Blackest Metal: Marduk

MONDAY: Sweden is a gorgeous country that turns out some of the ugliest music. Marduk is one of the most hideous examples — and that's a huge compliment. The black-metal band's 11th album-length assault, "Wormwood," is filled with bleak and powerful ragers with happy-go-lucky titles such as "Chorus of Cracking Necks." It all may seem kinda silly, but just wait till the first double-bass-drum blast caves in your chest. Welcome to the dark side, True Believer.

Witness some of Marduk's sonic blasphemy after the jump.

» Sonar, 407 E. Saratoga St., Baltimore, Md.; with Nachtmystium, Mantic Ritual, Merrimack, Tyrant's Hand, Mon., Nov. 23, 7 p.m., $18; 410-783-7888

Photo courtesy SureShotwork

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Mastodons of Metal: Baroness

WEDNESDAY: Baroness' new album, "Blue Record," has garnered near-universal acclaim for the way it smoothly weds hard rock, intricate metal, delicate acoustic passages and more twists than a tornado. Leading the charge is guitarist-vocalist John Baizley, who possesses a remarkable amount of creativity and imagination: He's also an amazing illustrator whose work has decorated the covers for numerous metal albums and band T-shirts.

After the jump: Stream the entire "Blue Record" and check out the video for the album's first single, "A Horse Called Golgotha."

» Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE; with Earthless and U.S. Christmas, Wed., Nov. 18, 8 p.m., $12; 202-388-7625.

Photo by G.L. Johnson

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For the Maddening Crowd: Feed a Crowd Sans Stress With Horde-Pleasing Dishes

BIG-BIRD DINNERS for your ginormous family. Sunday brunches for a zillion co-workers. New Year's drinks for a mob. During this season of hosting, entertaining on a grand scale might seem more folly than jolly.

But having a crowd over should be about bringing loved ones together, not freaking out about whether you have enough stuffing for everyone, says Eric Ziebold, chef at CityZen (1330 Maryland Ave. SW; 202-787-6006). "When you welcome people for a family-style meal, everyone wants to be in the spirit of eating, not stressing."

Whether you're hosting a holiday feast for Kate Gosselin and kids or a spirited Sunday supper for 45, the recipe for success is the same: Balance the workload so you make something delicious and still see guests. The goal: you sitting down at the table, not slaving over a tray of Beef Wellingtons for 200.

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The Cycling Rap: 'Performance' By MC Spandex

MC SPANDEX, I think I love you. (Hat tip to the Practical Cyclist.)

Putting Words in Your Monitor: Autocomplete Me

IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA: Use Google's immense search-term-spitting brain to help mere mortals complete their thoughts. The flip side of that convenience, though, is an eerie look into what normal-seeming guys and gals search for in the privacy of their own cyberspace.

See just how wacky humanity is at Autocompleteme.com.

Baggage Check: Time to Catch Some Zzzs

Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.

AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON approaches and the stresses therein loom on the horizon like an imposing block of fruitcake, it's important that we take measures to keep our immune systems and stress responses as healthy as can be. Getting a good night's sleep is one of the best things you can do to promote a healthier mind and body, especially when holiday parties, flu season and extra social demands loom.

Struggling with sleep habits? Here are some tips from the American Sleep Association. Now get some Zs!

» Maintain a regular sleep routine, going to bed and getting up ideally around the same time.
» Avoid naps if possible.
» Don't stay in bed awake for more than 5-10 minutes, especially if you find your mind racing or worrying about not being able to sleep. And no TV or Internet during these periods!.
» Don't watch TV or read in bed, for the same reason: you'll start to associate the bed with wakefulness.
» Do not drink caffeine inappropriately.
» Avoid inappropriate substances that interfere with sleep.
» Exercise regularly, preferably before 2 pm each day.
» Have a quiet, comfortable bedroom.
» If you are a ‘clock watcher' at night, hide the clock.
» Have a comfortable pre-bedtime routine, like a warm bath, meditation, or quiet time.

And one from me: Don't leave work to be done until late at night (ahem.)

Phillies Are Built to Win for Years

IS THERE any stopping the Philadelphia Phillies?

Armed with a strong rotation led by Cliff Lee and powered by a lethal lineup led by Ryan Howard, they just may be the best team in baseball — again.

If the bullpen continues to performs as well as it has thus far in the playoffs, not even the New York Yankees may have a shot at stopping a repeat.

A scarier thought is this group could put together a run of several more titles.

Not only is age a moot point — most of the Phillies are in their prime — but Philadelphia's front office also seems to make all the right moves.

Last year, it added closer Brad Lidge, who was perfect.

In building toward a second title this year, the team traded for Lee and signed Pedro Martinez. Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner, has been better than advertised. The wily Martinez contributed little in the regular season, yet his strong outing in the National League Championship Series made him a gamble that paid off.

Assuming the Yankees finish off the Angels — Thursday's game ended after Express' deadline — there's going to be a great World Series.

Cheer up, Washington fans: By the time the Phillies are too old to win titles, the Nats may finally have a competitive team.

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images