Eighteen Visions one of the finest examples of ‘metalcore’

“Metalcore” is a term not often heard in these parts when talking about popular music. Aside from the odd college radio show, you’re not likely to hear this crunching, fist-pumping hybrid of punk and heavy metal over the airwaves in this area.

If you have cable television, you might stumble across a video or two on Fuse or MTV during a late-night channel surf, especially if you happen across the latter channel’s revamped “Headbanger’s Ball” program.

In any case, this underrepresentation is kind of surprising. From Portland up the coast, Maine has had its own thriving metalcore scene for years, supported by a tight network of devoted fans and a handful of all-ages venues where this kind of music can actually be played, which I hope to check out in future columns.

In the meantime, the curious and established devotees should be sure to check out Eighteen Visions when the band stops in at Ushuaia in Orono on Saturday, Sept. 18, to play the final date of the band’s summer tour. Doors open at 5 p.m. Eighteen Visions blasted out of California’s sunny Orange County metalcore scene only a few years ago and has since become one of the finest examples of the genre while helping to evolve the genre’s sound.

“Whenever we sit down to write, we just always want to try something a little bit different, a little bit new, rather than write the same kind of songs again and put out another record,” guitarist Keith Barney said in a recent phone interview. Eighteen Visions’ latest release (and its major-label debut), “Obsession,” blisters with chugging metal guitars and raw, throaty vocals while deftly folding into the mix the more accessible sound of alt-rock riffage of groups such as Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains.

Saturday’s show will also include performances by the equally heavy groups that have been on tour with the band this summer, including Killswitch Engage, From Autumn to Ashes and 36 Crazyfist.

To find out more about Saturday’s gig, call Ushuaia at 866-7700 or visit Eighteen Visions’ Web site: www.eighteenvisions.com. George Bragdon can be reached at gbragdon@bangordailynews.net.