Saturday, August 9th, a thunder shook Sparta's mantle. This thunder did not come from the storms that passed overhead, but rather the instruments played by doom metal band Thunder Goat at Metal Fest held at Blue Collar Bar & Grill in Sparta. Metal Fest brought five bands from points across Wisconsin to entertain Sparta.
Ninth and Vine came from Eau Claire with an incredible Metalcore set, which set the stage for the night. They met expectations for neck pain and ringing ears by the time they finished. Their original music with intense riffs and growling vocals captivated the crowd. Their music is a perfect introduction to a night that escaped the traditional confines of 80s and 90s metal music. Their Instagram is ninth_and_vine.
The Dead Ambers delivered an impressive cover of "Freedom" by Rage Against the Machine. The band's sound is a powerful blend of metal and hardcore punk, defined by heavy riffs and strong vocals. You can find them on Instagram at deadambersband.
Endless Omen, hailing from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, captivates listeners with entrancing operatic-like vocals by their female vocalist, who seamlessly transitions into an impressive demonic growl. The band's music delves into themes of existential dread, nature, and the darker aspects of humanity, including experiences like taking heroin in the woods. Their guitarist produces a strikingly dark tone that creates a heavy and ominous soundscape. You can find them on Instagram under the handle endless0men.
The Trash Pandas came from Green Bay to display their eclectic blend of multiple genres, including punk, grunge, and metal. Their set was similar to a metal version of No Doubt, which was exciting and intense to experience. You can find more about them at www.trashpandasrock.com.
Tomah's own Thunder Goat was the final band, and their set shook the foundation of the building and possibly opened a gateway to another dimension. Doom metal is a subgenre of metal known for its slow tempo, thick-sounding drop-tuned instruments, and often unintelligible guttural vocals. The slow and heavy onslaught of their sound was interrupted by heavy bursts of hardcore energy that turned the crowd ravenous as they slammed into one another. Thunder Goat finished the night in a haze of smoke and bubbles that had one thinking of Ozzy Osbourne's famous quote when his wife Sharon was going to use bubbles for one of his shows. "Bubbles! Oh, come on, Sharon! I'm f****** Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of f****** Darkness. Evil! Evil! What's f****** evil about a bunch of f****** bubbles!?" Their Instagram is thundergoat.wi.
These bands were incredible, and this event was truly amazing to attend. It was an exciting change to the bands and music one typically hears in the Sparta area. These bands brought original music and ideas along with a genre of music seldom found in this area. Their talents were on par with those of much larger bands that could be seen in Madison, Milwaukee, or the Twin Cities. One can hope they will all visit again, and more events like this will happen soon.
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