The Metal Column - October, 2009

For some reason, autumn seems to bring out the grim hordes like no other season. This November, the pagan buzz of Halloween oozes perfectly into a month full of musical malevolence that helps circumvent the onset of the banal materialism and obligatory religious drivel that is Christmas. Sorry, I mean X-mas. Anyways, our magickal incantations have apparently been answered, as we welcome visits by several metal gods, those who not only have been unearthed from ages past to keep our attention focused on the dark arts during the cold winter nights, but also some newer offspring who ensure things remain hellishly hot-blooded.

Glasgow’s O2 Academy will have its sweaty hands full with back-to-back appearances of two massive old-school heavyweights. First up is sharpshooting speedfreaks Motörhead (19 Nov), fronted by none other than parolee hero Lemmy, who rightly deserves to be worshipped as the hardest working reptile in the history of rock. He will no doubt be on his best behaviour alongside openers Girlschool (and another band called The Damned who you might have heard of). Next come elder demigods Dio (21 Nov) to confirm the righteousness and durability of true '80s metal. Speaking of longevity, thrash saviours Slayer execute a large-scale satanic crucifixion at the Barrowland Ballroom (22 Nov) after the considerably less gruesome godfathers Deep Purple spacetruck their way through the Clyde Auditorium (11 Nov).

Edinburgh hosts several noteworthy gigs, as medieval crusaders Saxon and Anvil (6 Nov) persecute willing captives at HMV Picture House. The night before sees doom strategists Of Spire And Throne lay waste to Bannerman’s (5 Nov) alongside jackal-headed Guard Of The Dead, Electrozombies and other bottomfeeding sludge fanatics, while Scottish ultraviolence harbingers The Process and Uncalm (7 Nov) maintain the hatred and ugliness. The end of the month sees this subterranean grotto boasting a more gore-splattered and death-obsessed line-up with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ingested and Arkane (29 Nov).

Hawaiian thrash bastards Corrupt Absolute and Threshold Sicks are deadset to dissect practically every town and city in Scotland, most notably at Corinna in Perth (19 Nov) and The Windsor in Kirkcaldy (20 Nov). In smoke-stained Glasgow, necroticists Diamanthian and Nerrus Kor infest 13th Note (26 Nov), with shows to follow at Corrina in Perth (27 Nov) and Elgin City Hall (28 Nov). Black Elk spew their putrid Oregonian bile alongside the aural thuggery of Hammers and Citizens at Captain’s Rest (19 Nov), effectively delivering the perfect fallout from rock deformists Take A Worm For A Walk Week who force their calculated delirium onto a sufficiently beer-soaked crowd of victims at Nice ‘N Sleazy (7 Nov).

Just days prior, populist dirge-peddlers Clutch groove their greasy, weed-reeking beards back into The Garage in Glasgow (5 Nov), while the same venue discharges metalcore luminaries Shadows Fall weeks later (25 Nov). This month’s requisite package tour visits the Arches with a tightly wound bill upheld by Despised Icon, Architects, Oceano and a slew of others (2 Nov). In a similar bleeding vein, the Cathouse presents Caliban, Emmure and After The Burial (11 Nov), and Killswitch Engage and In Flames unshackle their collective fury at the O2 Academy (27 Nov). Old or new, big or small, fast or slow, well-known or under-recognised… it’s all there this month. It’s your choice: either way it’s gonna be LOUD.