The Metal Column – August 2012

Right, simmer down now; we know August isn't looking as fruitful as last month, so as usual you'll be needing us to point you in the direction of all the filth, scuzz and general debauchery likely to be going down at a cesspit near you across the next four weeks. There's a few big players coming to your town, as well as some ripe local talent, so take note...

 

Classic rock devotees A Fable for the Curious promise to bring riffs by the dozen to the Garage's Attic venue (2 Aug), but if you're searching for something more eclectic, there's a bountiful lineup the next day at the 13th Note: Punto the Feef, Black Tara, Blue Nova and Empty Avenue all look set to satisfy with a generous helping of psychedelia, classic rock and riff-led jams.

 

Oriental metallers ChthoniC blend their native Taiwan's traditional influences with their own bizarre take on symphonic metal, so if you like your music heavy and culturally enlightening, head down to King Tut's (7 Aug). Kylesa remain one of the Georgia scene's most prolific sludge metal bands, so don't forget to bear witness to their drop-tuned psychedelia at Ivory Blacks (8 Aug). Next, retro-thrashers Iced Earth gallop towards King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (9 Aug), but we certainly won't judge if you'd rather catch former Dio members axing it out as Dio Disciples; that's at The Cathouse on the same night.

If you missed him earlier on in the year, hardcore Godfather Henry Rollins is giving you three opportunities to witness his hilarious spoken word set at The Queen's Hall on the 8, 9 and 10 Aug as part of his Long March tour. Don't screw this one up, kids.

Do you find yourself fighting an insatiable bloodlust? You'll want to get yourselves down to Ivory Blacks – they're hosting a relentless mid-month deathgrind extravaganza fronted by Cattle Decapitation and Incantation. Danish death-thrashers HateSphere and local boys Scordatura will be providing amoral support (15 Aug).

If you can't get enough of 80s no frills hard rock, female-fronted Edinburgh natives Firebrand Super Rock are playing over at Bannerman's with Ashes of Iron and Dog Tired (18 Aug). Don't miss Orange County punk vets Social Distortion a few days later either; they're still going strong after 30 years – watch them do their thing at The Garage (22 Aug).

Seeing the month off are long-standing Auld Reekie stoner-drone disciples Lords of Bastard, who will be unleashing their new album at Bannerman's (25 Aug). Definitely worth a punt if you like yer slow, brooding riffs juxtaposed with thrashier sections. We're told they even like to experiment with “quiet bits” anaw. Ooft – that's next month's listening sorted as well, then.