Meet the Band: Bassist-singer Aaron Dallison, guitarist Dana Embrose, drummer Will Scharf, and guitarist-singer Chris Smith
History: The guys have been playing together since the early '90s, but Keelhaul didn't officially form until 1998.
What They Do: Keelhaul play a dense, punishing, and mostly instrumental hybrid of hardcore and metal.
Who They Sound Like: Isis, the Melvins, Neurosis
Gigged With: Corrosion of Conformity, High on Fire, Mastodon, Unsane
Latest Album: 2009's Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity, their fourth album.
Stories From the Road: "We've had many big breaks, mostly involving transportation, equipment, and bones," says Dallison.
Why They Say They Matter: Smith says Keelhaul sound "like post-hardcore progressive acid rock. To me, it's progressive. It's not typical in the song structures, and we don't play the same riffs all the time."
Why We Say They Matter:
Smith's got it right: The band's pounding hardcore and metal does sound progressive ... and refreshingly real.
Where You Can Hear Them: keelhaul.info
Where You Can See Them: Prep your passport. Keelhaul will be playing throughout Europe in March, though there may be a local show or two thrown in there. "Sometimes our label surprises us with that stuff," says Dallison. — Jara Anton
