NEON THIS WEEK

New horizons in death metal

Not only is death metal highly polarizing for most folks with functioning cochleas -- it's loud, fast, guttural and largely melody free, with vocals suggestive of a constipated gargoyle -- but there's also a fair amount of divisiveness within the genre itself.

As the music has evolved, newer bands have incorporated more and more elements from the hard-core scene into the sound -- i.e., massive breakdowns, shouted out vox, lots of buzz cuts, etc.

Whitechapel is one such act, a fast-rising, murderous bunch who've hit the death metal ranks like a crowbar to the teeth with their streamlined, pitch-black assault. They might not please the traditionalists, but then again, this music always has been about stoking tempers anyway. See the band at 6 p.m. Monday at Jillian's, 450 Fremont St. Tickets are $10; call 759-0450.

-- JASON BRACELIN