Music Magnified

The All-Metal Weekend

at Puccini's Golden West Saloon

Torture Victim

Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, Puccini's Golden West Saloon (21-and-over); $5: “Metal lives!,” so sayeth Albuquerque. This city's always been a fan of the genre. It's in Burqueños' teeth, in our bones, and no matter what incarnation it takes on, it outlasts most other rock genres built on chintzy tin and fickle fans.

Kathy Zimmer, owner of the saloon, says it's a good time to do metal. The community has always been good to her venue.

“They're supportive of their own music,” she says. “We see the same faces coming to all the metal shows.”

And after a brief recession, metal is growing stronger here and all around the country, according to Richard Bagley, guitarist for local act Torture Victim. “I've seen it grow from 30 people to more than I can count now. I grew up here, so I've seen it all the way through.” There are more metal acts around, including touring bands, which he says helps bring our scene national publicity.

He describes his band as a mix of thrash, death and black metal, and hardcore punk. For Bagley, metal is a way of life. “It's something I grew up on ... it's insane to play. Not everybody can do it.”

Torture Victim will be playing with Tribus, Tetelestai and Ultimatum on Friday. Destructamatron, Veritas, Jaynestown and The Ground Beneath will take Saturday's stage. These groups come from all corners of metal's subgenre globe, but if it's loud, fast and heavy—it's metal-licious.