The Metal Column – July 2012

It's easy to forget that summer doesn't always have to be about twee pop, ice lollies and daisy chains – you'd need to look beneath the surface to unearth all that's rotten and soul-corrupting. We can help with that. Feast your eyes, children of the night...

 

Kicking the arse off July is a diverse bill of punk rock, hardcore and grind at Nice 'n' Sleazy, courtesy of The Colour Pink is Gay, Winters, Crusades, Party Cannon and Exile the Traitors (1 Jul). If that still leaves you thirsty for supreme powerviolence, head down to the 13th Note for a truly punishing lineup from The Afternoon Gentlemen, Weekend Nachos, WheelchairX4 and Sufferinfuck  (5 Jul). Meanwhile, up on Sauchiehall Street, expect NYC's daddies of post-hardcore Unsane and the no-less-abrasive Big Business to throw down something furious at Sleazy's on the same night. Over in the East, Edinburgh locals Secta Rouge once again serve up their own kind of mathy spazzcore alongside Vasquez and the immodestly monikered El Schlong at Bannerman's.

 

Also slaying our favourite Auld Reekie rock den, London doomsayers Serpent Venom's brooding, retro-tinged live show is not to be missed (Bannerman's, 7 Jul), especially with their allies – the skullcrushing Black Magician – on the bill. Later, Savannah sludge kings Baroness return to Glasgow for the first time since their now legendary Sleazy's show in 2010. Expect material from their upcoming double album Yellow & Green when they claim Stereo on 10 Jul.

 

If that's too straight-faced for you, the irresistibly cheesy Crown Jewel Defense will likely encourage gratuitous fist-pumping at the Electric Circus on 12 Jul. Or, if beauty in brutality is more your gig, Vestiges and Downfall of Gaia team up to bring a mix of crusty hardcore, blistering post-rock and grim black metal to Stereo on the same night. Then it's back to Sleazy's at the middle of the month for some properly ferocious punk courtesy of Brooklyn crew Crazy Spirit, supported by Mob Rules and Clocked Out (15 Jul). Grindcore dudes Powercup will be taking the 13th Note's basement hostage with a little help from contemporaries Pizzahifive and VCheka alum Fat Janitor (17 Jul).

 

Right, did somebody say Summer Punk Rock Party? Dundee's Kage venue witnesses the convergence of some of the UK's finest melodic hardcore acts together: Shields Up, Fights And Fires, Uniforms, Bear Trade, The Day I Snapped and MüG all in the one place (21 Jul). The next day, there's some righteous prog-metal afoot in the West at the Captain's Rest with As Cities Burn, joined by The Elijah, The Barents Sea and Violet (22 Jul).

 

If you're often complaining about the lack of black metal shows in Scotland, take note: Sunderland's Wodensthrone are taking their grim vibes to Stereo (27 Jul). They're supported by Victorian-era obsessives A Forest of Stars as well as local kvltists Haar and Maelstrom. You'd best get your cloak on.