The Showdown

The Showdown have always been heavy, but not necessarily metal, per se. Not that the distinction matters much to them. "Honestly, man, we're just bound and determined to do whatever we want when we sit down to write a new record," says Eric Koruschak, the band's bassist. "We only base it on how we feel." The band must have felt like melting faces beyond recognition when they wrote Back Breaker, their latest, which combines an absolutely pummeling rhythm section with wicked riffs and a lyrical tableau inspired by Greek mythology. (Read: It's a tale of war, power and vengeance.) The Elizabethton quartet (promo materials listing them as a Nashville band are inaccurate) recently shot their first video and are in the midst of a tour that will take them to over 30 cities. At the end of the day, though, their attitude toward their own music will probably remain the same. As Koruschak says, "If it jams, it jams, you know?" Indeed.
Sat., Oct. 4, 6 p.m., 2008