Sure, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles haven’t played in five years and haven’t put out a proper studio album in fifteen, but the legendary thrashcore outfit was able to maintain its explosive vigor well into the new millenium until cancer temporarily sidelined guitarist Spike Cassidy. Widely recognized as one of the first bands to bridge the gap between hardcore and thrash – an artistic decision that, in the ‘80s, often came at considerable risk to life and limb – D.R.I. was certainly one of the most proficient, not to mention clever, at forging a cohesive fusion. If mixing punk and metal seems as natural to us now as dipping chocolate in peanut butter, it’s because of trailblazers like D.R.I. Ironically enough, the Houston-via-San Francisco band’s 1989 classic, Thrash Zone, still stands as one of the definitive all-time thrash statements. Much like the Ramones before them, D.R.I. were able to deliver catchy hooks at unprecedented speeds, and few (if any) can touch their ability to wring song after song out of what is essentially the same basic formula. Other likeminded bands quickly exhausted their creative potential. D.R.I.’s still sounds strangely limitless. With Black Breath, Countdown To Armageddon, Deathraid, Odd Rule. All ages. SABY REYES-KULKARNI

Fri., Nov. 27, 8 p.m., 2009