Ruby the Hatchet

Ruby the Hatchet

Inevitable that a new permutation of music becomes a trend. The strain of occult doom rearing its horned head in heavy rock and metal for several years now shows no sign of fading, and thank Lucifer for that. Exhibit A: Ruby the Hatchet. The Philadelphia quartet wraps riffs around ribcages and grabs groove by the gonads, enveloping the subsequent sonic storm in a miasma of menacing mysticism. Rampaging "Demons" and rumbling "Unholy Behemoth" reap souls ham-fistedly, but the roiling psychedelic epic "Tomorrow Never Comes" and shockingly pretty folk rocking title track strike true. It could be argued that RTH does nothing that hasn't been done a zillion times before, but Valley of the Snake's combo of might meeting melody is simply too satisfying. (Fri., 8pm, North Door)