High on Fire: See them while you can.
High on Fire: See them while you can. J. Hubbard

Fans of giant amplifiers, ear-splitting noise, and frequencies that disrupt biological functions have a whole slew of shows to look forward to in August. So dust off your earplugs, grab a pencil, and mark these shows on your calendar (because it's made of paper, right?).

METZ
August 4 at Neumos

Sub Pop noise-rockers METZ have an excellent new album, II, which is scuzzy, L-O-U-D, and bursting with the kind of maniacal energy that could unhinge even the most hinged person. And we all need to get unhinged now and then.

High on Fire
August 5 at Neumos

Don't leave Neumos just yet! Oakland metal band High on Fire will dirty up the stage the following night, playing songs off their just-released seventh album, the blistering, thundering, monstrously riffy Luminiferous. Who knows how much longer Matt Pike and crew will keep this up?

Slough Feg
August 7 at Highline

I (heart) Lord Weird Slough Feg. This San Francisco band has been at it for 25 years, and it goes against every trend and expectation that has made modern metal so boring. Imagine a jaunty, musical-theater version of Iron Maiden, throw in lyrics of historical, mythical, and theological nerdiness, and you'll get an idea of the awesomeness involved.

Helms Alee
August 15 at Linda's

Seattle's Helms Alee are just one band on this kickass lineup for Linda's annual music fest. (Black Breath and Kinski also share the bill.) Yeah, you've probably seen them a bunch of times already, but when do you get to see them in the afternoon, for FREE? Don't be a jerk and miss this.

Black Cobra
August 20 at Highline

Duos always face the challenge of filling out space, but there's nothing lightweight about Black Cobra. Guitarist/vocalist Jason Landrian (formerly of Cavity) and drummer Rafael Martinez (formerly of Acid King) attack their instruments with fury, making their style of drone-sludge particularly compelling.

Title Fight
August 21 at Neumos

Okay, Title Fight are not the typical "heavy" band. Although this Kingston, Pennsylvania, outfit has its roots in post-hardcore, it's adopted an increasingly shoegaze-y, poppy vibe. I've never seen these guys live before, so I'm curious to see how they translate on the stage.

Mutoid Man
August 22 at Barboza

"Absurd chops" is one way of describing the appeal of Mutoid Man, which features drummer Ben Koller of Converge and Cave In's Steve Brodsky on vocals and guitar. This show will likely be full of some very nerdy music dudes. Go anyway.

Pentagram
August 26 at Neumos

Most people found out about Pentagram after 2012's Last Days Here, a fascinating documentary about the unlikely return of a proto-metal band (the "street" version of Black Sabbath) whose frontman had been living on the brink of death for decades. Well, Bobby Libelling is still alive and well, and he's got a new album to boot. See the legend IRL.

See all of the upcoming heavy music shows in our music calendar.