Buffalo, NY is synonymous with many of its regions modern musical acts. Whether your preference is R&B (Brian McKnight), alternative rock (the Goo Goo Dolls), hard rock (Billy Sheehan), funk (Rick James) pop-punk (Cute is What we Aim For), folk (Ani Difranco), or hardcore (Snapcase and Every Time I Die), there's a little something for everyone here. No band, however, epitomizes Buffalo's blue collar "underground" aesthetic more so than Cannibal Corpse.

Cannibal Corpse is a local legend, the stuff of folklore; the undisputed kings of death metal. They may not be the best (I bestow that honor upon Morbid Angel), or the darkest (cheers to you Deicide) or even the most creative (thank you Opeth and Carcass for taking this music to unchartered territories), but they are the most widely known and, in many circles, the most revered. For 25 years, they have remained true to form; uncompromising, sick, twisted, and heavy as heavy gets. You always know what you're getting with a Cannibal Corpse album and that's alright, because they have perfected their art and it is pure, bludgeoning riffage by the ton combined with Corpsegrinder's thunderous vocal assault.

Tonight, our boys return home as part of the Decibel Magazine tour for a celebration of all things metal, and arejoined by three other head-banging pioneers and legends.  You have the grindcore pioneers from England, Napalm Death, the death metal savants- Immolation, and a personal fave, Beyond Creation. If you're of the progressive death metal persuasion, I strongly suggest checking these guys out. Incredibly complex, masterful, heavy, analytical metal (check out the video and song below); Beyond Creation is a refreshing breath of air to the genre. They mix it up with tireless abandon and it shows in each chord. Town Ballroom (6pm, $25) promises to be the sight of one of Buffalo's best metal shows tonight. If you're not there you're nowhere.

Death metal is an acquired taste for some. For most, it's either a "you love it or hate it" kind of thing. I'm of the former opinion. If you can get past the cheeseball lyrics, the heavy brute force is a summoning power; a beacon of head-banging tranquility.

Back in the late 80's and early 90's, Buffalo was, believe it or not, a death metal mecca and Cannibal Corpse was it's king. Since that time, their legend has only grown, only now they call home somewhere else. Buffalonians are a loyal bunch though and still consider Cannibal Corpse Buffalo through and through.

The biggest death metal package this year was announced the other day, the Decibel Magazine Tour, and luckily Buffalo is one of the pit stops (Town Ballroom, May 30). Featuring Cannibal Corpse (of course) along with death metal giants Napalm Death, Immolation and Beyond Creation, this is perhaps the best pure death metal show to hit these parts in years. I, for one, am stoked.

Set the date on your calendar and prepare your neck for mass amounts of abuse. May 30th can't come quick enough.