The crowd is restless, the amps are buzzing, the temperature is already uncomfortable from huddled bodies and there is a stagnant smell of cheap beer. This scene is typical at a metal show, patrons with one hand holding a PBR and the other hand proudly displaying the metal horns, waiting for ears to be filled with generic power chords.

The typical is thrown awry as the first notes of The Hottness stab the air like an invisible vapor floating above the crowd and then within a few moments begin raining down upon the bodies. The room becomes mechanized with movement and the music floods memories of veteran fans and seeps into the memories of newbies. If you are missing the talented bands, the brutal breakdowns, and an ability to energize a crowd, then look no further than Wilmington’s The Hottness (www.myspace.com/hottrock).

The Hottness, self-described as a hard rock/punk/metal-core band, delivers a dynamic force of quality music in a metal era where the only criteria seems to be a Myspace page with 400 random friends, a death/destruction cliché name and a merchandise table with stickers and youth medium T-shirts.

Emerging out of the breakup of two other bands, The Hottness formed in early 2004. Kyle Watts, guitarist and vocalist for The Hottness, commented in an e-mail interview that the band has evolved since their earlier roots.

“If you listen to our first CD, then you can hear that it is more or less us trying to make the styles we were used to playing in our previous bands work together.”

He added that those boundaries have vanished. “After working with each other for almost two years, you kind of get to know what someone else is thinking. We have as a whole embraced each others musical tastes and styles.”

This embrace, as well as admiration for such musical martyrs as Johnny Cash and The Misfits, makes The Hottness conjure up songs with an eclectic blend of brilliant breakdowns, surging cadences and harmonious melodies. Their songs crucify the generic and convert crowds from stagnant observers to fraternal fans as their lips echo familiar verses and bodies pound the air. The energetic vibe which drives the shows is a point of fondness for the band.

“We love the crowd interaction. If you’re rocking out and singing along in the front of the crowd, you can bet there will be a microphone in your face before the end of the night,” Watts said. “We try and let the crowd know what is going on with the music and that the show isn’t just the band’s show, it is everyone’s [show] that is in the room.”

The Hottness has shared the stage with bands such as Between the Buried and Me, Hopesfall and Stretch Armstrong.

When asked to recall his favorite show, Watts recalled a few which make the top of the list.

“I’d say our CD release party last January (2006) at Lucky’s or when we played to a sold out Soapbox with our buds Thunderlip and ASG. The crowd on both those nights were unusually rowdy and excited and of course the pits were brutal.”

The Hottness is currently working on their second CD which they hope to finish early next year. The band is holding off on touring until the CD is finished, giving fortunate Wilmington fans the opportunity to catch them Sept. 22 at Lucky’s and Oct. 21 at the Soapbox. The band’s masterful blend of chaos in their music, instead of just in a morbid band name is always worth checking out, or in the case of many of their fans, thrashing to as well.