Castle, Rasputin, Blackwater Prophet, Diazepam

Castle lead singer Elizabeth Blackwell’s voice is gravelly and low at times, quickly turning into a belt a banshee would be proud of. The San Francisco three-piece, which formed in 2009, is a mix of sludge and stoner metal. Blackwell pulls you through all of the pummeling drum beats and devilish guitar riffs, keeping you entranced until the final chords ring. Sometimes you want to wallow in darkness, in everything that’s absolutely messed up in this world. Castle will help you with the journey, though their music isn’t nearly as scary as you might think. Castle is as loud as fireworks exploding through the night sky, so it’s fitting they’re playing Spokane on Independence Day.