Tuesday, May 24th
TENGGER CAVALRY/DEVILS OF LOUDUN/EYE OF NIX/HEXENGEIST
Named after the Mongolian deity that controls the celestial sphere, Tengger Cavalry originally began as a one-man folk metal project based in Beijing. After relocating to New York, the group expanded into a full live project, incorporating traditionally Mongolian folk instruments such as the Igil, Sanxian, and Morin khuur into their sound. Fusing these with modern metal percussion and guitars, throat singing, and primal chanting makes for a sound truly unique and unlike anything else you’ve ever heard before. On top of this, an incredibly solid cast of locals are supporting the evening. Eye of Nix bring their sludgey, dystopic hymns and dirges, The Devils of Loudun show their technical prowess and brutal, symphonic metal riffage, and epic power metal badasses Hexengeist kick off the night. -Dustin Carroll
$10-$12//9pm//21+//The Highline//210 Broadway E.
https://www.facebook.com/events/808882205923375/
Wednesday, May 25th
SLOW SEASON/MOTHER CRONE/DEVILS HUNT ME DOWN/WOODSHED
Anyone who enjoys burning one down while listening to Led Zeppelin I will undoubtedly appreciate the classically influenced bluesy psych rock of Visalia, CA’s Slow Season. These guys have an ear for digging deep into some stoney grooves and conjuring lost jams, channeling equal parts Led Zeppelin and Iggy Pop. Exceptional local support will be provided by doomy stoner-thrashers Mother Crone and the whiskey soaked desert rock of Devils Hunt Me Down. -Brian Kim
$10//8PM//21+//The Funhouse//109 Eastlake Avenue East
https://www.facebook.com/events/600741853407222/
Thursday, May 26th
RED CLOUD/TERRASONE/THUNDERS OF WRATH
Eugene, OR’s Red Cloud breathe fresh, Cascadian air into the smoldering, arid lungs of desert rock, blooming epic, driving riffs in the vein of Kyuss or early Queens of the Stone Age. The band has been preparing the release of their new record, Ursa Minor, and from the couple of preview songs which have been unveiled, it is sure to be a smokey, monolithic slab or hard hitting stoner rock. They’ll be visiting the Emerald City and rocking out the Central Saloon this Thursday, joined by local sludge outfit Terrasone with Tacoma’s Thunders of Wrath opening. -BK
$5//9PM//21+//The Central Saloon//207 1st Avenue South
https://www.facebook.com/events/204254486624056/
WEEKEND NACHOS/BLACK BREATH/CRIMINAL CODE/WRECK/MYSTERIOUS SKIN/PAYBACK
Weekend Nachos, the greatest named band in all of hardcore/grind/powerviolence/music, have been making incredibly potent tunes with tongue planted firmly in-cheek for nigh-on a decade. Always ahead of the curve, the Chicago crew have decided to go out on top, calling it quits after the end of their 2016 tour plans. Sadly, that makes this relatively innocuous Tacoma gig not only their last stop in Washington, but their last West Coast show, period. Crying about it isn’t very hardcore, so make the trek out to Real Art this Thursday and mosh like you still give a shit one more time. Black Breath and a bevy of Tacoma’s finest punk and hardcore round out what will likely be the best all-ages early show of 2016. -Jake McCune
$17 ADV//$20 DOOR//May 26th//6pm//All Ages//Real Art Tacoma//5412 S Tacoma Way
https://www.facebook.com/events/1695156417405514/
ENDORPHINS LOST/GENERATION DECLINE/THE HELM
Despite having members scattered around various parts of the Western United States, Seattle crusty grind metal powerhouse Endorphins Lost have kept up a fairly consistent run. This Thursday sees the group kicking off a month-long tour across the United States, with stops included at Colorado Springs ‘Seven One Grind’ Festival and New Mexico’s Dooms Day Festival. The group is also releasing a split with Oakland’s Deathgrave in the near future. Endorphins Lost shows tend to get pretty rowdy, so expect the Kraken to be a sweaty mess in all the best ways. Bremerton crust punks Generation Decline and Tacoma’s heaviest of heavy trio The Helm round out the party. -DC
$5//9pm//21+//The Kraken//5257 University Way NE
https://www.facebook.com/events/586187688223713/
Saturday, May 28th
ATRIARCH/ADDUARA/HULDREKALL
Atriarch have been dormant in their native Portland since the end of last year, hopefully working on the follow-up to 2014’s excellent Relapse debut ‘An Unending Pathway.’ This Saturday the doomy, slightly goth-y foursome make their way back north to headline an excellent three-band of the highest caliber ‘blackened’ metal music being played in the great Northwest. Local black metal heavyweights Addaura are playing their first Seattle gig since returning from their recent European excursion and the reclusive but absolutely essential Huldrekall are making the trip up from Olympia to open the evening with their enchanting and psychedelic take on black metal. Line-ups like this one are show-of-the-year caliber as far as local music is concerned, so if you want to witness the best our great region has to offer your know where to be. -JM
$15//May 28th//9pm//21+//Substation//645 NW 45 ST.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1581385428814248/
