Illinois's Yuth Forever (formerly Villains) revels in improbable tempos, deeply experimental and joyfully erratic compositions and fosters an aggression behind all of their discordant intensity. Hip-hop rhythms in metal? It's more likely than you think friends.
Their last album Skeleton Yuth Forever dropped June of this year, and it's a spastic, if not melancholy affair of unadulterated aggression. This is the band's last go around, which is a shame because there's a boldness here that is seldom found in their respective scene. And anytime a band calls it quits, or designates a hiatus of sorts, you can be that they will be giving it their absolute all at every live show.
So if there's any incentive, go for the absolutely insane performances that are a near guarantee. Barrier continues to add to the dialogue of Chicago's metal scene with a sound deeply reminiscent of early metalcore efforts with just a bit more self-awareness regarding the genre's shortcomings. Never been a fan of dudes who wear masks on stage, Darke Complex does and that's just fine I guess. If you like Texas metal with the terrible habits that nu-metal helped form, this is for you. Bungle from New York opens with stalwart hardcore punk.
Doors at 6 p.m, The Local 662 in St. Petersburg, 662 Central Ave, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; admission is $12.00.
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 4, 2016.