The Back Room, the premier Austin venue for heavy metal acts for the last three decades, closed its doors for good after this past Saturday’s performance. The official statement from the club is that owner Ronnie Roark is ready for retirement, but several sources in Austin attribute it to the rising rate of urban development in the city (evidently this tract of land will soon be another sparkling new condominium complex.) No matter the reason, it’s a somber time for live music fans, as this marks yet another loss for the local music scene.

The Back Room played host to many touring acts over time - from Pearl Jam, Tool and Soundgarden to the Ramones and Public Enemy. This low-key location and no frills bar became the hangout for metalheads and the prime performance spot for aspiring heavy metal bands from the Austin area, including Quartershackle, Rainsliver, and Meyvn. With only a couple venues willing to book heavier acts (most of which are situated along downtown’s Red River District,) metal fans and local bands will be the hardest impacted by this closing.