SQUALLING, strangled and doom-laden metalers Vacant Stare open a new night of heavy vibes in Cardiff next week.

The showcase of new sounds, Incendiary, is organised by Newport- based band and label, Trip and Tripwire, who are also on the bill.

The full lineup is: Vacant Stare, Shell Shock, Trip, Torna-k, Miazma and G13. The date is Sunday, May 6, the place, Clwb Ifor Bach. The concert is the first of a series of monthly gigs which will be echoed in Newport's latest live music venue, OTTs.

Headliners Vacant Stare are part nu metal with subtle touches. They signed to Copro Records, who released the band's debut album, Vindication, on Monday, March 25 this year.

With a massive sound on CD and live they earned a dedicated following, and have supported bands such as SkinDred, earthtone9, Stampin' Ground and Dog Fashion Disco.

Sets were intense and uncompromising, which led metal bible Kerrang! to feature the band on a compilation alongside the likes of Slipknot.

The London-based six-piece has been hailed as the next lostprophets in Vindication's rave reviews.

The recording of the album utilised three well-known metal producers, Andy Sneap (Machine Head, Testament,) Martin Barbour (Capdown, Medulla Nocte) and Dave Chang (Stampin'Ground, Linea 77), which perhaps explains its diversity.

Incendiary could want for no better advert than the presence of Vacant Stare on its first bill, but they are not the only band worth checking out: Shellshock - experimental drum and bass with metal band, from the same label as Vacant Stare. Trip - Newport-based drum and bass metal band on the verge of releasing an EP titled Insoundiary (see Mono for review and feature on Trip next week). Torna-k - metal band from London with same management as Vacant Stare. Miazma - metal band from Oxford with strong reputation among skaters. G13 - nu metal band with members from Newport and Blackwood, signed to Newport's Tripwire Records.

Incendiary opens in Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach on Sunday, May 5, at 7pm (late licence). Tickets are £5/£6. For more information surf to www.tripwirerecords.co.uk