Hemoptysis

Normally, if you’re a band looking for a catchy name, you might want to avoid a word as difficult to spell and pronounce as “hemoptysis.” If, however, you happen to be a retro thrash metal band and the definition of said word is “the expectoration [coughing up] of blood or of blood-stained sputum from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs,” well, you’re probably just feeling lucky than nobody else beat you to it. Despite a name that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, Hemoptysis has accomplished an awful lot for an unsigned band formed in 2007. They’ve already released a five-song EP that earned high marks from New Times‘ decidedly non-metal music editor, Martin Cizmar, and their Web site features a laundry list of sponsors and endorsements from high-profile companies like Peavey and Jackson. A gig at SxSW is just the icing on the cake for these up-and-comers.

Sat., March 13, 5:30 p.m., 2010