What better way to kick off the new year than with a night of hard-core metal? Jan. 4, Indianapolis’ Rowco, Anapparatus and Apostle of Solitude and Louisville’s Stonecutters will bring it. Hard.

Started by ex-Gates of Slumber skin-pounder Chuck Brown, Apostle of Solitude has been garnering a bit of metal blog love across the nation with its last release, 2007’s Embraced by the Black. Songs like “Last Tears” and “Curse of A Gift” lumber along in a true Iommi-style sludge. Coming off as a cross between Cliff-era Metallica and Sleep, these boys have the goods to make a break out of the cornfield.

Stonecutters have a sound that is equally doom-laden. However, dirty, gritty Southern boogie creeps into the mix courtesy of Brian Omer, whose yelp cuts through the creeping death like whiskey poured onto hot lava. One listen to a song like “Quasimodo” will put to rest any lingering doubts about the state of heaviness in the state down under.

Closing out the bill will be Indianapolis prog-metal outfit Anapparatus, and Rowco, with ex-members of 7DFC and Forefront and a decidedly more greasy sound than all of the above. For a $5 cover, it’s not a bad way to get your new year metal.