For the second consecutive year, the West Texas Death Fest is bringing a weekend of brutality to the Panhandle.
This year's event will be held March 12-13 at the Nat Ballroom and will consist of approximately 30 death, thrash and black metal bands from across the country.
"We're taking the fest seriously," said Jessica Cazares, promoter for the event. "It's not just some show to us. We want it to be bigger, we want it to be better and we want to push the limits."
Cazares said last year's event was a success and hopes to see it flourish in 2010.
"The bands last year were phenomenal, the mosh pit was insane and everything was just so great," Cazares said.
Besides bands, the Death Fest is drawing three magazines to the event. Lone Star Metal Magazine, Sick Drummer Magazine and Beyond the Dark Horizon will have booths set up at the festival. Record labels Dead World Syndicate and Ossuary Industries will also be present to scout out new talent.
"This way we kind of help them out," Cazares said. "We really wanted this to be as good for the bands as it is for the fans."
Brian Ferrell, owner of Ossuary Industries, said he sees the festival as an opportunity to support the Texas metal scene. For Ferrell, a highlight will be seeing a performance by Human Meat Market--an up-and-coming act based out of Oklahoma.
"There's a lot of different genres of music," Ferrell said. "I think there's a little bit of something (at the Death Fest) for everyone."
Cazares encourages people who do not normally listen to heavy metal to give the Death Fest a chance.
"This is going to be an awesome weekend for people that love music of all kinds," Cazares said. "We want to show people what death metal is. A lot of people think that the vocals are too rough and you can't understand it. Look at the vocal as another guitar or another drum piece or another bass. We judge it as an instrument."
Dave Bennett of Indiana is traveling to Texas to play with his band, Cryptic Fog, which combines black and death metal in their music.
"I'm definitely excited about coming to Texas," Bennett said. "Being in a band, we have never gone that far."
Bennett said Cryptic Fog formed one year ago and has played around 20 shows. He said he is optimistic about the opportunity to share his music with new ears.
"(The Death Fest) is probably going to be our biggest show yet," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what the crowd turnout is going to be. Being on stage is such a high; it's a feeling I can't explain."
Cazares notes that most festivals this size are held in larger cities such as Houston or Dallas.
"We have purposefully chosen to stay in Amarillo so that Amarillo can have something big," Cazares said. "A lot of these bands would normally never come to Amarillo, but because of the fact that we're having a huge festival they will be here."
Tickets to the West Texas Death Fest can be obtained at Tarpley's Music Co., Night Songs or on the group's MySpace. The cost is $20 for two days or $12 for each day.
"So you get to see 30 bands for $20," Cazares said. "For 75 cents a band, this is a chance to test the waters and see if you like any of it."
The West Texas Death Fest is an all-ages event and B.Y.O.B. with proper I.D.
Cazares said several tables will be set up and loaded down with band merchandise. The Death Fest is selling T-shirts containing every band's logo for $15 as well as a compilation CD that will include one song from each band participating in the festival.
Cazares said the Fifth Seasons Inn & Suites is offering special rates for those who tell them they are attending the Death Fest.
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"They have an indoor pool, hot tub, free breakfast and a bar," she said.
The hotel can be reached at 806-358-7881.
Ferrell said he hopes to see a good turnout at the event.
"Come out and support the underground brutality," he said. "Give it a chance. Feed the beast, as they say."