Littleton, New Hampshire's Skunkhunt formed in 2018 playing groove metal, a style that lends itself to the rural New England setting — heavy, mid-paced, and built around locking rhythms that reward the live setting. They bring a no-frills working-band ethos to a style defined by punch and swagger.

Slabb are a Bloomington, Indiana groove and alternative metal band formed in 2024, occupying the heavy, riff-forward space where arena-ready hooks meet down-tuned, mid-paced crunch. Their approach favors groove over technicality, built for the live room.

Slackjaw are a South Carolina groove metal band formed in 2018, rooted in the Pantera-descended tradition of hard, syncopated riffs and in-the-pocket rhythms built for headbanging. Their sound is blunt, no-frills heavy metal with a Southern edge.

Slag are a groove and thrash metal band formed in 2024, fusing the momentum of old-school thrash with the locked-in heaviness of groove metal into a high-energy, riff-driven sound. Their Bandcamp presence positions them as a straightforward heavy band with no location ties listed.

Slam One Down are a New York groove and thrash metal band with roots going back to 2009, forging a sound that mixes the precision of thrash riffing with the hard-hitting, mid-tempo weight of groove metal. Their longevity in the scene speaks to a consistent live presence and work ethic.

An Austin, Texas groove metal band active since 2016, Slaughter Bought channel the heavy mid-tempo churn and down-tuned riffing that defines the genre into something built for the sweltering Texas live circuit. They represent the heavier end of Austin's famously eclectic music scene.

Ann Arbor, Michigan groove/thrash metal project active since 2014, fusing the heavy mid-paced chug of groove metal with the riff-driven energy of thrash into a sound rooted in classic 1990s metal heaviness. Slayton keep the approach straightforward and visceral within the Great Lakes underground.

Rockford, Illinois act Sleeze deliver groove metal with the blunt directness the genre demands, built on heavy mid-tempo riffing and a street-level attitude since their 2020 formation. Their work keeps groove metal's emphasis on physical impact and pocket-rhythm heaviness at the center of everything they do.

Woonsocket, Rhode Island groove and thrash metal band formed in 2015, combining the propulsive mid-tempo chug of groove metal with the riff-driven aggression of classic thrash.