On May 30, the Bunkhouse will offer a masochistic treat for those who prefer a dose of pain with their live music. One of the heaviest and loudest tours of the year in underground metal will make a local stop—a three-touring-band bill that promises to pummel. The best part? Full of Hell, Primitive Man and Genocide Pact each batter in their own distinctive way.
Genocide Pact Part of the burgeoning death metal revival scene, this Washington, D.C., foursome sound like a descending avalanche of rocks. It has taken cues from all the greats of the genre’s mid-’90s heyday to create a catalog of stomping, midtempo blasts heavy on chunky bass slabs, growled vocals and wild drum patterns. Catch the group now, because Genocide Pact likely won’t be an opening act much longer.
Primitive Man The Denver-based sludge gods’ sonics are more consistent with being slowly crushed by a loose boulder. Piercing feedback, lumbering riffs, throaty roars and tactical blast beats create a unique, enveloping sensation. Beneath it all are Ethan McCarthy’s equally stifling lyrics, some of the most misanthropic ever penned. There’s no hope here. Only doom and sludge pushed to the absolute extreme, an oppressive joy to experience live.
Full Of Hell The headliners attack from all angles with a jagged approach that approximates getting pelted with sharp pebbles shot out of a pitching machine. The Baltimore workhorses—and frequent Las Vegas visitors—started as a high school hardcore group before edging into the death metal/grindcore realm while also indulging in collaborative noise projects with the likes of Merzbow and The Hell. The band put out its seventh full length release in nine years, Weeping Choir, earlier this month, and it’s the fullest amalgamation of all their influences yet. Hearing new songs like “Thundering Hammers” and “Burning Myrrh” should provide an appropriately punishing end to the night.
FULL OF HELL with Primitive Man, Genocide Pact, God's America. Bunkhouse Saloon, 702-982-1764. May 30, 8 p.m., $12-$15.
