Now here's a potent show to keep you on your toes. Chicago's own Russian Circles and Tokyo's Envy both play their own brand of brutal rock.

Chicago's Russian Circles play powerful instrumental rock similar to their city mates (and practice space pals), Pelican. Man, I'm such a sucker for this kind of music. Who couldn't love guitars that slowly and surely build into a mighty release of distorted aggression?

Their mighty riff rock-outs are backed by insane percussion that propels these "choruses" away from indie rock's frontier and into the edges of metal territory. Russian Circles may play long and loud, but they never lose sight of the melody... the downfall of many an instrumental band. There is a cohesiveness and structure to these "epic" songs that have a clear beginning, middle and end, as every true song should.

Russian Circles most recently toured with bands like Isis, Minus the Bear, and Chin Up Chin Up, and have many more dates lined up and a full-length due out soon. Get ready.

Tokyo hardcore band Envy immediately grip you with their unrelenting intensity. They are more than just a guitar-crunching, screamo band (though they do have plenty of that). What gives Envy substance over many hardcore bands is their ability to fuse electronic soundscapes with their angry thrashing.

Somehow they manage to successfully combine spine-crushing riffs (like their Level-Plane label mates City of Caterpillar and Breather Resist), with beautiful post-rock sounds à la Mogwai. Envy is a band of paradoxes. They are equal parts rage and melancholic heartbreak. They are aggressive and in your face as much as they are tender and subtle. And it doesn't matter if you can't understand the foreign words they sing. It is the music that speaks volumes.

Russian Circles and Envy play Beat Kitchen, on Saturday, August 26th.