Metal giants and an unsung power-pop hero play Montreal this weekend

Hopefully the next time you read this column, we will all be sopping up the suds in the sun on a terrasse. This week is admittedly a little slow but there are two shows on Saturday and Sunday that are duking it out for the big pick of the week. They’re the heavy hitters, but luckily there is also a little something for everybody this week.

Thursday: For all of the tech metal heads out there you are required to pack up your air guitar and get down with the measured chaos of Intronaut with the tech savvy Scale the Summit, North and Karnon at le Ritz. 179 Jean-Talon W., 7:30 p.m., $18/$20

Friday: Iron Maiden is definitely a big ticket at the Bell Centre, but if you want to avoid your bangover for just a little longer, you should be aiming your white Reebok trainers to Katacombes to check out DJ Satannick’s metal night, which doubles as an Iron Maiden afterparty this week. 1635 St-Laurent, 10 p.m., free

Saturday: The almighty Beat Cops have finally come home after a gruelling five-week tour — of Canada!!! (Geez, I didn’t know anybody actually played places like Lethbridge.) You can see just how tight they got at Turbo Haus, with stellar support from the Sick Things and the Mighty Ffud. 5011 Notre-Dame W., 10 p.m., $10

The fabulous furry freaks at Analogue Addiction have a cooked up a night called Panique Satanique with Red Mass, who release their new EP Rouge No2, with help from their budz Drainolith and Shining Wizard at la Vitrola. 4602 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $10

The first show to duke it out for my big pick of the week is Paul Collins Beat, with the glimmering high-NRG pop of Dany Laj and the Looks with Kid Sentiment opening up the night at skate hang TRH Bar. If you you’re not familiar with Collins, you should know he was one third of one of the best power-pop bands ever — L.A.’s the Nerves — and put out one of the best records in my collection when he released his self-titled debut 35 years ago. His show at Il Motore a while back proved that he’s not long-in-the-tooth yet, so do not miss. 3699 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $10/$12

Sunday: Paul Collins coming to town is indeed worthy of waking the neighbours for, but the other big pick of the week is the U.K.’s Tau Cross, set to destroy Katacombes with Mourne, Napalm Raid and Paraytes. Tau Cross is a metal supa-dupah group featuring Away from Voivod, Rob Miller from Amebix and members of crust punks Misery and War. The Internet is freaking out on their new record on Relapse, so this should easily liquefy your feelings. ‘Sides, what else are you doing on a Sunday? 1635 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $13/$15

On a completely different tip you can make it down le Ritz for Chandra, Essaie Pas, Un Blonde, Bile Sister and DJ Jef Barbara keeping the party going. 179 Jean-Talon W., 9 p.m., $8/$10

Tuesday: UUUBBUURRUU’s Joey Naploeon keeps his Deadly Mardi DIY shows series bubbling with We the Island Birds at Rockette. 4479 St-Denis, 10 p.m., $5/PWYC

For a night of heaviness, hit la Vitrola to catch Counterparts, Expire, Gideon, Knocked Lodge and Kennedy. 4602 St-Laurent, 7 p.m., $20/$22.50

Current Obsession: The Entrance Band, Face the Sun

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com