Resinator: A glorious communion of metal music and craft beer at Kognisjon Bryggeri in Marquette.

Resinator Beer and Metal Fest

I think the saying goes something like “Third Time’s the Charm.” After missing the first two years, I finally made it up to Kognisjon Bryggeri in Marquette for their Resinator Beer and Metal festival. Between the metal and the Michigan craft beer, as you might guess, I was in heaven.

In a nod to 420 celebrations of all things dank and weedy, Kris Thompson (head brewer at the Kog) created a triple IPA made with a boatload of hops and cannabis terpenes, aptly named Resinator. This brew is deceptively smooth, belying its 11% ABV punch. To the nose, you’d swear someone just broke open a big old bag of the Devil’s lettuce to fire up. 

A beer release is a fine excuse for a party, so Kris once again put together a metal music festival to celebrate the beautiful bond of Michigan beer and heavy metal. This year’s gig featured a pure Michigan metal line-up. As if that wasn’t enough, Kris designed the killer can and poster art. 

If you got the munchies during the fest, Third Street Grill (located next to Kognisjon with a service window inside the brewery) had a special Resinator menu featuring a delicious pizza burger, mac and cheese ball, stoner poutine, and a decadent brownie treat.

Mothertomb

As soon as the doors opened, a steady stream of metalheads poured into Kognisjon for the Resinator Beer and Metal fest. The place was packed as Mothertomb took the stage. Hailing from the Petoskey area, this band exudes the dark lore of the North. Their music is steeped in the brooding heaviness of doom progenitors Black Sabbath and Candlemass. The drums and bass crush a path into the lightless void as the guitar hammers riffs of limitless power. The beacon lighting the way is the mesmerizing and melodic vocals that metamorphose into a death roar. It was hard to believe that this perfect performance of blistering doom was the band’s first show!

Caving Grounds

Next up was the startlingly forceful attack of Caving Grounds from Marquette. These guys smashed their way through a set of burning hardcore music that reflects on scenes of viciousness and devastation. Caving Grounds’ punishing music unleashed existential hate, which boiled up into a miasmic mosh pit.

In case you are as curious as I was about the band’s name, the Caving Grounds refers to the old town of Negaunee, where mining destabilized the earth so much that many houses, churches, and the cemetery had to be moved due to the risk of cave-ins.

Decedent

Unleashing a vile and suppurating blast of grinding death metal at the Resinator Beer and Metal fest was Decedent from Mount Pleasant. Taking a page from the pestilent playbook of such bands as Repulsion and early Carcass, this band churned out grinding riffs layered with belligerent bass and drums. Once again, the frenzy of caustic death metal incited a frantic mosh pit. Funny how a place with the name “pleasant” can produce such a pungent band. Take heed, lovers of death, as this band rules.

The Hard

Negaunee’s The Hard lived up to their name with a fierce set of sludgy grooves. The popping drums, crunchy guitars, and smothering bass had the crowd churning. While the music may sound pissed off, the mood was anything but. In fact, the band asked everyone to look to their left and right and give each person a hug to celebrate our shared love of heavy music. If you love the music of Eyehategod and The Melvins and dig thick, snarling riffs with plenty of punch, then put The Hard on your list.

One With The Riverbed

You can call it Post-Metal or atmospheric Black Metal. I will call the music of One With The Riverbed incredible. Since my first encounter with this magnificent band from Kalamazoo at Jeff Fest back in 2022, I’ve been a diehard fan. While their bassist couldn’t make the show due to a family emergency, One With The Riverbed still managed to pull off an awe-inspiring performance.

I quickly lost myself within the tidal flow of shattering despair and somber reflection. The guitars raced like a malicious river descending into a blackened pool of terrible loss. Drums accentuated the tension within the calmer passages before striking with sharp precision during the storms of violence and anguish. The torture, pain, and loathing within the vocals compelled all of us to instinctively scream out in unity.

The vivid emotion of the music was reflected by the band into the audience. I could not help but smile at the majestic power and breathtaking beauty of this performance from One With The Riverbed. As Dave Bowman famously said, “My God. It’s full of stars.”

Thanks and Pictures

Marquette showed up in force to celebrate Michigan craft beer and metal music at the Resinator Beer and Metal festival at Kognisjon Bryggeri. Many thanks to Kris and the amazing team at the Kog for putting on this superb event. If you want to feel the warm embrace of a local metal community and enjoy some killer craft beers, head up to Marquette.

There are more photos from the Resinator Beer and Metal festival in our gallery.

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