We're nervous enough opening the mail around here without having a bunch of ill-named heavy-metal bands on the loose. Thank God no one has sent us any Anthrax -- perhaps because they've pushed back their scheduled tour with Judas Priest until February. But we did receive a few over-wrapped (or is that -rapped?) lumpy envelopes from Biohazard, whose logo has become a familiar backdrop on the nightly newscasts. Uncivilization (Sanctuary), the aptly titled album from the Brooklyn hardcore stalwarts and proto-rap-metal godfathers, was recorded long before September 11, but it still boasts the kind of guest list you'd expect from an all-star benefit concert: members of Slipknot, Sepultura, Pantera, Cypress Hill, and Type O Negative all pitch in. Biohazard are on the road with Southern-fried boogie-scuzz banditos Clutch, jazz-metal fiends Candiria, and New Hampshire cavemen Scissorfight. They'll be spreading the disease Friday at the Asylum (207-772-8274) in Portland; Saturday at Jarrod's Place (508-222-8878) in Attleboro; and Sunday at Chantilly's (603-225-7709) in Concord, New Hampshire.

On the track from their Virgin debut (B.R.M.C.) that's currently in rotation over on MTV2, San Francisco's Black Rebel Motorcycle Club pose the musical question "Whatever Happened to My Rock 'n Roll?" -- and then answer it with the kind of fuzz-punk blast you'd expect if Queens of the Stone Age had grown up on a steady diet of the Jesus and Mary Chain. BRMC make the rounds this week, showing up tonight (Thursday November 15) at the Higher Ground (802-654-8888) in Winooski, Vermont; Friday at the Skinny (207-871-8983) in Portland; Saturday at Pearl Street (413-584-7771) in Northampton; and Sunday at the Green Room at Snooker's (401-351-7665) in Providence. Next Friday (November 23), they'll hit the Paradise (617-423-NEXT) in Boston; Saturday will find them at the Tune Inn (203-772-4310) in New Haven. Former Faith No More/Mr. Bungle crooner Mike Patton's heavy-metal/avant-garde/C&W supergroup Tomahawk -- featuring former Jesus Lizard guitarist Duane Denison, ex-Helmet drummer John Stainer, and former Melvins/Cows bassist Kevin Rutmanis -- show up in support of the group's homonymous debut, on Patton's Ipecac label, Sunday at Toad's Place (203-624-8623) in New Haven and Monday at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge. And don't look now, but that's Sonic Youth playing a one-off gig in their adopted home town of Northampton on Friday at the Calvin Theatre (800-THE-TICK) with J Mascis.

Last but not least: we couldn't help noticing that a stellar indie-punk package tour brings Saves the Day and Hey Mercedes to the area this week -- tonight at the Asylum (207-772-8274) in Portland; Friday at Avalon; Saturday at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence; and Sunday at the Chapin Theatre (800-477-6849) in South Hadley -- while Mercedes Lander and her sister Morgan show up with the rest of our fave almost-all-girl pop-deathmetal band Kittie at the Roxy (617-931-2000) on Friday. Who's got the hook-up?