Appetite for self-destruction

Queens of the Stone Age

… And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead…

Queens of the Stone Age

… And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

Burning Brides

Sept. 6

Club Laga

$20, all ages

By now all those critics and so-called “music connoisseurs” have shut their mouths about rock being dead. Sure, it may have needed a kick in the rear, but it was always there. You just needed to look a little harder to find it. And for the first time in a while, there’s a slew of intelligent, energetic and arty rock bands that actually rock on the forefront of the music scene.

One of these bands, from Austin, Texas, is …And You Will Know us by the Trail of Dead. With the February release of Source Tags and Codes, their major label debut, …Trail of Dead, established themselves as more than just an indie rock guitar-smashing brigade with nifty album art, but as one of the greatest young rock bands in America today. Source Tags and Codes is an epic, vigorous and compelling album, easily one of this year’s best releases.

… Trail of Dead is also well known for their intense live performances. More importantly, they’re well-known for destroying their instruments. This frenzied demolition has gotten them banned from many clubs around the country.

With their newfound major label success, …Trail of Dead landed themselves on tour with stoner rock vets Queens of the Stone Age, who released their third studio album, Songs for the Deaf, just last week.

On the new record, Queens of the Stone Age put together an all-star lineup, consisting of ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl, who pounds those drums like it was 1991. They also teamed up with ex-Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanagan and A Perfect Circle’s Troy Van Leeuwen. Songs for the Deaf is another one of this year’s standout rock releases, an excellent follow-up to 2000’s Rated R, the masterwork that brought them into the limelight.

Queens of the Stone Age make sludgy, heavy, drugged-out prog rock from the middle of the desert. Their inebriated nature never detracts from the power or brains behind their music, which is filled with brilliant little shifts and intricacies.

Between … Trail of Dead’s mayhem and Queens of the Stone Age’s muddy wailing, Club Laga will host the best rock show of the year on Friday.