The snow is fake, but the metal? Real.

Eau Claire Uprising has done it again. The hometown collective, whose mission is to attract touring metal acts to our area and advance the profiles of local metal artists, who first found prominence by booking legendary Polish death metallers Decapitated at the House of Rock in 2011 (mere months after ECU had declared itself an entity), have sadistically sought to bring a little winter into your summer. In an incredible coup, ECU has managed to appropriate the North American tour of Finland’s scintillating and symphonic death metal group Wintersun for one special night at Eau Claire’s The Oxford (nope, not a typo). When their eponymous debut dropped back in 2004, Wintersun became a compulsive, effortless listen in my car, my classroom, and the confines of my home. With a synergy of pomp, pulse, and palpable melody, and the fact the entire album was penned and played (sans drums) by one dude, Jari Maenpaa (ex-Ensiferum), it felt like the zenith for this type of majestic metal had been reached. Eight baited years awaited before sophomore long player Time I surfaced, and rumors persist that fans shall be treated to both albums performed in their entirety come Aug. 17. Supporting Wintersun are Italy’s tech-death titans Fleshgod Apocalypse, encoring in EC after their well-received set at the Decapitated show, Virginia’s amazing (albeit unfortunately, and inaptly, named) Arsis, whose (recommended!) demo collection As Regret Becomes Guilt (via Negative Existence) portended a band who have gone on to shine like “diseased diamonds,” and newcomers Starkill, whose Century Media debut, Fires of Life, is causing quite a stir both in the heavens and on earth. The show is only $18 in advance ($20 at the door), a third of the price being asked for in Chicago. And it is an “all ages” event. ECU has done everything, short of convincing your family to postpone that (op)pressing reunion for another weekend, to get you to this gig. Be present or forever pose.

Wintersun + Fleshgod Apocalypse + Arsis + Starkill + TBA • Saturday, Aug. 17, doors at 6pm, bands at 7pm • ALL AGES • The Oxford, 1814 Oxford Ave. • $18 in advance, $20 at the door, $12 bottomless beer (with ID) • tickets: wintersunineauclaire.brownpapertickets.com