Final installment, y'all. If you don't already have an app to get your shit together you can find one here.
You'll want to utilize our previous coverage as well:
Metal Injection Metal Guide to SXSW 2012 Part 1: Stoner / Doom / Sludge
Metal Injection Metal Guide to SXSW 2012 Part 2: Black / Death / Grind
Metal Injection Metal Guide to SXSW 2012 Part 3: Punk / Hardcore
Today's wrap up is kind of a catch all for the bands too weird, too farflung, or that I just screwed the pooch in overlooking previously.
A Storm of Light
As the Valley of Death Becomes Us… is nearly a year old now, so I wouldn't be surprised to see A Storm of Light jumping off the road soon (at least in the US; they'll be spending May in Europe). If you haven't already peeped these road warriors in the last 12 months this Tone Deaf showcase opening for Rwake, Saviours, Black Cobra and C.O.C. is the perfect time to do it.
Dirty Dog Bar (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ 8:30 PM – 9:10 PM
Agony Column
A semi-obscure thrash(ish) band that gets back together from time to time for live engagements but haven't released new material since 1995, Agony Column is a forgotten gem that deserves to be rediscovered. They were describing themselves as "hellbilly" long before Rob Zombie latched onto the term (their second album also gave the title to the Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles zine), so that should give you an idea of their unique blend of southern fried metal.
Texas Rock Fest (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM
Ancient VVisdom
No more metal than, say, Graveyard or the Wino solo albums, Ancient VVisdom (yes, it's pronounced "wisdom") will nonetheless appeal to open-minded headbangers with their folky, classic rock influenced sound and overtly Satanic lyrics. They're still making a name for themselves in their home state of Texas but have already established a prominent presence on the European festival circuit over the last couple of years.
Longbranch Inn (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – ?
Bruce Lamont
Here's another guy who may soon disappear from the touring circuit, in this case to get back to his day job with Yakuza. If you haven't absorbed Lamont's solo album Feral Songs for the Epic Decline the guy really pushes his artistry out on the edge for this one. If you think Yakuza is esoteric you've only begun to scratch the surface of Lamont's blighted vision.
Stephen F's Bar (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ 11:00 PM – 11:40 PM
Elysium (map), Thursday 3/15 @ Noon – 6:00 PM
Deafheaven
Deafheaven are perhaps only a decent recording budget and another album or so away from vaulting into the elite of avant-garde extreme metal. Which should not be taken as an excuse to delay seeing them live right now. Don't let the band's uniform youth and well kempt grooming throw you off, this isn't hipster metal.
ND Studios (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ Noon – 6 PM
Scoot Inn (map), Friday 3/16 @ Noon – 6:00 PM
Bat Bar (map), Friday 3/16 @ 1:00 AM – 1:50 AM
Intronaut
If there's one band in the entire post- / prog- / math- metal hemisphere that is woefully under-appreciated in my eyes it's LA's Intronaut. Not so much concerned with speed and brutality, Intronaut take their jazzy inclinations into more carefully considered, restrained areas of improvised instrumental dexterity. Latter day Cynic would be the closest comparison, although the dearth of vocals in Intronaut's music make them arguably the closest thing to an actual jazz band within the loose confines of heavy metal.
This is a band that is already booked in Arizona for most of SXSW, so MI's own South by South Death showcase will likely be your only chance to check them out:
Barbarella patio (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM
KEN Mode
KEN Mode has been a favorite around the Metal Injection camp the last few years. We love them for their blend of accessible hardcore melody and post-rock experimentation. But mostly we love them for their killer live act.
ND Studios (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ Noon – 6:00 PM
Scoot Inn (map), Friday 3/16 @ 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Narrows
Narrows features members of Botch, Unbroken, These Arms Are Snakes and Bullet Union, so right away that's a serious hardcore pedigree. But it's the alchemy of those bands' more experimental natures that make Narrows something special. Painted was just released February 28 to widespread acclaim so come on out and see some fresh material.
Scoot Inn (map), Friday 3/16 @ 10:05 PM – 10:40 PM
Pallbearer
Chalk Pallbearer up among those bands that I screwed the pooch on previously. They should have been in that very first installment but hey, at least we shoehorned them in eventually, right? Not really even much to say here… if you aren't already intimately aware of how fever-pitch-hot this band is right now you're obviously not a heavy metal lifer. In that case better step back and leave this one to the professionals.
ND Studios (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ Noon – 6:00 PM
Lovejoy's (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – 7:00 PM
Pilgrim
Ditto on the "screwed the pooch" thing here. Pilgrim are one of the brightest young traditional doom bands working today – their debut album Misery Wizard has been one of the best albums of 2012 in any genre thus far – so no way could I omit them from our coverage altogether, even if their presence would have been better served in Part 1. And the fact that they're playing on the same bill with fellow doom purveyors Pallbearer just makes their set that much more of a must see event.
ND Studios (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ Noon – 6:00 PM
MI Annex (map), Friday 3/16 @ Noon – 6:00 PM
Scale the Summit
Progressive, instrumental acts are a dime a dozen in metal these days, but what makes Scale the Summit unique is that they eschew the typical extreme metal route altogether in favor of a more 80's rock & roll approach… think a cross between Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani. There's less focus on shred and more of an emphasis on melody and song craft. There's definitely enough instrumental dexterity to make them a stellar live act, it's just not the be all, end all of their reason to exist.
Valhalla (map), Friday 3/16 @ 1:00 AM – 1:50 AM
Shining (Norway)
If there's any band on this list that puts the "experimental" in metal it's Norway's so-called "blackjazz" band Shining. Divisive and controversial are only two words that come to mind. This band will either be high on your list of shit to see or just not on your radar at all. Not a lot of middle ground here.
Dirty Dog Bar (map), Thursday 3/14 @ 10:00 PM – 10:40 PM
Speedwolf
When you think about how Denver is known for being a liberal bastion of creative types – kind of a like a mountainous, snowbound version of Portland or Austin – it's surprising that it isn't as well known for its music scene as it is for its beer and its weed. Speedwolf strike me as being intimately familiar with those latter two regional touchstones, their excellent debut (reviewed previously) Ride With Death being a dyed-in-the-wool, old school party metal record.
Betsy's Bar (map), Friday 3/16 @ 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Lovejoy's (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – 7 PM
The Sword
Ah… Austin's own The Sword. Many credit Metallica for skyrocketing this band's profile by handpicking them as support act a couple years ago, but the truth is The Sword have done plenty on their own to earn those accolades. At any rate, these days they're no longer a "local band" but more of a worldwide, year-round touring machine, so even if you're from Austin this may one of the few chances you get to see these guys in 2012.
The Main (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ 11:30 PM – 12:10 AM
And that's it! Be sure and check out Corey Mitchell's excellent showcase-by-showcase overview @ Metalsucks if you're trying to get the most bang for your buck (or just don't want to stand in any more lines than necessary).
Feel free to add anything you think was unduly excluded in the comments section below. See you fuckers there…
