Whitechapel + More Rock Mayhem Victory Records Stage

While the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is best known for its main stage headliners, the side stages have been a great place to see some well-known bands and discover some lesser known ones too. This year, Mayhem is smaller in scale than in the past, and one of the places that was most noticeable was at the side stage. Past years have featured several side stages, side-by-side, so that there was never a lull in the daytime action, but this year's festival featured only one side stage, sponsored by Victory Records.

The majority of bands playing the Victory Records stage were deathcore bands, kicking off with Code Orange, and let's just say these kids can thrash just as hard as anyone. They were followed by Texas thrashers Shattered Sun, one of several bands on Victory Records, and recent Loudwire April Release of the Month featured act for their album Hope Within Hatred.

Up next were Sworn In, a young metalcore band who turned in a high energy set with great style and presence. They were followed by Victory Records' own Sister Sin, a female-fronted band from Sweden, that lightened up the mood a bit with their "old school" heavy metal and sultry yet aggressive stage presence.

Wisconsin's Jungle Rot played next with a blistering set of death metal. They were followed by Australia's Thy Art is Murder with a heavy set of deathcore, featuring older tracks like "Reign of Darkness" and "Shadow of Eternal Sin" alongside newer tracks like "Light Bearer" and "Holy War."

Metal Blade recording artist Whitechapel headlined the Victory Records stage, with an agressive 40 minute set. Highlights included the aggressive "The Saw Is the Law," the older favorite "This Is Exile" and the Our Endless War standout "Let Me Burn."

Check out our photos from the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival's Victory Records stage below.

Whitechapel at Mayhem Festival 2015

Kathy Flynn, WickedGoddessPhotography.com