Thrash metal is coming to High Cotton Arts for the June edition of Art After Hours.

Area bands Temple of Blood and Never Mind the Damage are performing for the free community event from 5-8 p.m. June 11. High Cotton Arts is located at 103 W. Washington St., near the railroad tracks.

Temple of Blood, based out of Huntsville, describes itself as thrash metal, while Never Mind the Damage, based out of Hartselle, describes itself as alternative rock.

“Music lovers enjoy many genres of music, and this is our first foray into hosting a thrash metal band,” said Athens Arts League Board President Jennifer Hilton Sampieri. “Temple of Blood and Never Mind the Damage both have a great local following and should draw people to High Cotton Arts who have never visited our art incubator.”

Athens Arts League is a nonprofit group that hosts Art After Hours and operates High Cotton Arts, a Downtown Athens art incubator that offers studio rental for artists, art classes, children’s programs and cultural events.

Garth Lovvorn Jr. of Athens, the bass guitarist and vocalist for Temple of Blood, said his group has been together since 2002. He reached out to Athens Arts League about performing at High Cotton Arts.

“We will play ’80s-style thrash metal like Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden,” he said. “We will also mix in some original songs. I don’t want to give anything away, but Iron Maiden fans should be ready to sing along.”

Lovvorn said the band has released two albums, “Prepare for the Judgement of Mankind” in 2005, and “Overlord” in 2008. This could be the band’s last performance for some time, as the group is working on a new album. Jim Jullis is the band founder, lead guitar and lead vocals. David Meeting plays drums and is a vocalist.

Never Mind the Damage formed in 2016. Current members are Will Swartz, Chris Portwood, Justin Mason and Brian Montgomery. The band released “The Falling Short EP” on Thanksgiving Day 2017, and members are working on a new full-length album.

Weather permitting, the bands will perform outside of High Cotton Arts. Part of Washington Street will be blocked to traffic, so spectators can bring a chair to enjoy the show. If there is rain, the bands will perform inside High Cotton Arts. Sylvia Vann, with Little Kitchen Food Truck, will sell Cajun-type food.

Athens Arts League will provide a children’s art station and snacks inside High Cotton Arts. Event goers can visit with resident artists, shop for locally made art and sign up for art classes. City of Athens Bicentennial shirts will also be available for purchase.