You could stay in and watch TV. Or you could go out, throw some horns, drink some excessively strong alcohol, and have the best time you can possibly have without removing your underwear. The choice is yours.
Scotland
**Savage Messiah: **Aberdeen, Downstairs, Monday 26th January
We all love the big four, but why stop there? To be frank we want as much thrash as possible. Luckily this week British thrash revivalists Savage Messiah play Aberdeen to aid us in our quest to gorge on as much quick fire riffing as possible until we get a neck ache./o:p
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Wales
Betraying The Martyrs: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach, Sunday 1st February
French metalcore stalwarts and the band responsible for the best Disney metal cover we’ve heard with their take on Frozen’s Let It Go catch the Eurostar to play our shores this week. Catch them in Cardiff on Sunday and just cross your fingers that the aforementioned cover makes it into the set.
The North
Eye of Solitude: Liverpool, Bumper, Friday 30th January
Creating music that (in their own words) is inspired by emotional distress, inner pain and a cruel combination of negativity and grief, this may not be the gig to beat off January blues. What it is, though, is one of the finest doom metal bands our country has produced in recent memory.
The Midlands
Hayseed Dixie: Derby, The Flowerpot, Tuesday 27th January
OK, so banjos and fiddles aren’t usually our cup of tea and normally we’d run a mile from bluegrass until we were safe and comfortably head banging in a grimey club, but Hayseed Dixie are a hell of a lot more fun than your average bluegrass band. Head along to see their take on the likes of AC/DC, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Kiss and many more.
The South
Pianos Become The Teeth: Bristol, Exchange, Tuesday 27th January
One of post-hardcore’s most visceral bands play Bristol this week in support of last year’s Keep You. Noted for not holding anything back and delivering an impassioned raw sound both on record and live, this will be an emotional one, and not one you’ll want to miss.
London
Obituary: London, Electric Ballroom, Sunday 1st February
This week death metal pioneers Obituary head to England’s capital for a one-off gig that is sure to be a must-see show. If it wasn’t for them coming along in the 80s we’d probably all be left listening to Wham. Well, probably not, but this is still a rare chance to see one of death metal’s most important bands.
Northern Ireland
Portrait: Belfast, Voodoo, Sunday 1st February
For fans of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate, Sweden’s Portrait head over to Northern Ireland this Sunday decked out in leather and ready for a good time. With guitarist Christian Lindell describing last year’s album Crossroads as their “best album to date” and saying they’re “hungrier than ever”, now is the time to catch Portrait at their best.
Ireland
At The Gates: Dublin, The Academy, Saturday 31st January
We were so stoked last year when the band pretty much responsible for starting metalcore returned with the excellent At War With Reality. Expect a show equally as impressive as the band tear through material from their latest as well as their stellar back catalogue.