Long live Will Haven

Will Haven is back. After a lengthy hiatus, the five boys completed a successful U.K. tour with sludge kings Crowbar, in addition to playing a special reunion show at The Boardwalk last November. For the uninitiated, this hardcore/metal/noise combo cut its teeth doing shows in the Sacramento Valley and Southern California. Even though the band has played as direct support for the Deftones and donned the cover of British magazine Kerrang!, it has never received the accolades it so deserves in the United States. The band remains without a proper record deal in the States, but its hard-to-find catalog on Revelation Records is worth seeking out. The band doesn’t play too often, so Friday’s show at The Boardwalk likely will draw fans from Los Angeles and Chico. The return of vocalist Grady Avenell is worth the $12 price of admission alone. Will Haven plays with Eightfourseven, Death Valley High, Red With Envy and One Dying Secret at 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome at The Boardwalk, located at 9426 Greenback Lane in Orangevale. Visit www.boardwalkrocks.com for more information.