Metal music has quite the history to it. Not to say its history sets it entirely apart from other genres, but metal classics can go as deep as wounds with the lasting effect they have on a person. Some of the best metal musicians have years in age under their belt, leaving more time to develop a personal history of memories that adds to their devotion to the genre. But for local youths Saola, age hasn't a goddamn thing to do with their output, and they make that widely known.

It's not that Saola flaunt their age. In fact, it's quite the opposite, not that it particularly matters anyway. For this doom quartet, who are exiting their high school years, the level of musicianship they've individually and collectively reached is at a tier near the greats. It's shown in their debut album Black Canvas and in their live sets, which is part of how they ended up winning one of our artist polls last month. They're guaranteed to go far and if you haven't given Saola a chance yet, it's about time to change that.

Now that the brutal heat is here, listen to their equally as brutal track "A Strange Radiation" below. 

After months of strenuous hard work, the 13th annual PDX Pop Now Festival is here to be enjoyed by Portland's newest wave of all-age music appreciators. Each year, numbers of volunteers spend so much of their personal time trying to make the festival happen by showcasing the city's best up and coming artists and today, the fruits are now ripe for entertainment.

Sabonis, a somewhat shoegazey, somewhat lo-fi alt indie group is opening up the fest, using the chill vibes to ease everyone into a weekend of craziness. Saola, playing after Sabonis, is probably one of the greatest bands out there right now that still happens to be in high school. They're bringing the heaviest element to the day's lineup, with a doom metal output.

Folky stylings are represented by Loch Lomond, Dragging an Ox Through Water and Snowblind Traveler, with a country-ish twang coming from Jenny Don't & the Spurs.

Ali Muhareb's Mujahedeen and Eyelids are the trippiest of the bunch and electronic lovers Gold Casio are helping one of the only hip hop acts, Mic Capes, get bodies moving towards the end of the night.

The first day of PDX Pop Now offers a little bit of something for everyone, as do the other two days of the fest. It officially begins at 6pm tonight, so be sure to come out. It's free!