The heaviest matter in the universe.

I’m going to my first heavy metal show of 2014 this weekend.  I’m super excited.  I haven’t been to a metal show since around this time last year, when I drove to New York City (and back to Boston again that same night) to see Gojira and The Devin Townsend Project, and later that same week I saw Enslaved in Boston.  After that marathon of driving and ear drum damage, I decided I needed a serious break.  Now that it’s one year later, I’ve decided it’s time to jump back into the pit and recharge my heavy metal fuel cells.  There’s probably a science pun that could be made, but I’m too excited to make it.

I’m seeing Amon Amarth.  Skeletonwitch and Enslaved are opening for them.  This promises to be a phenomenally brutal show.

Amon Amarth is the reason I’m into growling heavy metal.  They were the first band to seriously catch my ear back when XM Radio was its own entity, and its metal station was all about playing lesser known bands (unlike the current Sirius XM Radio, whose metal station is… ugh).  The melodic, catchy riff of “The Pursuit of Vikings” got stuck in my head and it was all downhill from there.  I’ve only seen them live in concert once before, and it was one of the best shows I’d ever attended.  Can’t wait to see them again.

I discovered Enslaved when they opened for Dimmu Borgir a few years ago, and they’ve since become one of my favorite bands.  Equal parts growled and melodic vocals, with transcendent lyrics and progressive songwriting.  This will be my fourth time seeing them live.  I hope they do their cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” again.

I’m only vaguely familiar with Skeletonwitch, but I’m looking forward to getting more acquainted with their music.