Plague

Led by Hank Williams, the Raleigh promoter responsible for innumerable metal, punk and hardcore shows in local homes and dives over the last several years, Plague was once a sort of supergroup of Triangle rock. Indeed, when the band played its first show in the living room of founders Cameron Craig and Williams with Double Negative and Birds of Avalon, the four-piece featured members of Shards, Whatever Brains and Tooth. Since, Plague has released two demos—the first, a self-release; the second, via Suburbanite Records. Richmond’s Forcefield will release the band’s proper debut later this year.

After two decades of crossover talk in Raleigh, since the days of Corrosion of Conformity’s Technocracy and Animosity lineups, The Plague embodies the term. Plague writes with the musicianship and focus of a metal band but delivers with the attitude and presence of a tight hardcore unit.

Plague’s original songwriting bass player, William Evans, recorded on the original demo tape but has since left the band. A long list of players has temporarily attempted to fill in, but no new lineup has been permanent. “Fear not,” says Williams. “I didn’t get my name from disappointing my native Raleigh fans.” A special guest bass player will join Plague for this Hopscotch show, programmed by Williams himself. —Grayson Currin