Lake Charles, Louisiana's Choke combines sludge metal's swampy density with Southern groove and the blunt force of heavy riffing deeply tied to the Gulf Coast's murky musical tradition. Their sound is thick, hot, and relentless, rooted in the swamp.

Ohio's Choke Hold brings crossover thrash sensibilities into collision with groove metal's heavier rhythmic swagger, producing a sound that is both aggressive and physically propulsive. Their work is built to move bodies in the pit as much as challenge ears.

Yakima, Washington's Chokeout fuses groove metal's locking rhythms with hardcore's aggressive directness, creating a sound that is both heavy and kinetic from the Pacific Northwest's agricultural heartland. Their music is physical and combative, built for the pit.

Chattanooga, Tennessee's Chokeslam delivers groove metal with the blunt force of a wrestling move the name invokes, channeling Southern aggression into heavy, mid-paced riffing with physical impact. Their music is built from the ground up for the live setting.

West Hills crossover thrashers Cholos on Acid bring Southern California attitude to a chaotic blend of groove metal and full-throttle thrash. The name tells you most of what you need to know.

Springfield, Ohio groove metal band Chronic Aggression keeps it heavy and direct, built on mid-tempo down-tuned riffs and a rhythm-first approach to metal songwriting. Their sound sits firmly in the machine-groove tradition popularized by the early 1990s.

Fargo, North Dakota's Chronocide brings groove metal's locked-in rhythmic chug to the Great Plains, fusing it with traditional heavy metal songcraft. Their music is accessible but heavy, built for arenas their region rarely hosts.

Boston's Chuggernaut merges groove metal's locked-in heaviness with Southern metal's swagger, an unlikely but effective combination in a city more associated with hardcore and punk. Their music is built around thick mid-tempo riffs designed to move crowds.

Fort Madison, Iowa groove metal outfit Chupacabra takes their name from the legendary creature and brings a similarly lurking, heavy presence to the Midwest underground. Their sound is built on mid-paced groove and the kind of riff weight that makes rooms feel smaller.

Auburn, Washington groove/thrash metal band Cicatrix lock into heavy mid-tempo grooves underpinned by tightly coiled thrash riffing and punchy production. Their approach favors rhythmic impact and head-down momentum.

Oklahoma City groove metal act Circumstance build heavy, mid-tempo bulldozers anchored by thick riffs and a hard-hitting rhythm section. Their sound lives in the pocket where groove metal meets modern aggression.

Tulsa's Cirkus blends Southern metal swagger with heavy groove, delivering thick riffs and a road-worn attitude rooted in Oklahoma's hard rock underground. Their music is equal parts dirt and electricity.

Cincinnati's Citizen X traffic in groove-driven thrash built on thick mid-paced riffs and a blue-collar Midwestern intensity. Their material locks hard into the pocket before erupting into fast-lane aggression.

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Durham doom/groove metal duo City of Medicine lay down slow, crushing riffs drawn from North Carolina's fertile heavy underground. Their music moves with the measured weight of something that cannot be stopped.