There is absolutely no reason to stay in on Friday evening. Whether it's DJ Shadow at La Zona Rosa or Future Clouds and Radar at The Parish, downtown offers you a wide variety of music to kick off your weekend. more ›

Heavy Metal -- the phrase has been used in various connotations since Black Sabbath (arguably) generated the first metal ‘sound’ back in the late 60’s. Ever since, the genre has fluctuated between differing standards and floated through a number of decades. Be it radio friendly acts such as Godsmack, the thinking man’s Tool, the stoner riffs of Fu Manchu, or local flavor in the form of The Sword, the current state of metal crosses many... more ›

The Lions have a pretty exciting summer lined up: they've been busy in the studio working on their full-length (and possible major label debut) and celebrating "Metal Heavy Lady" being picked up by Austinist's favorite pastime, . Tonight at Emo's, they are playing what will no doubt be a raucous, sweat-stained show with Red Fang, and request your presence. more ›

Cortney Tidwell may be from Nashville, but her music seems to be the product of an entirely different world. Her debut album, Don't Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up, makes you struggle to keep up with comparisons and references to other bands you might admire (our list included Hope Sandoval, Mogwai, St. Etienne, and Bjork.) This is all quite wonderful, because the parts all meld into a style that is dreamy, catchy, and quietly... more ›

Today is the day that all you ghouls and ghosties have been waiting for, like Christmas for those of us who worship at the altar of fake wounds, zombies and pirate costumes. That's right, its Halloween, the most liminal time of the year, and what better way to celebrate the magic of All Hallows' Eve than with our good friends the Swedish retrodoompsychfolk band Witchcraft! Channeling the spirits of acts like Black Sabbath and Pentagram,... more ›

Gorch Fock aren’t exactly safe listening…one is meant to engage and survive them on their twisted level, facing ugly reality in blunt terms, grinding it all into a sonic maelstrom threatening to devastate and bewilder. Like hellfire itself, one should only listen if they are itching to get burned. more ›

If you haven't had the vaguely familiar pleasure of hearing Wolfmother yet, think Black Sabbath meets MC5 meets Black Sabbath with a smidgen of Led Zeppelin for taste. Did we mention they also conjure shades of metal progenitors, Black Sabbath? Sunday evening at The Parish, this Aussie power trio did their best to remind us of the enduring relevance of proto-metal. Having trimmed the proggy fat off their forefathers music, they stopped in to offer a glimpse of its undiluted essence. more ›

Metal was alive and well at Emo's outside stage last Thursday night as local shred heroes The Sword christened a European tour. Heralding the release of their new album, Age Of Winters, the foursome, true to their reputation, conjured up the tenth level Were-Griffyns of Rock. Supported by Torche, ASG, and Golden Axe, it was a loud, hairy evening. All of which was tenuously held together by a mysterious force: the irony of Metal retread.... more ›

There is a parallel universe where metal is still king. Nirvana never happened. Black shirts and acid-washed jeans are still in style, but most importantly, Bob Rock never worked with Metallica. In this parallel universe, Metallica still pays homage to Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy. The music is loud and fuzzed out and it kicks your ass – hard, and it wears a mullet – while driving a 1985 red Firebird. And in this... more ›

We hope you’re still content with last week’s releases, ‘cause this week is slow for those about to rock. If you’re getting tired of Gizmachi and Still Remains, you always have Weezer (come on Rick Rubin, WTF?), Spoon (ok, but it’s no "Girls Can Tell"), or Team Sleep (fans of "White Pony" will love this one). Hang on just a little longer because it's only a few more days until System of a Down release their latest CD, Mezmerize. Make plans to take a long lunch next Tuesday while you wait in line for this one. more ›