Deafheaven
No corpse paint? No Satanic imagery? No murder convictions? No xenophobia? No Scandinavians?
Meet the band that’s been shaking up the world of traditional black metal. As our 2014 cover feature on San Francisco’s Deafheaven detailed, George Clarke and Kerry McCoy‘s incorporation of melodic, shoegazey passages and post-rock riffs have led to a Dylan-goes-electric moment for the flamboyantly evil sub-genre, and given rise to the hotly debated genre “dark gaze.”
The band’s lyrics have become increasingly personal and vulnerable, from their 2011 debut, Roads To Judah, through 2013’s critical breakthrough, Sunbather, and this year’s New Bermuda, which went to number 63 on the Billboard 200 album chart when it was released earlier this month – an unusual feat, to say the least, for a black metal record.
Meanwhile, in interviews Clarke has attempted to steer the hype machine’s focus to his songwriting. While Sunbather was more optimistic in tone, New Bermuda alludes to a new beginning that, judging from the record, is born of rage and frustration.
With Envy and Tribulation at the Opera House (735 Queen East), Sunday (November 1), doors 7:30 pm. $22. ticketfly.com.
HALLOWEEN PARTIES Friday and Saturday (October 30-31) See party roundup and complete Halloween listings.
STEVE GUNN, JAMES ELKINGTON AND NATHAN SALSBURG The Great Hall (1087 Queen West), Thursday (October 29) Fingerpicking at its finest.
OUGHT, NEW FRIES, DOROTHEA PAAS Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Thursday (October 29) Post-punk is back y’all.
TOPS, PURO INSTINCT Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Friday (October 30) Punk rock meets A.M. radio.
THE BEATNUTS, LOS POETAS W/ DJ GROUCH, LORD FINESSE, DJ STARTING FROM SCRATCH Nest (423 College), Friday (October 30) Classic New York City hip-hop duo.
MADISEN WARD & THE MAMA BEAR, FIREKID Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square), Friday (October 30) See preview.
NIGHTMARES ON WAX The Hoxton (69 Bathurst), Friday (October 30) Halloween-appropriate DJ name.
ALUNAGEORGE, ROLAND TINGS The Hoxton (69 Bathurst), Saturday (October 31) London pop duo.
MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS, CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS Sound Academy (11 Polson), Monday (November 2) The Bubblegum Bitch is back.
THE WEEKND, BANKS, TRAVIS SCOTT Air Canada Centre (40 Bay), Tuesday (November 3) The man, the music, the hair.
HALSEY Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Tuesday (November 3) From Soundcloud to superstar.
SCREAMING FEMALES, CASPER SKULLS, POTTY MOUTH The Garrison (1197 Dundas West), Wednesday (November 4) See preview.
