Do you like metal? If your answer to this question is "no," then you must mean "yes," in which case you will definitely want to check out Watch Them Rot, Hippie Grinder, and Emissions this Friday at Casa Cantina.

In an interview with ACRN, Watch Them Rot's lead singer Anthony Garcia said his band's mission is "making as much brutal music as we can." With song titles like "Public Decapitation," "Die With a Plan" and "Intentions to Manipulate," it looks like the group's mission is well underway. This definitely isn't music for babies.

Taking influence from bands like Through the Eyes of The Dead, As I Lay Dying and Lamb of God, as well as local acts such as Skeletonwitch, WTR's music crushes, plain and simple.

With that in mind, Watch Them Rot's music isn't solely aimed at wild and crazy crowds, rather, he wants people to connect on a deeper level.

"It's not just noise like everybody thinks. Anybody can scream, anybody can shred on the guitar. it's actual love, hate, sadness, madness, whatever--you have to feel what you write," said Garcia.

Moreover, WTR isn't just for metal fans, but fans of all genres of music. "We're trying to influence them to come over and visit our world," said Garcia.

Although the band has played shows in many different locations, Garcia agrees there is something special about playing in Athens.

"To me, it's more of a metal scene than a lot of places. It's here you will find good, underground, pure American metal," he said.

Garcia went on to describe what a WTR show is like: "We feed off of the crowd. The more we get the crowd into it, the more they get US into it. You can expect a lot of energy."

What's next for the group? Garcia said the recording of an album and lots of shows are in the works.

With an evident emphasis on drive and passion in their music, Watch Them Rot look to be an exciting band that isn't going anywhere.

"No matter what we will prevail," said Garcia with an unwavering tone. "We'll watch everyone else fall and give up, but we'll keep going no matter what."

See Watch Them Rot, Emissions, and Hippie Grinder will perform this Friday, May 18, at Casa Cantina. The show kicks off at 10 p.m., and admission is free.