Ticket Give Away: Fu Manchu at the Black Cat 9/18/25

Fu Manchu has been one of the pioneers of the stoner scene since the 90s and their big riffs have made them fans with metal heads, stoners and skaters alike! On Thursday, September 18th, the band is playing the legendary Black Cat and we’re so excited that we’re giving away a pair of tickets to one of you lucky DCHM readers! To enter: just leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite stoner or desert rock album ever. Then on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, at 5pm Eastern the contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org! Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. When you leave a comment you must click the little email icon and enter your email in (only I can see the email address you enter) otherwise I won’t be able to contact you if you win. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

Fu Manchu burst out of the Southern California desert rock scene with their own high energy take on the stoner sound and formed a devoted fan base after releasing classic albums of the genre like The Action is Go! and King Of The Road and an iconic stoner style cover of the Blue Öyster Cult hit song “Godzilla.” Several of Fu Manchu’s tracks ended up on various Tony Hawk skateboard video games that were hugely popular on the Playstation 2, gaining them an even wider audience. The band still puts out studio albums full of killer riffs, including 2024’s The Return of Tomorrow. Now go get in the comments and tell me what your favorite stoner or desert rock album of all time is!

September 9, 2025
Categories: Black Cat, Contests, Stoner . Tags: , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 10 Comments

Some local releases for Bandcamp Friday

This Friday, August 1st, will be the first Bandcamp Friday since May of 2025! For those that don’t know, on Bandcamp Fridays the Bandcamp music site drops their cut from any sales that happen in that 24 hour period, so bands get 100% of the share of each sale (minus credit/debit card fees if you pay with one) which makes it a great day to support bands and buy some new music! To that end, I thought I’d round up a few local metal releases that have come out since the last Bandcamp day.


Obsidian Blade is a new local band with a trad metal/NWOBHM vibe but the members have all been involved in other bands in the DMV scene for some time. They’ve started playing out live a bit but so far this is their only recorded song available, and it dropped on June 10th.


The Borracho guys are at it again with their repetitive heavy grooves as their new full length album that releases on August 8th, though you can pre-order now and enjoy the 3 preview tracks right now.


Kontusion finally dropped their debut full length album on July 25th and man is this some back-to-basics filthy, brutal death metal! None of that spacey death metal that is in vogue to be found here.


Cemetery Sex is a local goth band and their debut album is dropping August 1st. The album showcases Anastasia Noire’s beautiful vocals that soar over the rainy-day vibe guitar riffs.


The most intense music in this post comes by way of Blood Monolith on their debut album that dropped on May 16th. This has been one of my favorite albums to drive around blasting this summer!


As The Sea Parts is a black/death band that formed in the 90s, went on hiatus for about 20 years or so, and finally dropped their debut full length on July 11th. The album has former Dying Fetus drummer Erik Sayenga on drums and sick cover art by Mark Riddick!


Fresh off their appearance at this year’s Maryland Deathfest, I.C.E. just released their third full length on July 11th and their frigid black metal riffs will def keep you cool in the dog days of summer.


If you dig instrumental metal with a fiddle then be sure to check out the newly remixed version of Seasick Gladiator‘s self-titled debut from 2017 that just dropped on July 12th.

That’s what I’ve got for now but if you know of any other metal releases by local bands since the last Bandcamp Day, or any that are pre-orderable just email me at DCHeavyMetal@Gmail.com and I’ll add them to this post!

July 28, 2025
Categories: Album Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Gothic, Shameless Promotion, Stoner, Washington DC / Maryland / Virginia Metal Scene . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 1 Comment

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats ticket give away

It’s very rare that Cambridge, England, based Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats make it to this side of the pond for a proper tour so we’re excited here at DCHM for the band to play the Fillmore Silver Spring on Wednesday, February 5th! That’s why we’re giving away a pair of seated tickets to this sure to be epic show. To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite movie soundtrack or score is. Then on Monday, February 3rd, 2025 at 5pm Eastern the contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org! Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. When you leave a comment you must click the little email icon and enter your email in (only I can see the email address you enter) otherwise I won’t be able to contact you if you win. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

This isn’t your normal Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats tour. For starters it will be seated and the band will be performing their 2024 concept album Nell’ ora blu (Italian for “the blue hour”) from start to finish. Why does a band from England have an album title in Italian you may ask? That’s because this album is a love letter to Italian horror and crime cinema and sounds like a movie soundtrack to a film that was never actually shot, but with that distinct creepy stoner metal vibe that Uncle Acid has perfected. The story revolves around vigilante justice of a corrupt businessman and fits perfectly thematically with Uncle Acid’s throwback sound. You may have seen Uncle Acid perform before but you’ve never seen a set from them like this! Support on this show comes from Jonathan Hultén, a Swedish folk musician most people will probably know for his time in the band Tribulation before going solo. Now check out these releases by the bands below and tell me your favorite movie soundtrack or score in the comments (and be sure to include your email address)!

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – La vipera

Jonathan Hultén – Riverflame

January 30, 2025
Categories: Contests, Fillmore Silver Spring, Stoner . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 13 Comments

Upcoming Benefit Shows In Our Area

The world is often a cruel place but we can make it a little better for those in need when we attend benefit shows that donate the proceeds to good causes. There’s a few coming up in the DMV that I thought I’d mention here real quick (you can always get the full list of upcoming metal concerts in the greater DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia area on our handy calendar here).

Ben Blanton plays drums in Fuzz Voyage and was the original drummer for Foehammer, plus has performed in many other bands around the DMV. Additionally he is a regular face at hard rock, punk and metal shows in the DMV. Without going too much into detail, he’s had a medical emergency that left him in a coma and while he’s recovering we all know nothing about extended stays in this country’s medical system is cheap. As such there’s not one but two upcoming benefit shows for Ben scheduled right now. The first is coming right up, this Saturday, February 24th, in Frederick when Borracho headlines a show with Bloodshot, Marshal Fuzz and Et Mors also on the bill. A donation of $15 is asked for Ben but of course you’re always welcome to give more if you can. More details are on the Facebook event page for the benefit show here.

If Frederick is too far of a hike for you there’s another benefit show for Ben at the Pocket in 7DrumCity in NW Washington DC on Sunday, March 3rd. This show’s line up is headlined by Rise Defy with additional sets by Seasick Gladiator, Et Mors and Bodied. Yep Et Mors is playing both but it makes sense as the two members of the bands were originally introduced to each other by Ben. Anyways, this show is also asking for a $15 donation for Ben and more info can be found on the Facebook event page for this benefit show here.

Ever since the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israeli civilians last October the government of Israel has been massacring Palestinians in Gaza as though they are all part of Hamas, which has created an enormous humanitarian crisis in the region. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East offers humanitarian aid in the region and this show’s proceeds will be donated to the organization. This show will be held at St. Stephen’s in Columbia Heights on Friday, March 29th. This gig will be headlined by local grind band No/Más but also performing will be the Palestinian fronted Nø/Man as well as Big No and Cimitir. They’re also asking for a $15 donation (presale tickets available here via Bandcamp) and you can get more info on this show via its Facebook event page here.

February 23, 2024
Categories: Doom Metal, Grind, St. Stephen's Church, Stoner . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 1 Comment

Borracho ticket and prize pack give away!

Local stoner/doom masters Borracho have released their 5th full length album, Blurring the Lines of Reality, and on Saturday, September 9th, they’re holding an album release show at the Runaway in Brookland! DCHM are long time fans of Borracho so I’m excited to be giving away a pair of tickets to the album release show as well as a prize pack that includes some sweet swag like a signed copy of the new album (on your choice of vinyl or CD), a Borracho t-shirt in the size of your choice, a Borracho sticker and high fives from the band! All you’ve got to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me your all time favorite album by a local musician. Then on Wednesday, September 6th at 5pm Eastern the contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org! Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. Don’t worry, I won’t add you to any spam lists or sell your info or anything sleazy like that. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

Borracho album release shows are always must-see events but let’s not forget about the two other bands on the bill. Direct support comes from the Frederick, Maryland, based stoner band Faith in Jane. Faith in Jane is a stoner/doom band that I’ve booked myself in the past and I swear they get better each time I see them. The opening band is DC’s own Sorge. They bring a psychedelic vibe to their brand of stoner jams and make this a must see bill from top to bottom. I’m not sure what else there is to say about this killer line up other than to leave a comment telling me what your all time favorite album by a local band is. Don’t forget to check out these killer tunes by the bands on the bill too!

September 1, 2023
Categories: Contests, Doom Metal, Local Band Info, Shameless Promotion, Stoner, The Runaway, Washington DC / Maryland / Virginia Metal Scene . Tags: , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 2 Comments

Weedeater ticket give away!

“Dixie” Dave Collins is bringing his band Weedeater to the Black Cat on Thursday, August 31st! We’re hoping you’re as hungry for those yummy stoner riffs as we are so DCHM is giving away a pair of tickets to this very concert! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite stoner album of all time is (by any band). Master of Reality, Welcome to Sky Valley, Dopesmoker, or even Weedeater’s own Jason… the Dragon, any killer stoner album counts! Then on Monday, August 28th at 5pm Eastern, this contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org. Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. Don’t worry, I won’t add you to any spam lists or sell your info or anything sleazy like that. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

North Carolina’s sludgey stoner band Weedeater always brings the riffs but there’s two other sick bands playing as well! Touring support comes in the form of a rare chance to catch Australian grind/thrash band King Parrot stateside. Local support comes from The Dregs, a new stoner band that’s been gaining attention by playing out a lot despite only having released three songs so far. You can check out each of these bands below while you ponder which album to choose for your favorite stoner album ever!

August 24, 2023
Categories: Black Cat, Contests, Sludge Metal, Stoner . Tags: , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 16 Comments

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