The David Wilcox / The Citizen

A name like Titanium Black should tell you everything you need to know about a band's mastery of the metal sound.

Reared on a steady diet of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, AC/DC and Iron Maiden, Titanium Black plays a mix of its own original metal and songs by those bands, such as Maiden's “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and Sabbath's “Heaven and Hell.” The styles of modern rockers like Tool, Helmet and Pantera also find their ways into Titanium Black's sound.

“We're a hybrid of old school heavy metal with modern rock,” said singer and songwriter Terry Michael LeRoi. “You're just influenced by other art when you're an artist. You pick things up you're attracted to and it just comes out as really original, hopefully.”

Though their metal pedigree may intimidate some, Titanium Black opts for an atmosphere that inspires attention to its spectacle of a show instead of limb-flailing chaos. LeRoi's soaring vocals and the accomplished guitar work of John Matthews and Ed Carpenter serve a theatricality that attracts a wide array of audience members, LeRoi said.

LeRoi, Matthews and drummer Eric Wilson have been performing together in several bands since the late '80s. To LeRoi, Titanium Black represents the strongest point of their collaboration thus far.

“This band is an evolution of our musical endeavors,” LeRoi said. “More than any band we've ever been in, this has all the elements.”

David Wilcox

253-5311 ext. 245

david.wilcox@lee.net

If you go.

Who: Titanium Black

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3

Where: Suzy's Tavern, 346 W. Genesee St., Auburn

Cost: Cover charge

Info: Call 252-SUZY