—ending not with a fizzle but with a full-on bloody bang.