By Brian Kim
Another promising weekend of difficult choices lies before us. Here’s a brief rundown to help guide your path towards excellence.
On Friday, March 21st, Portland’s wizards of stoner metal Blackwitch Pudding will be adventuring up to our fair city to unleash their captivating spells of smoky, sludgy rock and roll. Providing local support will be the crushing heaviness of Serial Hawk, who deserve a warm homecoming welcome after completing their extensive two week spring tour, plus the always impressive riffage of Grenades and the face melting shreddage of Lb.!. All of this destructive force will be contained within the indestructible walls of the Highline.
For those who’d rather drown in a river of whiskey than suffocate in a fog of weed smoke, perhaps the Kraken will provide the proper entertainment for the evening. Grindy post-hardcore thrashers Mercy Ties will be kicking off their spring west coast tour with a bang, joined by the explosive, thundering chaos of Great Falls, whose brilliant record Accidents Grotesque made it onto 3 of the SPA’s staff “Top 10 Records” lists last year. Opening the night will be metallic hardcore badasses The Helm. Prepare to get sweaty.
Saturday, March 22nd will bring even more soul smashing epicness with two particularly killer shows, both of which are located in the Ballard neighborhood. At the Josephine, Cellular Productions have put together one of the most solid local bills so far this year. Headlining the evening will be high-octane heavy rockers Princess, whose scorching amalgamation of fast-paced punk rock and head-banging heavy metal will surely get adrenaline pumping. Tacoma’s Argonaut will be adding their ear shattering sonic fuel to this aural fire, alongside the rabid shredding of death ‘n rollers Dogs of War and the spaced out monumental heaviness of Into The Storm.
Roughly 5 minutes away at the 2 Bit Saloon, Portland’s Winter In The Blood will be summoning their shadowy brand of Cascadian dark metal. Local blackened sludge outfit Un will be opening the night with a volatile cocktail of thrash and doom, right before the dark, operatic stylings of Mongrel Gods. A God Or An Other will be headlining, breaking sound barriers with their transcendent fusion of atmospheric post-rock and furious black metal.
It’s gut check time Seattle, make a choice and get out there.
