From the moment I stepped inside, it was clear: Mad With Power Fest is not your typical metal show. It’s a full-blown portal—where power metal anthems, retro arcade nostalgia, and a tight-knit, welcoming community fuse into something completely unforgettable.
The venue buzzed with sound and light—riffs roaring, arcade screens flashing, and fans already moving like the night had just hit its peak. Cabinets lined the floor with games like Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Zaxxon, and Mortal Kombat, and everywhere you looked, someone was either mid-pit, mid-conversation, or mid-high score.
This wasn’t just a place to hear music—it was a place to step into a fantasy, one built for misfits, metalheads, gamers, and anyone who’s ever found home in chaos, melody, and community.
📸 Scroll down for the full photo gallery—or keep reading to find out why this night was something else entirely.
⚔️ Lutharo – Precision Meets Firepower
Opening the night with razor-sharp precision and raw intensity, Lutharo hit the stage like a tactical strike. Their blend of melodic death and power metal pulled everyone in instantly—heads banging, fists pumping, and adrenaline rising. Frontwoman Krista Shipperbottom delivered a vocal performance that cut through the room like a war cry. Her ability to switch between harsh screams and soaring clean vocals gave the set a dynamic edge that kept eyes glued to the stage. Guitar harmonies sliced through the venue with surgical precision, while the rhythm section hit with thunderous force. This wasn’t a warm-up—it was a wake-up call that demanded attention and set the standard for the night.
🍻 Aether Realm – Anthemic and Unapologetic
Aether Realm followed up and deepened the chaos, offering a set that felt like a drunken Viking brawl under neon lights. Their fusion of epic storytelling and infectious riffs had the pit igniting while fists flew and fans sang along. The band carried a stage presence that blurred the line between show and celebration—you could feel the crowd lock into every chant, every solo, every moment. Their frontman commanded the stage like a warrior-bard, firing up chants between songs and connecting with the crowd through a mix of humor, intensity, and sheer enthusiasm. The energy they brought was both primal and joyous, the kind of set where fans didn’t just watch—they belonged to the moment.
💬 Between the Chaos: Where the Fest Lives
Even early in the night, the energy never dipped—it just moved between forms. In between sets, fans were grabbing drinks, swapping stories, crowding around arcade cabinets, and cheering each other on over high scores. It wasn’t dead time. It was the heartbeat of the festival.
The arcade floor felt like a second stage—people gathered shoulder-to-shoulder, watching someone take a shot at GoldenEye or Zaxxon like it was a main set. There was genuine hype, cheering, and even a few dramatic defeats. It wasn’t a sideshow—it was part of the show.
Everywhere you looked, people were connecting—some meeting for the first time, others reuniting from past years. Conversations flowed as easily as the drinks.
Between game rounds and merch lines, the festival blasted its now-legendary “Chris Carnage” theme to summon the crowd back in, and without fail, everyone responded like it was the call to arms.
🎮 Bit Brigade – Mega Metal Madness
Then came one of the wildest moments of the night:
Bit Brigade didn’t just play music—they speedran Mega Man 2 live, syncing their full-band performance to the gameplay in real time. The player started at 6:40pm and landed the final blow exactly at 7:20pm.
No lyrics. No breaks. Just pure precision metal meets pixel mastery.
It felt like watching a boss fight with a full orchestra behind it—and the crowd loved every second.
🍕 Dinner Break – And the Heart of the Fest
After Bit Brigade’s mind-melting set, I took a breather—and that break turned out to be one of the most meaningful parts of the night.
I spent the dinner break talking with people who had traveled from across the country—and a few from overseas—all drawn to this festival for the same reason beyond the music:
“This is the one place I can be fully myself.”
I had conversations with several members of the LGBTQ+ community, and every one of them described the same feeling—safety, joy, and full acceptance.
One person told me it was the only metal show where they didn’t feel like they had to watch their back or tone themselves down.
People weren’t just there to rage. They were there to connect—and this festival gives them the space to do both.
As a photographer, I was pulled into that too. A few people stopped me just to say thank you for capturing the night—not just the bands, but the people—their energy, their friendships, their joy.
That’s the real magic here.
Huge thanks to Ian’s Pizza for fueling those connections with an awesome dinner—perfect food, perfect vibe.
🎸 Striker Ignites the Floor
After a much needed break and some food, Striker stormed the stage like they were shot out of a cannon. This was pure power metal mayhem—guitars swinging, riffs flying, and a crowd in full motion. Their sound was razor-tight and fast-paced, blending classic influences with relentless modern energy. The band played with an almost reckless joy, bouncing across the stage with high kicks and coordinated spins that had the crowd mirroring their enthusiasm. For a full three minutes, it was a human conveyor belt of crowd surfers. No one stood still. No one wanted to. Striker didn’t just play their set—they detonated it, turning the room into a warzone of riffs, sweat, and celebration. It felt like everything the earlier bands had built was now exploding into full release.
⚡ Lords of the Trident – Sword-Wielding Local Legends
Madison’s own Lords of the Trident took things to mythic levels. Before they even hit the stage, the venue screen read “Now Loading…” and when it hit 95%, the crowd counted down like a boss battle was about to start.
Ty Christian, festival founder and lead vocalist, was pure electricity. His vocals cut through the room like a sword, and the band’s on-stage theatrics were next-level—props, choreography, and CPR reenactments after a mind-melting guitar solo. It was absurd, hilarious, and completely epic.
But Ty is far more than a frontman. He’s the architect of the entire Mad With Power experience—a musician, showrunner, and community builder all in one. He’s the reason bands from around the world come here. The reason fans feel safe being themselves. The reason this wild hybrid of fantasy and metal works.
From the moment doors opened, Ty was everywhere—checking in with staff, engaging fans, hyping up the stage, and later, giving everything he had on it. This festival is his vision come to life, and every band, fan, and volunteer I spoke to praised him like the festival’s heart and soul—because he is.
Their final song brought VIPs, fans, and members of other bands onto the stage to wave flags, raise fists, and join the chaos. It was the kind of moment that transcended “show” and became something bigger. Ty’s name came up all night—praised by both fans and artists alike. His work in making this festival inclusive, passionate, and uniquely alive can’t be overstated.
🔥 Dream Evil Ends the Night with Pure Glory
Dream Evil brought the night to a close with pure fire.
Classic Euro power metal flair met pounding breakdowns that hit harder than a steel gauntlet.
The lead singer’s ’80s glam charisma paired with undeniable vocal strength had the crowd still moshing and screaming like it was 9PM—not close to midnight.
Horns were raised. Voices were shot.
And I’ll be honest—I put my camera down for the last few songs.
Not because I missed the shot—but because I needed to feel the moment.
After a night of documenting chaos, color, and connection, I realized I needed to reconnect with what got me into metal in the first place—the sound, the crowd, the pulse of a room full of people who get it.
I wasn’t working. I was just one more fan screaming into the lights—and it felt perfect.
🏋️ Final Thoughts: Where Fantasy, Fandom, and Family Collide
Mad With Power Fest isn’t just a music festival. It’s a world where fantasy, fandom, and family collide.
It’s a place where you can speedrun Mega Man, swing a foam sword, and scream your lungs out in a pit—all without judgment.
A place where you can be loud, emotional, introverted, passionate, or just completely yourself—and find people cheering you on, not pushing you out.
It’s where the guy in a Mega Man helmet is just as important as the headliner—and everyone knows it.
As a photographer, I showed up to document the moment. But somewhere along the way, I stopped documenting and started feeling it.
I put my camera down—not out of fatigue, but out of gratitude. I needed to stand there, surrounded by the music and the energy of the crowd, and remember why I ever picked up a camera—or went to a show—at all.
This festival reminded me what live music is supposed to be: a celebration of the outsider. A gathering where joy, intensity, and acceptance exist side by side, louder than everything else.
If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite belong anywhere else—you belong here.
