As I Lay Dying playing House of Blues

Heavy metal used to be synonymous with booze, babes and Beelzebub -- at least most of the good stuff, Stryper excluded, of course.

But among the current crop of young, hard-edged bands, there is a decided Christian bent with acts such as Devil Wears Prada, Demon Hunter, A Day to Remember, The Chariot and many others seemingly more about praying that partying.

This new-ish wave of acts can be traced back to pious San Diego metalcore bruisers As I Lay Dying, who are currently celebrating their 10th anniversary with a new EP, "Decas," and corresponding tour.

The band doesn't proselytize or get all preachy on its records, instead delivering a steady series of chest-caving breakdowns that aim to knock the snot -- and perhaps a few demons -- right out of you.

On this jaunt, they've brought out a loaded bill full of fellow musical face punchers.

There's Of Mice & Men, formed by a couple of ex-members of Attack Attack!, who leaven brusque metallics with touches of melody.

As for Winds of Plague, their frontman looks he spends his time locked in a gym, bench pressing enough iron to fashion a Volvo from. His band's sound mirrors his beefy physique, all drill sergeant exhortations and muscular thrash riffing.

The group attempts to balance all this masculinity with a hot chick keyboard player.

She'll be vastly outnumbered on this night.

Then there's Motionless in White, who are about as exciting as their name suggests.

Still, you'll want to get to the show early to catch Brit battering ram Sylosis, whose melodic death metal will light the fuse on this firecracker of a line-up.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.