Dolcim @ The Admiral Bar, 10 Jun

With so little of note being served up across Scotland in the shape of extreme punk and metal for much of this year, it was a pleasant discovery to learn of this hidden gem of a gig taking place on an unassuming and otherwise fairly bland Wednesday evening in Glasgow's yuppie district. Native post-hardcore, musical adventurers Citizens make a typically excellent (and loud) foray into the unknown, their sound continuing to evolve from its hardcore roots to something much more challenging and wonderful. Tennessee headline trio Dolcim are a far more furious proposition. Their sound is reminiscent of the progressive and hellish hardcore of late Swedish heroes Breach. Traditional rhythm work is cerebrally augmented by clever, swirling, effects-laden guitar. It's brutal and almost uncomfortable to listen to at points, yet infused with an intelligence and inventiveness that makes for a far more absorbing experience than the average windmilling grunt-fest.