Let's face it, metal is back. Maybe not on a grand scale, but it seems like the genre is getting a lot more attention these days. Perhaps its a response to the weak, post-punk/emo explosion of recent years that has spawned so many cookie-cutter acts and bad haircuts, but any way you cut it (oh thats bad, I know), you should come see what I mean tomorrow night at the Empty Bottle. Its rare to have a bill comprised entirely of bands I'm genuinely stoked to see, so come on out and see what I'm talking about.

Indian is a punishingly heavy band hailing from Chicago. They don't rely on blazing fast riffs or fancy fretboard work to get your attention, but rather they choose to bludgeon listeners into submission with slow, menacing songs. If that doesn't suit your fancy, then get your ass out of the kitchen (isn't that how the quote goes?) When they decide to turn the intensity up a bit, there is nothing like a tasteful blast beat anchoring pummeling riffs. For three dudes, these guys sure make a lot of noise. Bring your earplugs and a clean pair of Depends for this set.

Dead Child come from Louisville, KY, and bring quite an impressive resume with them (see: Brothers of Conquest, Shipping News, The For Carnation, Aerial M, Papa M, Tortoise, Early Man, Zwan, and Slint). Do I have your attention now? Good... well... just don't expect to hear anything close to resembling any of these acts. Dead Child remind me of a less technical Anthrax (not a knock to anyone's skill... they just arent quite as thrashy), with nods to other early metal acts like Motorhead and Sir Lord Baltimore. This is really an area that not many bands seem to pay homage to these days, and its great to hear a band like Dead Child offer their take on metal music.

Qualms are without question the least metal of the acts, but that absolutely does not take away from the intensity of their live show. I saw them a while back at the Beat Kitchen, opening for the Poison Arrows (petecroke.com feature coming soon!), and I was thoroughly impressed by what I heard. Qualms are definitely a new-er Chicago band that you need to watch out for. Their sound reminds me of early Don Caballero thrown in with the rhythmic sensibility of The Jesus Lizard (although there is no bass in this band, you'll hear what I mean).