Finland's Rippikoulo—whose name means a class in Catholic confirmation—make a rare US appearance this month at the esteemed annual Maryland Deathfest and, lucky for heavy music fans in Seattle, are following it with a West Coast tour. Beloved for a virulent and eldritch sound somewhat typical for extreme metal acts in their homeland, the band made waves in the early 1990s, but the death of guitarist Marko Henriksson put the project on ice before they completed a studio album. Re-formed in 2014, the band now performs their early material as a four-piece. It's unlikely that they’ll return to US in the near future, so curious fans ought to buy a ticket in advance. by Joseph Schafer