Machine Head, Job for a Cowboy - Mayhem Fest in Hartford

As the Mayhem Festival pulled into Hartford, one of the top draws of the day was the Jagermeister Stage. This year's lineup saw some old friends return but it also greeted a few newcomers. Metal music has always been about having an eye toward the scene's future and the Jägermeister Stage at the Rockstar Mayhem Festival has always been fertile ground for bands on their way up.

Huntress, lead by Jill Janus, got things going early. They were the first of two bands to be female fronted at the festival. Battlecross, with their straight-ahead, no-nonsense attack ratcheted up the energy a few notches. Butcher Babies, the second of the female fronted bands, proved that they’re not there as window dressing. Their beauty comes with a bite ... one the grabs hold and doesn't let go.

As for the Jagermeister Stage vets, Job for a Cowboy and Machine Head packed their sets with audience favorites. Creating a sea of crowd surfers and a dust cloud that consumed the whole mass, these two bands are tailor made for the open spaces and wild nature of the Jagermeister stage. Check out our photo gallery from the Hartford stop of the 2013 Mayhem Festival Jagermeister Stage below.