This week’s headbangingest shows

My current obsession is Daughter of Darkness, the six-disc box set by French drone duo Natural Snow Buildings (see my review in the print edition of Cult MTL, available here). To ease you into what can be a hard genre to crack, I’m going to recommend another great drone record. (See my first recommendation here.)

Master Musicians of Jajouka feat. Bachir Attar, Apocalypse Across the Sky (Axiom/Island)

Originally introduced to the Western world in the ‘50s by Brion Gysin and later in the ‘60s by William Burroughs and Rolling Stone Brian Jones, these trance-like rhythms only flirt with drones but ultimately hold the imagination captive like a good drone record should. Producer Bill Laswell travelled to the foothills of the Rif Mountains of Morocco in the winter months of 1991 and captured this amazing display of primitive drone, microtonal melodies and dizzying counter rhythms.

Stay tuned for a third Important Drone Record Recommendation next week.

And now to the gigs. See you at the bar.

Thursday: For a night of mayhem, magic and a shit ton of riffs, check out Austin’s Iron Age with fellow Austinites Mammoth Grinder, East Coasters Napalm Raid and Oath at Trigger Effect’s fine digs, Turbo Haus. 1180 St-Antoine W., 9 p.m., $10

Escaping from No Fun City (Vancouver, natch) will be a solo set by Destroyer and Pink Mountaintops at Il Motore. Speaking of Pink Mountaintops, hey McBean, where’s the new Black Mountain record? Ease up on the Cheeba and make with the sweet jams already! 179 Jean-Talon W., 9 p.m., $20

Saturday: Epic- and cinematic-rock heads are not going to want to miss regular Montreal visitors Mono when they let it all hang out at Sala with Majeure. I’ve been lucky enough to see this band a handful of times and they never disappoint, but more importantly, this date will also mark six days since my birthday, so for the love of Allah, buy the ol’ Johnson a goddamn belated drink. It’s the least you could do! 4848 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $13/$15

Sunday: If you like your tech riffs extra techy, don’t miss Scale the Summit when they return to town with the Reign of Kindo and Jolly at Il Motore. If you think Dillinger Escape Plan and Zorn’s Naked City are the kings of stop-on-a-dime chops, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. 179 Jean-Talon W., 7:30 p.m., $15

To say this is a packed Sunday as far as sheer quality goes would be a major slight. Probably my favourite meat-and-potatoes metal band, High on Fire, return to town after a slightly off show at la Tulipe last year. (What’s with the no encore?) High on Fire are easily one of the best heavy live bands around, so don’t miss. Adding further ballast to this bill is the blackened rock ’n’ roll of Norway’s Kvelertak and the massive riffs of Converge offshoot band Doomriders. Corona Theatre (2490 Notre-Dame W.), 8:30 p.m., $22/$24

Although I’m stoked as fuck for High on Fire, I’m equally giddy about the prospect of nodding out to the hushed, lush tones of Mazzy Star, with Psychic Chills. Hmmmmm, what to do? If you see me at either gig, please buy me a beer, cause uh, it was my birthday a week ago. Me. You. Give. Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent), 8 p.m., $44.50/$46.50/$47 ■

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com