For a couple years, I lived up in the great state of Washington-- just north of Seattle-- and fell in love. The smell of the rain, sweeping forests filled with life, amazing food, and wonderful people. I remember going to the EMP and being absolutely mesmerized by everything there. I'd look up venues in the area and have my mind blown by the acts coming to town, mostly at El Corazon. I regret not being able to go any extreme metal gigs there; the only concert I was able to go to during my short stay Washington was In This Moment (and oy, I can already feel you judging me with that admission).
Washington has made strong contributions to rock and roll: Jimi Hendrix, Heart, the riot grrrl movement, and of course grunge. You can't mention Seattle in conversation without people professing their love for Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. What of metal? Nirvana and a whole sub-genre of metal found inspiration in the bizarre jams by the band the Melvins.
The Eighties saw the rise of bands like prog metal legends Queensrÿche and the almighty Metal Church. The name Warrel Dane might ring a bell for some people through his work with Sanctuary and Nevemore. Over the years, a plethora of bands have emerged from the state and made names for themselves, representing the full spectrum of metal-- from the punk-inspired thrash (The Accüsed and Black Breath), drone (Earth and Sunn O))) ), black metal (Inquisition and Wolves in the Throne Room), and deathcore (I Declare War).
I don't know what exactly has made this state such fertile land for metal-- the rich history, the rain-soaked land, or the cultural hub that is Seattle. Whatever it is, I am loving what it has to offer.
Let's have a look, shall we?
Seattle
Stoner Doom
Seattle
Death Metal
Seattle
Deathgrind
Seattle
Progressive Sludge
Seattle
Melodeath
Northern Bastard
Port Angeles
Death Metal
Astraes Pestis
Seattle
Blackened Death Metal
Eingenlicht
Olympia
Black Metal
Mother Crone
Seattle
Stoner Doom
Bell Witch
Seattle
Sludge Metal
Port Angeles
Death Metal
Astraes Pestis
Seattle
Blackened Death Metal
Eingenlicht
Olympia
Black Metal
Mother Crone
Seattle
Stoner Doom
Bell Witch
Seattle
Sludge Metal
A God or An Other
Seattle
Atmospheric Black Metal
Xoth
Seattle
Blackened Death Metal
Hålväg
Seattle
Black Metal
Swampheavy
Seattle
Stoner Doom
Mysticism Black
Battle Ground
Black Metal
Nekro Morphosis
Seattle
Black Metal
Iquinok
Seattle
Symphonic Black Metal
Curse of the North
Seattle
Traditional Heavy Metal
Whythre
Seattle
Melodeath
Substratum
Seattle
Classic Metal
Seattle
Crusty Black Metal
Seattle
Stoner Doom
Seattle
Deathcore
Omak
Black Metal
Seattle
Sludgy Grindcore
Yakima
Thrash Metal
Seattle
Stoner Doom
Seattle
Stoner Doom
So what do y'all think? Love it? Hate it? Got more recommendations? It looks like Seattle's the place to go for your metal if you're in Washington and most of what you're gonna hear is black metal and doom. Makes sense. There's a beautiful grimness to that fine state that's definitely conducive to those styles. Maybe catch a band or two at El Corazon or Studio Seven if you're ever in town.
Stay heavy, my friends.
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