The Metal Column - March 2010

The fact that heavy metal can concern itself with any number of themes is a testament to its cultural longevity and musical dominion. Death, war, hatred and the occult appeal to some, while dragons, time travel, ancient history and scantily clad female barbarians fascinate others. Most fans like a wee bit of everything, which is perhaps the best way to indulge our yearning for all things metal in the weeks ahead.

Early in the month, Glasgow boasts multiple gigs on a single night of battering-ram heaviness. Corpses bring their staggering nemesis to 13th Note (5 Mar), while Polish war-eagles Vader blitzkrieg Ivory Blacks (5 Mar). Around the block, English upstarts Sylosis are joined by local deathmob Scordatura at the Classic Grand (5 Mar). Back east in Dundee, lunatics Nerrus Kor and infidels Threshold Sicks scare the bejesus out of the regulars at Balcony Bar (5 Mar).

Leper messiahs Trivium, in consort with deathcore standouts Chimaira and Whitechapel, ravage the Ironworks in Inverness (11 Mar) and the Barrowland Ballroom (12 Mar). Two weeks later, Scottish metal bands including Annihilation and La Luna Del Cacciatore take over Barrowlands 2 (26 Mar). On the same night, chaos magicians Co-Exist and nihilists Facegrinder scorch the walls of Ivory Blacks (26 Mar) with their concentrated wrath.

For those who exhibit more continental tendencies, Finnish goth-popsters HIM unveil their trendy brand of “love metal” at HMV Picture House in Edinburgh (15 Mar), while annoyingly-named German powermongers Edguy bodyslam the Cathouse (15 Mar). Back at Ivory Blacks, black metal pessimists Nachtmystium herald a twilight of countless idolatries (24 Mar).

As one of the key founders of the death metal genre, Obituary need no introduction, and we should count ourselves lucky that they have chosen to bring their ferocious onslaught north of the border. Early albums like Slowly We Rot and Cause Of Death are undisputed classics, and they will no doubt deliver the goods at O2 ABC2 (9 Mar). Prepare to be chopped in half or buried alive, as these are your destiny.

Space cowboys White Hills stampede the Captain’s Rest (8 Mar) by means of shamanic incantations alongside bourbon-drenched lumberjacks Pontiak. Finally, and perhaps most tragically, a band from Florida by the name of Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced ‘leh-‘nerd ‘skin-‘nerd) will attempt to honor their departed brethren at the sold-out Clyde Auditorium (9 Mar). Don’t bother yelling “Free Bird!” cuz they’re gaunnae play it regardless of how drunk you are.