Minneapolis's Obsession tap into heavy metal's classic blueprint — big hooks, driving riffs, and anthemic energy — and deliver it with a Midwestern directness that cuts straight to the bone. Formed in 2019, they're a throwback without ever feeling stuck in the past.

Tucson's Obsidion bring desert heat to power metal's soaring register, blending arena-ready heaviness with the melodic ambition of classic US power metal. Since 2017, they've been one of Arizona's sharpest acts in the genre.

Boston's Of the Past mine classic heavy metal tradition for songwriting lessons and come back with something that feels honest, direct, and fully committed to the form. Formed in 2017, they represent New England's reverence for the genre's foundational roots.

Cleveland's Olathia blend power metal's soaring ambition with metalcore's aggression and heavy metal's anthemic foundation, landing in a space that's cinematic and hard-hitting all at once. Since 2015, they've been building on the city's deep heavy music legacy in their own melodic, forceful way.

Hawaii's Open Fire bring heavy metal and hard rock energy to the Pacific islands, an unlikely but fitting home for the kind of sun-soaked, fist-raising anthems they've been crafting since 2007. Isolation has only sharpened their focus.

Fort Lauderdale's Osiris Rising bring an atmospheric weight to traditional heavy metal, drawing on mythological grandeur to color their dense, reverb-soaked sound. Formed in 2025, they're one of Florida's newest acts staking a claim in the atmospheric end of the genre.

Los Angeles-based Out from Under have been forging heavy metal and hard rock since 2010, drawing from the deep well of classic metal that runs through Southern California's club circuit. Their sound sits squarely in the tradition of riff-driven, no-frills heaviness without chasing trends. A working band committed to the fundamentals of the form.

Cicero, Illinois heavy metal act Outrage have been at it since 2007, drawing from hard rock's swagger and heavy metal's power in a city that knows how to build something tough. The working-class Chicago suburb context shapes a sound that's direct and unadorned — no frills, just riffs and conviction. Nearly two decades in, they remain a fixture of the Illinois heavy music underground.

Pittsburgh's Overdrive formed in 2016 at the intersection of heavy, groove, and thrash metal, channeling the Steel City's blue-collar tenacity into a multi-faceted approach to riff-driven music. They draw from three decades of metal tradition without fixating on a single era, letting the song determine whether the groove or the thrash takes precedence. A versatile outfit with serious Pittsburgh credibility.

Blacksburg, Virginia's OverDrive have been delivering melodic heavy and power metal since 2016, trading in soaring hooks, twin guitar work, and the kind of anthemic energy that characterizes the genre's best moments. College-town Virginia might seem like an unlikely home for power metal, but the university setting has clearly fostered musical ambition. They favor melody and momentum in equal measure.

Formed in Los Angeles in 2022, Overlord SR deals in the classic currency of heavy and power metal — soaring vocals, twin-guitar harmonies, and riffs built to outlast the age. Their sound carries the anthemic DNA of the NWOBHM tradition filtered through a modern LA perspective, with enough melodic ambition to push into power metal territory.

Connecticut's Owl Maker play heavy and stoner metal in a way that feels genuinely lived-in — thick riffs, loose-limbed grooves, and a vocal delivery that leans into classic rock swagger without abandoning the weight. Since forming in 2018 they have carved out a niche for music that sits comfortably between a dive bar stage and an outdoor festival sunset slot.

Named after the classic tabletop monster, Owlbear arrived in 2023 with a heavy metal identity that leans into fantasy and mythology without losing its teeth. Their approach is rooted in traditional heavy metal songcraft — sturdy riffs, melodic hooks, and a reverence for the form that feels earned rather than nostalgic.