Photos by Dan DeSlover

Godsmack’s catalog could double as the soundtrack to a few decades of rock radio. Last night, the Massachusetts rockers brought that history to Landmark Credit Union Live in Milwaukee, stopping in the Deer District on their The Rise of Rock World Tour 2026, with special guest Dorothy.

Led by vocalist Sully Erna, Godsmack built its following on heavy grooves, unmistakable vocals and choruses that cut straight to the point. The band’s 1998 self-titled breakthrough introduced a sound that would carry through albums including Awake and Faceless, establishing a catalog with plenty of material for a night like this.

Milwaukee’s set opened with “When Legends Rise,” followed by “You and I” and “1000hp.” That opening stretch reached across different chapters of the band’s career before “Straight Out of Line” and “Awake” brought things back to the songs that helped make Godsmack a hard rock fixture.

The set continued through “Speak,” “Keep Away” and “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain,” with a cover of Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way” tucked into the mix. “Voodoo” supplied its familiar, hypnotic change of pace, while the percussion showcase “Batalla de los tambores” gave the evening another dimension beyond the guitar riffs. “Whatever” rounded out the main set before an encore of “Bulletproof” and “I Stand Alone.” It was a concise tour through a catalog that balances blunt force with melody, and has never been particularly interested in subtlety.

Dorothy joined the Milwaukee bill as support, pairing Godsmack’s muscular sound with a bluesier strain of hard rock. Frontwoman Dorothy Martin’s powerful voice is central to that appeal, with her 2025 album The Way offering another introduction for listeners discovering her through this tour. The pairing made sense for an evening built around big voices and guitar-driven songs.

Photographer Dan DeSlover was at Landmark Credit Union Live to capture the night for The Early Registration. Check out his photos from Godsmack’s Milwaukee stop below.