Sylosis and Decapitated arrive at the O2 Academy for the Birmingham date on their joint headline UK tour. Forming in 2000, thrash metal outfit Sylosis have built up quite a reputation in the UK metal scene while daring to swim against the downtuned, breakdown-heavy current that predominates in most modern heavy music, with a sound reminiscent of classic Bay Area thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Exodus. Hailing from Krosno, Poland, technical death metal act Decapitated have come to be celebrated as one of the finest exponents of their genre since forming in 1996, and can surely be relied upon to bring virtuosity as well as heaviness to the proceedings. Supporting the two headliners are Kidderminster-based XVII, who just last year played the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Open Air among names such as Rob Zombie and Trivium.

Thurs 3 Mar, O2 Academy 2, 16-18 Horsefair, Bristol Street, Birmingham, B1 1DB, Tel: 0844 477 2000, 7pm, Tickets £15.40, www.seetickets.com