Chicago metal band Yakuza will be performing at Slim's supporting Triptykon and 1349 on Saturday night. Here's what Erick Pressman had to say about their new album, Of Seismic Consequences.

by Erick Pressman

Metal has always been about pushing the envelope or smashing through conventional boundaries, whether through sound, image, or lyrical content. More often than not, when metal bands start pushing the boundaries of the standards within the metal scene itself, what you end up having is a lengthy cd full of musical masturbation and corny interpretations of literary works or obscure occult folklore. Chicago's Yakuza is one of those rare occurrences of a band who can actually push things forward without losing the listener by bludgeoning them with an onslaught of hot guitar licks strewn over odd time signatures or a poorly thought out lyrical concept.