I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Torche live, but I can say with certainty say that I’ve never seen then put on a dull or underwhelming performance. Call it the power of the riff, I guess, along with an unbridled, shit-eating enthusiasm for everything they do. The band’s range doesn’t hurt either; at any moment they can slide from the sunny stoner-pop anthems that has colored their recent output and then dive right into the bruising, doom-tinged crushers that defined their early work. Ever since the band broke through to the hipster metal masses with 2008’s tour de force Meanderthal, the group has improved exponentially, and this year’s punishing Restarter, the band’s fourth proper full-length, has only cemented their stature as one of the best heavy rock bands on the planet. If you can only make it to one show this week, this should be it.

Friday, January 15
w/ Jeff Carey, Day Old Man
The Masquerade (Hell)
695 North Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30308
Doors at 7 p.m. / Admission $15

Slang
Slang (Album Release Show)
w/ Shepherds, Heavy Eyes, Satisfiers of Alpha Blue
Friday, January 15
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE East Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $7

If you’re looking to keep it local, however, then Slang’s record release show at 529 is your best bet. The band’s sound is a wide-ranging one, hinting at elements of art rock, quirky pop, and post-punk, all smothered in a cabaret coating. The young newcomers have something distinctly compelling up their sleeves, which is why we included them on our list of local artists to watch for in 2016. There’s plenty of room on the bandwagon, so save your seat before everyone else jumps on.

Best of the Rest

Bird LawwBird Laww
w/ Doll Baby, Interrobang, Pop Weirdos
Monday, January 11
WonderRoot
982 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $5
x_____xx_____x
w/ Obnox, Shade
Tuesday, January 12
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10-$12
x_____xx_____x
w/ Obnox, Shocked Minds
Wednesday, January 13
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10
The Soft MoonThe Soft Moon
w/ Feather Trade, Muuy Biien
Wednesday, January 13
40 Watt
285 W Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10-$12
The Soft MoonThe Soft Moon
w/ TBA
Thursday, January 14
Terminal West
887 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Doors at 7:30 p.m. / Admission $10-12

FlowerFlower (Release Show)
w/ Future Primitives, Third Season, The Marrows, Lady of the Lake
Thursday, January 14
The Mammal Gallery
91 Broad St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 8:30 p.m. / Admission $7
Fantasy GuysFantasy Guys
w/ Tamarron, Dryspell, Talk Radio
Thursday, January 14
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE East Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $5
ATL Collective presents Joni Mitchell's BlueATL Collective Presents Joni Mitchell’s Blue
w/ Adron, Shana Tucker, Wrenn, Casey Harper
Thursday, January 14
Eddie’s Attic
515 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030
Doors at 6 p.m. / Admission $15
Kneedlus - Kneebody + DaedelusKneedelus: Kneebody + Daedelus
w/ Bayonne, 10th Letter Ensemble
Friday, January 15
Aisle 5
1123 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $3 w/ RSVP
Waka Flocka FlameWaka Flocka Flame
w/ TBA
Friday, January 15
Georgia Theatre
215 N Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / SOLD OUT!
Waka Flocka FlameWaka Flocka Flame (Album Release Show)
w/ Russ & Kelechi
Saturday, January 16
Center Stage
1374 West Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Doors open at 8 p.m. / Admission $22.50
Those DarlinsThose Darlins (Farewell Show)
w/ The Gaye Blades, Justin & the Cosmics
Saturday, January 16
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10 or $12 DOS
PalacesPalaces
w/ Hello Cobra, Zruda, Spore Lord
Saturday, January 16
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE East Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $5