Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster @ The 13th Note, 5 February

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster's self-released 2009 debut Collapse displayed a deft hand with the dynamics of experimental post-rock and atmospheric art-metal, but their new release, Exegesis promises to be even more exciting. With their singer now front-and-centre, the art-rock excursions into swooping, chopped riffs and complex polyrhythmic drum patterns are now balanced by sophisticated songwriting and narrative. Exegesis is based on the works of seminal psychedelic SF writer Philip K. Dick, or more specifically, the religious / spiritual revelations and visions which led him to write the classic Valis.

The themes and emotions involved in these revelations are explored by the band with an assuredly epic touch, as walls of guitar and drums duel with heavy, emotional vocals. With alternating echoes of the Deftones and Don Caballero, the band tread the line between commercial and experimental rock with a thrilling cleverness, all the while maintaining a heavyness that won't disappoint out-and-out metallers. With support from What The Blood Reveals, Without Aeroplanes, and Naisan, this should be a fantastic night. The band also play Edinburgh's Banshee Labyrinth the night before (4th), with the same support (save for Without Aeroplanes, replaced by A Torn Mind).