Did you know that one of the most exciting, and explosive progressive metal acts in the business happens to hail from our humble northern neighbor, Bellingham? If you like screaming thrash attacks, and break-neck switchbacks played with pin-prick precision (um, yes, please), then get the hell with it. Not a band to simply substitute volume for substance, the gods Dog Shredder bend your mind with incomprehensible timing and linear song structure that keeps you on the edge of your seat ’till the very end. It’s controlled chaos, and it’s fiery as hell. With Caligula, Old Iron. TODD HAMM

Fri., Dec. 28, 9 p.m., 2012