There is no concert venue quite like The Ohio State Reformatory. The tower looms behind stages, food vendors, and merch tents with all the grandeur of a medieval fortress. Equal parts ominous and captivating, the setting perfectly pairs with the haunting sound of the hard rock/heavy metal bands that graced the stage July 17th-19th. Brought to life by Danny Wimmer Presents, Inkcarceration 2026 absolutely and unequivocally ROCKED!
Friday’s acts kicked off the festival with a bang. Earlier in the evening, metalcore bands Memphis May Fire and Jinger stood out. Memphis May Fire’s performance of “Chaotic” from their 2025 album Shapeshifter was particularly great, cultivating an excited energy throughout the crowd. Jinjer’s performance “Green Serpent” from their 2025 album Duél married melodic harmonies with heavy-hitting growls, highlighting lead singer Tatiana Shmayluk’s range as a vocalist. One of the best surprises of the weekend was Starset, a science-fiction inspired rock band out of Columbus, Ohio. Not only did they offer a creative, electronic-based spin on hard rock, but the band featured a cellist and violinist! We had only heard a few songs of theirs in the past, but were extremely impressed with their set, specifically their performance of “TOKSIK” from their 2025 album Silos. Hollywood Undead opened with “Undead” from their 2008 album Swan Songs, which showcased their remarkable stage presence and set the tone for an incredibly fun set.
Papa Roach’s set was one we had been looking forward to since they were announced for the festival – and they did not disappoint! Their set featured a mix of new songs and old songs, from Ego Trip’s “Kill the Noise” (2022) to Getting Away with Murder’s “Scars” (2004). The pouring rain did not stop Papa Roach from finishing strong, ending their show with a mash-up of Nu Metal hits (“Blind”/ “My Own Summer (Shove It)” / “Break Stuff” / “Chop Suey”) that led seamlessly into “Last Resort” (Infest, 2000).
A large number of concert patrons were driven out by the heavy rain before Disturbed took the stage, but those tough enough to brave the storm were in for an amazing show. We have had the privilege of seeing Disturbed a number of times over the past couple of years, and they never disappoint! They kicked off the set with their 2025 single “I Will Not Break,” and the intensity was palpable. If anything, the cool air and steady flow of rain added the perfect ambiance to their haunting cover of “The Sound of Silence” (Immortilized, 2015). Disturbed’s mascot, “The Guy” even made an appearance for the encore, emerging over the band for their last two songs of the night – “Down with the Sickness” (The Sickness, 2000) and “Inside the Fire”(Indestructible, 2008). It marked the perfect end to a great day of rock!
The energy from Friday carried over into Saturday with acts like Earshot, Wolves at the Gate, Caskets, and Lacuna Coil. Earshot’s “Wait” (Two, 2004) combined strong vocals with a driving rhythm that prepared the crowd for another full day of hard rock. Early stand out performances also included Wolves at the Gate’s “Lights & Fire” (Eulogies, 2022), Casket’s “Glass Heart” (Lost Souls, 2021), and Lacuna Coil’s “Our Truth” (Karmacode, 2006).
Sleep Theory launched into their set with “Fallout” (Paper Hearts EP, 2023), and immediately had the crowd in the palm of their hand. “Gravity” (Afterglow, 2025) and “Numb” (single for Paper Hearts EP, 2023) were particularly exceptional – we couldn’t help but sing along! After a break in the concert due to inclement weather, Poopy and Sleeping with Sirens came out swinging. Poppy’s “have you had enough?” (Negative Spaces, 2024) and Sleeping with Sirens’s “If You Can’t Hang” (Let’s Cheers to This, 2011) got everyone hyped for another long night of rock!
As the sun set on Mansfield, Ohio, Gojira took the stage. Their stage presence was outstanding from the start! As they played through their encore songs, “Mea culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” (Single, 2024) and “The Gift of Guilt” (L’enfant sauvage, 2012), a mix of fire, fireworks, and confetti filled the night sky. One could say Gojira ended in a blaze of glory…literally!
Then, it came time for the Saturday night headliner. Bad Omens absolutely rocked their set! Stand out songs included “Spector” (Single, 2025) and “Just Pretend” (THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND, 2022). Poppy even came back onstage for their song together, “V.A.N” (Concrete Jungle, 2024)! There was no better way to end the second night of Inkcareration 2026.
Sunday at Inkcarceration 2026 delivered an unforgettable finale with one incredible performance after another. We kicked off the day with Killstreak, one of the bands we had the opportunity to interview, as they unleashed their signature heavy, video game-inspired metal to an enthusiastic crowd. The afternoon featured one of the festival’s standout moments when Alien Ant Farm had fans singing every word to their iconic cover of “Smooth Criminal,” (ANThology, 2001) proving once again why it’s rock’s greatest cover song!
The energy only continued to build as Ice Nine Kills put on a theatrical performance that included a special on-stage appearance by Jose Mangin. A Day to Remember followed with a high-octane, crowd-pleasing set filled with fan favorites, setting the stage for Limp Bizkit to close out the weekend in classic fashion. From anthems like “Break Stuff” (Significant Other, 1999) and “My Way” (Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water, 2000), the band delivered a finale that perfectly capped off the weekend.
No Inkcarceration coverage would be complete without a conversation with Jose Mangin, the legendary Metal Ambassador and one of the most recognizable voices in hard rock and heavy metal. We were able to speak with Jose at Inkcarceration 2026, and discuss his incredible charity Headbang for Science, talk about Ladrones, the exciting new band he is managing, and hear his thoughts on Inkcarceration. His charity helps to provide a scholarship to students that are pursuing a career in healthcare and/or the physical sciences. This year there will be three students awarded with a total of $33k. Among his many endeavors, Jose is managing Ladrones, a band that mixes regional Mexican music with hip-hop and metal. Ladrones currently released their third album, “Arriba La L”. When asked which bands you should know about at Inkcarceration 2026, he cited a few bands including Cleveland’s own Killstreak! Jose also told us the loudest concert he ever attended was Motorhead in the early 2000s in New York City where the band played so loud they broke the PA system! Jose is not only the Metal Ambassador, but also a great person that provides support to all, including WJCU!
We had the opportunity to meet up with Will Martin of Earshot during Inkcarceration 2026. The band delivered a powerful set at Inkcarceration that featured songs from their latest album, Humaning, along with fan favorites such as “Wait.” During our conversation, Will discussed the band’s origin and his evolution from being a guitarist to a lead singer. He also said the band’s name came straight from the Thesaurus since he looked up words that are synonymous with sound and Earshot was the choice. Among other acts, Will explained that Tool and Live are two of the bands musical influences. Will also expressed that the creative songwriting process is not as daunting as it may seem as it comes from personal experiences and relationships. Earshot will continue their momentum with multiple tour dates and appearances at major festivals, including Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky (9/18/26) and Sunshine Studios Live in Colorado Springs, Colorado (10/1/26).
From start to finish, Inkcarceration 2026 showcased why Danny Wimmer Presents continues to set the standard for rock and metal festivals. It was another outstanding weekend of unforgettable performances, great interviews, and an incredible celebration of the rock and metal community.