Sunday, Dec. 7: Cardiel

The Valley

By Rev. Adam McKinney on December 5, 2014

From Mexico, by way of Venezuela, the psych-hardcore outfit Cardiel make an ungodly racket that belies their status as a two-piece. Even if it's never quite said explicitly, there's a feeling of revolution that permeates their music. Every song seems to be violently pushing back against anything that threatens to hold Cardiel in one place or to one designation. With thunderous drums, squalling guitars and shrieking vocals, Cardiel are also unafraid to divert their usual sound in favor of playful experimentation - as on "Preveral en al Coping," which abruptly downshifts from a gut-punch of a rocker to a reggae-tinged ditty that never stops threatening to return to an ear-splitting rave-up. The message, they seem to be saying, is to never try to put Cardiel into any sort of box, leaving their roaring guitars to tear through expectations.

CARDIEL, w/ Blanco Bronco, DJ Quan Fi, 5 p.m., The Valley, 1206 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma, cover tba, 253.248.4265