The Metal Column – May 2011

The transition from spring to summer has got to be the worst time of year for metalheads. Autumn is when life begins its annual descent into decay, cruelly followed by winter, with its stark, frostbitten winds. So what do the approaching months hold in store for us riff-worshipping children of the night? Sunshine? Flowers in bloom? At least there’s enough going on in assorted dank dungeons throughout May to keep us in tinnitus till the Big Four take over Sonisphere.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh residents can look forward to a night of blood and entrails-draped brutality with Studio 24 hosting the second instalment of the Dead Haggis Deathfest (7 May) with Wisconsin slaughter-mongers Putrid Pile heading the charge, although the other nine bands will undoubtedly be worth the pennies too.

If an evening of noodly instrumental wonders is more your thing, head over to Òran Mór a few nights later (9 May) for a few new treats by Belfast’s finest, And So I Watch You From Afar.

Classic Grand makes a contribution to the fiery end of humanity by presenting Brummies Anaal Nathrakh (6 May), a night that’ll probably be remembered in the same light as the bombing of Dresden if their past live record is anything to go by. Support will be coming from kindred spirits Chronocide and the amazingly-monikered Drugzilla.

Remember earthtone9? Beardy, proggy, shouty types, and probably the only thing to come out of Nottingham in the past 20 years that didn’t have a gun-crime statistic tacked onto it? They’re finally back, they’re playing Stereo (19 May) and they’ll be bringing fellow prog brethren The Ocean with them. And if you enjoy The Ocean that much, you can catch them again at Banshee Labyrinth and Aberdeen Tunnels (24 & 25 May).

Speaking of comebacks, Queens of the Stone Age will be touting the reissue of their stellar debut album at the O2 Academy (20 May, returns only kids) and Rush will be, well, being Rush and hopefully jamming Limelight on a loop at the SECC (14 May).

Inverness will be seeing a visit from sludge heavyweights Soilent Green, finally playing a Scottish date for what's probably the first time since the Tories were last in power. And at King Tut’s (13 May), no less. Expect whisky and weed induced heaviness on an unprecedented scale.

Finally, praise be to the 13th Note. They’ll be letting Glasgow brutalists Diementia (20 May) road-test their new vocalist with doomsayers Black Sun kicking arse and taking names beforehand.

Now if all that isn’t reason to go out and brave the sunshine, then there’s just no hope left for any of us.