Three ear-splitting reasons to get to the Empty Bottle tonight for the Metal As Art Chicago stop:

1. Headliner Hypno5e came all the way from France to play their crazy quiet/loud, ambient/screamy brand of metal. For real. They encompass all things good about where metal can and has been going over the last few years. I know you. You think you know what metal sounds like. My friend, you have no idea.

2. But wait, there’s more. Boston’s Revocation might not have traveled as far but that probably just means they’ll have plenty of strength to bring maximum force to their blast beat heavy, stop and turn on a dime speed metal antics. Not convinced? Well, Spin magazine pegged them as one of the 10 artists to watch in 2010. Take it from a corporate magazine or from me. Either way you’d be foolish to ignore this band. Plus, their album is titled Existence is Futile. Everyone loves a play on words.

3. Still hemming and hawing? May I present New Jersey’s Binary Code. There’s a Voivod progressiveness going on here with all kinds of conflicting vocals, from Cookie Monster to a touch of actual singing. And when you think you’ve got it all figure out, say, it’s a lite jazz breakdown. Look, I’m not in love with calling this tour Metal as Art because it sounds like they are trying to justify something that needs no justification. Metal is art. Is now and always has been. Still, put on your most illegible black t-shirt and go check out some bands that should convince the non-believers.

9:30 PM. Monday, January 11. Empty Bottle. 21+. FREE!!!!