Avant-garde metal has long carved out its own spot within rock’s fluid universe, and Zeal & Ardor have taken great advantage of this sub-genre.

For those who have no idea what avant-garde metal is, here’s an AXS Cheat Sheet guide that will briefly explain what it is: Avant-garde metal is a subgenre of rock that is more experimental and innovative than the metal itself. Think of progressive rock and one will get the general idea of what avant-garde metal is.

That brief introduction into this fascinating form of metal will help explain why Zeal & Ardor are such a must-see metal attraction. As far as music years are concerned, Zeal & Ardor are youngin’s in the game, forming in 2013. Zeal & Ardor are not the typical “band,” but instead, they’re classified as a music project that got its start in New York City, but later moved their base of operations to Switzerland.

Their debut self-titled LP got their foot in the door, but it was their sophomore effort, 2016’s Devil Is Fine, that really got critics to look closer at this project. Zeal & Ardor released their third LP, Stranger Fruit, to grand reviews, with the music sounding delicious ahead of its time and being championed as a stellar piece of art.

Now, for the first time, Zeal & Ardor will head to North America with fellow rockers Astronoid, bringing their brand of avant-garde metal to the forefront. Here’s the complete tour itinerary, and keep in mind that all dates and venues are subject to change.

Sept. 20 -- Philadelphia, PA -- Underground Arts
Sept. 21 -- Brooklyn, NY -- Music Hall of Williamsburg (Click here for tickets)
Sept. 22 -- Cambridge, MA -- The Sinclair (Click here for tickets)
Sept. 24 -- Montreal, QC -- Petit Campus
Sept. 25 -- Quebec City, QC -- L’Anti
Sept. 27 -- Toronto, ON -- Lee’s Palace
Sept. 28 -- Ferndale, MI -- The Loving Touch
Sept. 29 -- Chicago, IL -- Subterranean
Sept. 30 -- Minneapolis, MN -- Studio B @ Skyway Theatre
Oct. 2 -- Denver, CO -- Bluebird Theater (Click here for tickets)
Oct. 3 -- Salt Lake City, UT -- Metro Music Hall
Oct. 5 -- Calgary, AB -- Commonwealth Stage
Oct. 6 -- Edmonton, AB --Freemason’s Hall
Oct. 8 -- Vancouver, BC -- Biltmore Cabaret
Oct. 9 -- Seattle, WA -- Neumos
Oct. 10 -- Portland, OR -- Hawthorne Theater
Oct. 12 -- San Francisco, CA -- Bottom of the Hill
Oct. 13 -- West Hollywood, CA -- The Roxy (Click here for tickets)