It’s on its way … can you hear it? The distant sound of guitars shredding into piles of wood and metal. The thump of the bass drum’s resting beat as it paces the marching of the incoming metal armies. The faint screams and growls of the warriors of rock ’n’ roll as they make their way to Worcester.

The 16th annual New England Metal & Hardcore Festival (NEMHF) is almost here. Whether you are into melodic metal, new metal, heavy metal, Viking metal, doom metal, punk or a mix of it all, there’s a little something for everyone at Metalfest. In just a couple of weeks, the Palladium’s two stages will be blessed with bands from all around the world, ready to rattle your eardrums and boost your adrenaline.

Instead of the usual Friday-Sunday spread, New England Metal and Hardcore Festival (NEMHF) is bringing something new to the table this year. The 2014 show will run from Thursday, April 17, through Saturday, April 19. Personally, I think this is a great decision because it means I can rock hard, throw a few (or more) back and not have work the next day. A free day to recover from three days and nights of madness? Yes, please.

Scott Lee, who organizes Metalfest, is looking forward to “making the fans happy” with the bands that have been asked to play this year and said that “though there won’t be a pre-party here in Worcester this time around, there will be some related events happening in other places around the country, including Albany (N.Y.), Hartford (Conn.) and Montreal, Canada.” He’s focused not only on the concert that will happen here in Worcester but also on spreading the NEMHF madness to other places.

Food and beverages are not allowed through the doors, so please leave your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at home. As always, the Palladium will provide some basic munchies downstairs like pizza and chips, but for those of us who like something a little fancier, the Paris Café attached to the venue offers great bistro sandwiches, salads and coffee. There’s also an Uno’s right down the street to grab some grub before the show and get the energy you need for the circle pit.

Bands are chosen for this event based on the hype surrounding them, their new album releases, what they might be doing and availability. Break Thru Music also does its Battle of the Bands to determine which local up and coming bands get to share the stage with the greats.

So, who is playing?

On Thursday, the all-ages festival begins at noon and will feature some big headliners, including Massachusetts locals, All that Remains. There’s also Bleeding Through, Emmure, Oceano, Broken Hope and Gideon, among others.

On Friday, we get a darker array of sound, including headliners Behemoth, Within the Ruins, Carnifex, The Acacia Strain, Whitechapel, Goatwhore, Fit For An Autopsy, Slapshot, Thy Art is Murder, I Declare War and other hard-hitting favorites.

On Saturday, the festival closes out with more than two dozen bands ready and rearing to melt your face with brutal sound. Battlecross will be there, and if the band performs anywhere near like it did last year, you definitely don’t want to miss it ~ it gives one of the best live performances out there on the circuit today. Other great bands that night include Unearth, Alpha & Omega, Lionheart, Nile, Sabaton, Texas in July, Iced Earth and plenty more bands that are sure to give the finale of the year and make you really, really happy that you have the next day to rest.

Tons of sponsors and vendors will show us what they’ve got. Always get there a little early to get some free stuff they might be giving away. Check out Rock & Shock’s table (which usually runs raffles throughout the day) for some info on who might be playing in the fall and check out items from Zildjian, Tama, Sound Rink, Skateboard Marketing, In Tune Guitar Picks, Ibanez, All In Merchandise and more.

Ticket prices vary, and there are a few packages (including some great VIP options that include T-shirts, laminates, posters, free Monster drinks all day and exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities) that you have to choose from. Thursday- or Friday-only tickets are $40 in advance, and Saturday-only tickets are $45 in advance. Get the real deal with the 3-Day Pass and see all 60-plus bands for only $115 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at TicketFly.com, the Palladium box office or by calling 1-800-477-6849. VIP Tickets are available at Soundrink.com. For more information on band lineup, sponsors and tickets and to see interviews and videos, go to metalandhardcorefestival.com.

By Jennifer Russo