Prey for Sleep

Photo by John Anderson

Metal Matinee

Mohawk, Jan. 7

A 4pm start time at Mohawk on Saturday was fixed at just the right time to persuade party hounds out late from the night before to come in early for some heavy sounds. Slurr brought big-bearded rock to the inside stage, a sound full of British heavy metal and thrash leanings set to the showy twirls of the drummer's sticks. Outside, all the young dudes in For Every Empire pushed for a screamo renaissance between growls; high-pitched, clean vocals; and lots and lots of breakdowns. A generation or two their seniors, Killeen's Bay of Pigs filled the indoors with groovy, sludgy rock with a Southern focus ("Redneck"), while back outside, Wake the Colossus aspired to a "more is more" maxim with vocals that ran from sing to snarl to boom in minutes. Even the bassist played with two extra strings. Inside, the minors in Taking On Poseidon took on the unenviable task of proselytizing in the name of somewhat off-key hardcore and "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" in the same guttural breath, but they brought their own light boxes, so points for DIY stagecraft. The matinee's headliner was Prey for Sleep, a local quartet that navigated heavy without the bottom end usually supplied by a bass. An upcoming EP and the deep growls of Hunter Townsend shook the stage and left unprotected ears happily ringing.