Eight gigs: Whitechapel

Metal Blade Records has been exposing the world to the heaviest and darkest music since the early ’80s, and it celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The label has discovered some of the most influential metal bands of the United States, if not the world. Bands like Slayer, Mercyful Fate and Gwar can thank Metal Blade for launching their careers. You can celebrate all things brutal this Saturday night with some of the label’s biggest names, including Whitechapel, Goatwhore, Cattle Decapitation and Allegaeon. Get ready to bang your head to the blasting beats and shredding riffs of the dark lords of rock. 1417 R Street, www.metalblade.com/us/tours.