Athens, Ohio-based Skeletonwitch is one of America’s best up-and-coming metal bands. They mix thrash-, death- and black-metal into an unholy swirling dust-storm of savage riffs, relentless drumming and vocals, which shift back and forth between guttural death rumbles and higher-pitched shrieks/growls. Those vocals are actually the group’s weak point on record. Their new album, Breathing the Fire, is one of the year’s best metal releases, but frontman Chance Garnett is a far weaker presence than his four bandmates. Live, however, they’ve got scorching authority, routinely blowing otherwise well-regarded headliners (like, say, the Black Dahlia Murder) off the stage. Black Dahlia Murder, Toxic Holocaust (a one-man band in the studio) and arty noise-grinders Trap Them share the bill that starts at 7 p.m. at Peabody’s (2045 E. 21st St., 216.776.9999, peabodys.com). — Phil Freeman
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