by Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magazine — Your News, Your Voice
This summer, the ancient stone walls of the Ohio State Reformatory once again echoed with thunderous riffs, buzzing tattoo needles, and the electric energy of metalheads and tattoo lovers. Inkcarceration, now in its seventh year, turned prison grounds into a full-on rock spectacle complete with live music on three stages, 100+ tattoo artists at Monster Energy Tattoo X, and the return of the spine-chilling Blood Prison haunted attraction.
Held on the historic grounds of the Mansfield Reformatory—best known as the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption—the three-day festival has become a one-of-a-kind destination for fans of heavy music and body art. This year, the event sold out once again, with attendees coming from all corners of the country to mosh in the shadow of a prison yard.
Headliners, Mayhem & Reunion Sets
Each night brought a new wave of chaos, capped by blockbuster headliners:
- Friday, July 18 – Falling In Reverse set the tone for the weekend with high-octane energy, alongside Beartooth, Knocked Loose, and Parkway Drive.
- Saturday, July 19 – Slipknot made their only U.S. festival appearance of 2025, backed by Marilyn Manson, Slaughter To Prevail, Architects, and a rare performance by Acid Bath. The night also featured a reunion set from The Dillinger Escape Plan.
- Sunday, July 20 – Five Finger Death Punch closed things out in loud fashion, joined by Lamb of God, Three Days Grace (with Adam Gontier back on vocals), In This Moment, and reunion acts Chiodos, Dry Kill Logic, and Snot.
And that’s just scratching the surface. The full bill included over 60 bands across the weekend, giving fans everything from legacy metal acts to underground fan favorites and rising stars.
Fans Go All In: Sweat, Ink, and a Few Bruises
If Inkcarceration is anything, it's a full-body experience—and for many fans, that was true in more ways than one. Social media lit up with praise, selfies, bruises, and nostalgia from longtime attendees and newcomers alike.
“Inkarceration is definitely gonna be a yearly tradition for me,” one fan wrote. “I don't think I've had more fun in one weekend than I did at this festival … So many moshpits and crowd surfing. And [I] got a cracked rib for a souvenir. Can’t wait for next year.”
Others were just grateful to have survived intact.
“Inkarceration was the best thing ever! I’m so happy I got to actually fully experience the full festival! And I didn’t get hurt!”
And for those who pushed themselves to the limit:
“Inkarceration did not disappoint yesterday! 16.5-hour day from the time we left until we got home. It may take me an entire week to recover.”
Zyan Hickman, a repeat attendee, shared a post capturing the spirit of the festival's evolution:
“YEAR 1 was about LEARNING
YEAR 2 was about EXPERIENCING
YEAR 3 was about DISCOVERING
This year’s INK was amazing… We also witnessed a marriage when Marilyn Manson started, so that was cool!
Can't wait for YEAR 4. It's all about LIVING. And, fortunately, my life sentence isn't over yet!”
Even the Cops Rode In Style
The Richland County Mounted Patrol made an appearance over the weekend, proving that even law enforcement wasn’t immune to the festival’s strange and chaotic charm. Officers were seen riding horseback through the campgrounds, chatting with festivalgoers and posing for photos beneath makeshift horror-themed displays — including one flanked by a Grim Reaper and a life-sized Michael Myers.
Their presence was lighthearted, appreciated, and just surreal enough to feel perfectly on-brand for a weekend where cracked ribs, on-site weddings, and metal anthems all existed side by side.
A Life Sentence Worth Serving
From the pounding music to the buzzing ink to the haunted prison hallways, Inkcarceration 2025 delivered the full experience fans have come to expect—and then some. The lineup was stacked, the energy was relentless, and the crowd was all in. Whether you left with a new tattoo, a new favorite band, or just a sore back and a few bruises, one thing is clear: Mansfield’s loudest weekend isn’t going anywhere.
See you next year for Year 8. Until then, live loud—and keep serving that life sentence.
