An overloaded freight train of noise called careened through last night, destroying panting hipsters and scattering them in its wake as quickly as it exploded off the venue’s stage.
The Toronto trio launched a furious assault that lasted no more than 30 minutes — less, even — amid the small crowd. Aside from some pleasingly shattered eardrums, the biggest danger during the sonic rant was the lack of sufficient people to catch stage divers, or enough critical mass to keep the mosh pit from disintegrating. But each of the flailing fans was committed, smitten, and leveled by the cacophony.
Metz, fronted by the screaming yet humble Alex Edkins and anchored by bassist Chris Slorach and drummer Hayden Menzies, is compared to noisy, aggressive bands like Jesus Lizard or Pissed Jeans, but there was more “Confusion Is Sex”-era Sonic Youth with a heavy dose of Loop emanating from these Canucks last night.
After changing out his bass, Slorach tuned it and cringed, proclaiming “Uh, this bass always freaks me out.” He punched it and uttered, “But it sounds pretty farty. Letap do it!” Then the band burst into “Wasted,” from its recent eponymous record on Sub Pop. Stumbling for a second, they next tore into “Sad Pricks” before Edkins stopped the band for a second.
“This one’s also from our new record,” he spit. “Itap called ‘Headache,’ and, uh, thatap the end of my story,” after which they continued to challenge human decibel limits until wrapping with an extended version of “Wet Blanket.”
With sheer, psychotic energy, Metz carried songs last night that hinted at traditional verse/chorus structures — something bands like have trouble negotiating. Plus, they played their instruments in constant overdive, loving every second, and that level of commitment was undeniably refreshing.
Follow our news and updates on and our relationship status on . Or send us a telegram.
Billy Thieme is a Denver-based writer, an old-school punk and a huge follower of Denver’s vibrant local music scene. Follow Billy’s explorations at , and his giglist at .
