This week in TOTAL HEAVIOSITY

As the mercury continues to drop, Montrealers tend to hibernate making clubs and venues seem a bit more barren than usual. There are plenty of shows and DJ nights happening this week so if you want to beat that cabin fever, get your ass off the couch and get out there.

Thursday – The very last Minimale Musique at Katcombes happens tonight so if you are down with minimal synth and dark and gloomy tunes you can catch one more night of DJ Pappageorgio and DJ Cold Hands holding it down on the wheels of steel with live performances from Taylor Hoodlum Stevenson and the synth punk of new upstarts Motorkiller. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

The High Dials will launch their new jammer In The A.M. Wilds at Le Ritz with the ample support of Morthouse. 179 Jean Talon W, 9:30 p.m., $15

Friday – The easy big pick of the week will go to the monster bill of grind core legends Napalm Death, Voivod (one of the greatest Montreal bands of all time), Exhumed, Iron Reagan and Black Crown Initiate at Club Soda. This will be utterly sick so don’t be a poseur and fug this one up. 1225 St-Laurent, 7 p.m., $25/$30

For a night of minimal synth and a smidge of noise you can catch Brooklyn’s Martial Canterel with Automelodi, Xarah Dion, Litige and DJ Ita at La Vitrola. 4602 St-Laurent, 9 p.m. $10/$12

Saturday – Buckfest hits its 14th edition with a stoner rock bill that sees the return of Montreal’s bong bubblers Floating Widget, Buffalo Theory Mtl, Tumbleweed Dealer and Mikrob at L’Esco. Smoking yourself out before this is mandatory! 4467 St-Denis, 8 p.m., $10

Anarcho punx Dethfox will launch their Natural Media Teleforce 7” at Casa with the raging hardcore of Bearmace and ex Naughty Girls’ new joint Drip. 4873 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $5/$10 w/ Dethfox 7″

Napalm Death/Voivod show is guaranteed to completely fuggin’ rule but the big local pick would be to the always raunchy Bloodshot Bill and The Hickups with Milk Lines at Divan Orange. Bill is off to Europe to join forces with Heavy Trash just after this so show up to see him off in style. 4234 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $10

Tuesday – If you’re looking to up the dosage on some modern-styled psych you can catch Melted Faces with Petsun, Zellers and Stoned Hug at Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $5

Wednesday – Finally, don’t miss the epic and crushingly heavy Near Grey when they launch their third record Yage, with Nous Etions and the dreamy drones of thisquietarmy. This is guaranteed to put the bacon on the burger for any post-metal head. 4873 St-Laurent, 7:30 p.m., $15

Current obsession: Wu Tang Clan, Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com