Metal with a hint of death

The Boardwalk is one of the only local venues that consistently features national death-metal acts. The genre is making a much-needed comeback, and New York’s Suffocation, a band that practically coined the term “death metal” with its groundbreaking Effigy of the Forgotten in 1991, is living proof that this music has staying power. Although the band’s latest release, 2004’s Souls To Deny, is anything but new, this is the band’s first trek to the Sacramento Valley. Also on the bill are Canada’s progressive-leaning death-metal kings Cryptopsy, who release their new platter of splatter, Once Was Not, just a few days later. Both bands feature the core of their original lineups, a rarity these days, and both have live shows that bludgeon like a hundred-pound anvil. Catch these acts with Despised Icon, Aborted and On Broken Wings on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at The Boardwalk, located at 9426 Greenback Lane in Orangevale. Tickets are $22 for this all-ages show. Visit www.boardwalkrocks.com for info.