Russian Circles/Ken Mode/Inter Arma

Is Russian Circles a new event at the Sochi olympics? No, it’s your favorite instrumental metal band, and the group is playing the Grog Shop tonight. This Chicago-based trio is known for their brutally beautiful metal songs. These guys will blast your ears with powerful chugging metal riffs, then caress you with their triumphantly soaring guitar solos. Appearing on several ‘best of’ lists in 2013, the band is in the middle of their U.S. tour in support of its latest release Memorial. The album packs a punch. The track “Deficit” gives you that crunching deep chug from the drums and bass, as the effects-saturated guitar melody sings the song of a madman. The band isn’t afraid of slow jams either, “Cheyenne” is almost an ambient guitar tune, invoking images of a snow landscape. Get ready for a brilliantly intense show. (Eric Gonzalez)