Walls of Death and Spanish Beats: The unforgettable sets of Inkcarceration Day 1

MANSFIELD — Instead of free hugs, a lady in a thong was letting other women squeeze a cheek as they walked by. And that’s actually a pretty normal anecdote for Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival.

But let’s focus our attention on the music – the bands and ballads that stole the show, inspired action from the crowd and just plain rocked it out.

#10 Dying Wish — the Portland invasion kicks it off

The Yard Stage was graced with “melodic metalcore,” led by frontwoman Emma Foster. Due to the smoke, set times were pushed back and the crowd was hungry and ready to thrash.

Portland’s own provided the release that the people craved and bodies smashed into each other as pits began to form.

Ink has so many legendary bands that have been playing for decades, but Dying Wish is of this time. Formed in 2016, they are the metal that is happening now.

Dying Wish photos | Steve Trasher, Danny Wimmer Presents

#9 Memphis May Fire — the crowd rocks in unison

From inside the photo pit, which is the little corridor between the stage and the metal barricade, the view into the crowd adds perspective. There were tons of heavier music acts on the lineup, but Memphis May Fire hit the ears of the rockers that wanted the hybrid and a more vocal-based chorus. As a result, when peering out into the sea, there was a mass collective and head swaying and movement, a shared moment, a “Unity” like the entity from Rick and Morty.

Memphis May Fire photos | Steve Trasher, Danny Wimmer Presents

#8 Hollywood Undead — the 11-year-old cussing kid

Like any good cult, if you don’t infect the youth with your way of life, the way of life will end.

At Ink, you would see kids crowd surfing, being escorted around by their parents, high-fives and a general welcoming vibe. Hollywood Undead took it to another level when they pulled a child on stage.
One of the band members put his hand under the kid’s armpits and hoisted him up above his head as the band played “Circle of Life” from the Lion King.

One of the singers asked the kid how old he was and he responded with 11.

“Cus you gotta wait till you’re 12 to drink and * smoke in Mansfield, Ohio!” the Hollywood Undead singer said.

He then asked if the boy would introduce the next song.
“Coming in hot mother*” the kid yelled and the crowd laughed and very much approved.

Hollywood Undead photos | Adam Doc Fox

#7 Snuffed on Site — breakdowns that broke down the fest

Mansfield’s music scene has spoiled us locals, as Snuffed on Site was on the bill for “I Guess It’s a Fest” a few years ago. Pretty big contrast from playing the Electric Company to the Infirmary Stage and Ink years later.

Sure, they have all the death metal/hardcore crossover sounds you crave, but it’s their breakdowns that truly set them apart – slow and methodical and really not trying to get anywhere, not back to the chorus but staying in the present.

The Infirmary Stage was in a grass section towards the back, and even the vendors lining the sides could feel the breakdowns, the approach and the sound from one of the best metal bands currently in the Bay Area.

Snuffed On Sight photos | Dan Virchow, Danny Wimmer Presents

#6 Corpse Pile — class war

If there’s “corpse” or “flesh” in the band name, you know they’re going to be good. Corpse Pile of Texas is no exception, bringing a new level of guttural growls to complement the super heavy but slowed down mix.
Towards the end of the set, singer Jason Lionel Frazier had a good speech about what’s going on outside of the fest versus inside. There’s so much division out there, this political party, that party, hate and disagreement all around.
But at a rock festival, all of that is washed away. Everyone gets along, says excuse me if they bump you, pick up the shades you dropped, smiles, sharing laughs and drugs, a drama and conflict-free environment.
Frazier reminded everyone that the core problems we face are presented to pit (no pun intended) us against each other in this end stage capitalism model. When it comes to the people in power, it’s a class war, and “It’s us against them,” Frazier said.

Corpse Pile photos | Dan Virchow, Danny Wimmer Presents

#5 Peeling Flesh — who’s the hardest?

It’s surprising how the crowd can help influence what music is going to be played.

“Who wants to hear a new song?” Oklahoma “slam/death” metal frontman Damonteal Harris asked.

We all raised our hands. They played a new song. It was that easy.

Peeling Flesh really brings an energy and rage to any show, backed by insane guttural vocals and adding elements of hip-hop to the overall arc.

Wrapping up the set, Harris wanted some answers.

“Who’s the hardest mosher? Who’s the hardest crowd surfer? Who’s the hardest headbanger?”

Applicants were on full display.

Peeling Flesh photos | Zac Hiser

#4 Jinjer — the power of Ukraine comes to Ohio

Over the last 18 years, Jinjer has seen a lot of band-member turnover, but its current form is fantastic.

Stage presence is so important at a festival, you are trying to entice new fans into listening while appealing to the old gods as well.

Frontwoman Tatiana Shmayluk along with guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov brought such intense energy to the set, echoing the war-torn world from which they are.

Jinjer photos | Adam Doc Fox

#3 Entheos — playing a song just released that day

There are so many different variations of metal “singing,” from screaming to gurgling to the hardcore rage talk. One of the most difficult to pull off is the high-pitched death metal scream.
Frontwoman Chaney Crabb’s dedication to that craft left her with a raspy voice as she announced they were about to play “Golden Crown,” a new song that was being released online at that very moment.

Certain bands just suck you in, phones were put away and people were just experiencing “progressive death metal” in its perfect and full form.

Entheos photos | Justn James, Danny Wimmer Presents

#2 Cypress Hill — Rage Against the Machine cover

It would be disingenuous to describe the impact and legendary status Cypress Hill has achieved over the years. Everyone knows they paved the roads all of hip-hop is driving on today.

And they are continuing to reinvent the genre as vocalist B-Real announced that on July 24 they have a new record coming out – and it’s all in Spanish!

Mid-set, B-Real was talking about now more than ever, we need to come together and fight back against what’s going on in the world. He said this next song is about that and told the crowd, “Let’s see if you can absorb this energy” of the next song.

And it was “Bombtrack” by Rage Against the Machine, to which the crowd lost their minds and hardcore thrashed swayed along to the beat.

“Burn, burn, yes you’re gonna burn!”

Cypress Hill photos | Hayden Gray

#1 Sanguisugabogg — wall of death circle pit combo

You see circle pits and different variations of mosh pits at almost all metal and hardcore shows. But rarely do you see the entire crowd split in two, from the front to the back. People were both running toward and away from the “wall of death” that was forming.

On cue, like charging armies, sweat-drenched humans collided in violence that they both chose and loved. But it didn’t stop there. The wall transformed into a circle pit with maniacs doing hardcore arm-swings and kicks in the middle.

There was one young woman, in long pigtails, that was totally running the pit. Like, I was scared and I was 20 feet away. If one of those overhead swinging fists caught you, it would be nap time.

The 10 minutes of pure insanity that Sanguisugabogg produced was the most metal moment of Ink Day 1.

Between the ultimate metal moments, I ran into the devil himself.

“Been here last year, and I seen Jesus, so I said, well, Satan’s got to meet Jesus,” Richard Williams said, with his body completely covered in red paint from head to toe.
“So since last year, started ordering piece by piece until I got what I wanted.”

Williams traveled from West Virginia and said he loves Mansfield and Inkcarceration.

Sanguisugabogg photos | Adam Doc Fox & Jack Slemenda