Heavy Metal Shop specializes in music that you can bang your head to, from A.F.I. and At the Drive-In to the Vandals and Zao. There’s no need for those section-dividers you find at other CD stores–one perusal and you know you won’t find any Dave Matthews here. Owner Kevin Kirk has been “Peddlin’ Evil Since 1987” and his logo has been worn by members of Slayer, Megadeth, Alice Cooper band and many other prominent figures in the music industry. In addition to the wide selection of hardcore, heavy metal and punk, you can find a good selection of vinyl, guitar-case stickers, posters, T-shirts and concert videos. The table by the door is a magnet for small-venue concert fliers.

The HMS opened its doors in 1987 in the conservative SLC suburb of Sandy. Kevin was able to open the store after the initial investment in his first store, CD World, tripled in six months. My love of music was my inspiration to open a record store. Initially I carried all types of music, but it made sense to specialize, since I was into the heavier stuff. I wasn’t very good at selling jazz to yuppies anyway—especially with Slayer blaring in the background,” Kevin jokes.

Another big part of the Heavy Metal Shop experience is its history of in-store band appearances. The shop’s sordid history of in-store music performances include Dark Angel, Testament, COC, Fight (of Rob Halford fame), Primus, The Deftones, The Supersuckers, Prong, System of a Down, Lamb of God, and countless others. Kirk is obviously proud of his shop, and with loyal customers that keep coming back, he has good reason to be. He says that, just like many of his customers, he feels at home in the shop. It is a familiar and friendly place where fans of metal culture can feel at home.