It’s been a couple weeks since I posted about whateverthefuck heavy shows were going on. I was doing extremely un-metal things like going to Disneyland and hanging out with family and shit, so I figure let’s not fuck around with any foreplay, let’s get straight into what you care about: the shows, the music, the heaviness.

If you’re planning on going to see UK death metal greats Bolt Thrower alongside Benediction at Neumo’s in late May, do yourself a favor and get on your ticket purchasing pronto—word on the streets is there are only a handful left. This is a big one, so don’t sleep on it. It’s fucking Bolt Thrower, maaaaan.

If you still haven’t figured out any plans for the evening and you have access to some sort of vehicle, consider heading over to Tacoma for a rad all-ages hardcore show at the Redroom. Portland’s Unrestrained is headlining, and if you’re a fan of chunky, down-tuned '90s hardcore ala Turmoil or Disembodied, then Unrestrained is your new jamz. Openers Cascabel call Seattle home and they are easily one of the most underrated “loud” bands from the Northwest—imagine Converge and Coalesce caught in a blender with Napalm Death. Some really fierce, pissed-off stuff.

On Saturday night, Bremerton’s posse of degenerate youth Power will be making the ferry ride over to play a headlining gig at the downtown YMCA's Fusion Café with Dead Weight and Column. Don’t sleep on picking up a copy of Power’s new LP Bremerton Zoo as you know that shit will sell out fast and be up on eBay faster than a signed copy of Morrissey’s ass. Peep the video I posted at the top to check out their entire set from last year's Rain Fest, including their little shout out (?) to Tacocat.

Just across town, Smooth Sailing are headlining the Kraken on the same night, bringing their Cave In meets Poison the Well-esque metallic badassery to my personal favorite U District dive. But don’t go to the Kraken. It’s a friendly, worker owned punk rock bar, but y’know, punk rock is bullshit, right?

The show I’m most looking forward to this week is easily Nile. Egyptian-themed death metal from North Carolina? Only for the pure fact that it's heavy metal does that make any sense whatsoever. Instead of bringing along a few opening bands on tour, it’s just Nile and four solid local bands: Phalgeron (power/thrash metal), Those Who Lie Beneath (Death metal), Funeral Age (Blackened death) and Bloodhunger (tech death). I’ve already got my favorite pair of sweatpants picked out!