1) True or false: Gothenburg is the name of a real Norwegian town.

Match the metal genre to its defining characteristic:

2) Black Metal

3) Death Metal

4) Doom Metal

5) Viking Metal

6) Symphonic Metal

7) Thrash Metal

8) Folk Metal

a. Heavily influenced by early Black Sabbath

The Melismatics understand that every show counts.

A son of Seattle's underground music tradition, rapper Grieves is as independent as they come. He certainly has the independently produced albums and hard-won, growing national status to prove it. Grieves spoke with the Alibi from his new home in California (the move was "all for the sunshine," he admits) about speed-writing an album--88 Keys and Counting, out Nov. 12 and featuring Seattle producer Budo--touring across genres, touring and more touring.

Lacking both the ingenuity and guts of piano stadium rock bands like Coldplay and Keane, Snow Patrol proves it's destined to play second fiddle. Too many dull, slow and overly breathy ballads keep A Hundred Million Suns from gaining any momentum. When the band temporarily snaps out of its groggy stupor, the result is a contrived, guitar-heavy, "let's get everyone to clap their hands" attempt at straight-shooting rock. "The Golden Floor," at least, has a catchy pseudo-Latin rhythm and ambient, smoothly textured vocals--a welcome surprise. But Snow Patrol keeps itself too boxed in to break out of its tightly confined niche. (SM)

Burlesque Noir, Vertigo Venus, Savannah Bloom, DJ Brian Botkiller, Paris-A-Go-Go and Satyricon star in a skinema-themed night of live and DJed music, film homage, and pasties. 21+. launchpadrocks.com for ticket info. (LM)