From the small South Carolina town of Gloverville, Throne of Anguish layer symphonic bombast over heavy and black metal foundations, producing a dramatic, grandiose sound that carries the weight of their name with genuine conviction.

Bloomington, Indiana's Throne of Iron play unapologetic traditional heavy metal with an earnest reverence for the genre's classic era — twin guitar harmonies, galloping riffs, and soaring vocals that recall the NWOBHM spirit transplanted to the American Midwest. Formed in 2018, they've carved out a niche for straight-ahead steel in a college town better known for indie rock.

Nashville's Throne of the Falcon bring a classic heavy metal sensibility to a city better known for country and Americana, channeling timeless riff craft and clean vocal melodies into their work since forming in 2019. Their sound is rooted in the older heavy metal tradition rather than the modern hard rock that permeates Music City.

Los Angeles heavy and power metal outfit Throttle formed in 2019 with a focus on soaring melodic vocals and driving, hook-laden riffs that sit between the traditional heavy metal template and the more bombastic end of the power metal spectrum. They bring a sun-drenched, Sunset Strip-adjacent energy to a style that often gravitates toward European grandiosity.

Asheville, North Carolina's Through the Fallen have been mixing classic heavy metal tonality with thrash aggression since 2014, playing to the strengths of Appalachian mountain town DIY culture where heavy music thrives outside of any major industry infrastructure. Their sound bridges the twin-guitar melodicism of traditional metal with the speed and riff density of thrash.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin's Through the Kitchen Hole formed in 2018 playing heavy metal and hard rock with an irreverent spirit that the oddball name telegraphs plainly. They represent the kind of regionally self-sufficient heavy act that keeps metal alive in mid-size Midwestern cities far from any established scene.

Omaha's Through the Stone ride the line between heavy metal muscle and stoner metal haze, delivering mid-paced riffs with a fuzz-soaked swagger that reflects the blue-collar grit of the Nebraska underground since 2015.

Portland's Thrown blend heavy, doom, and speed metal into a genre-crossing assault born in 2017, channeling the darkness of traditional doom against the kinetic drive of speed metal in a way that feels distinctly Pacific Northwest.

Cincinnati heavy metal band Thruster formed in 2020 with a straightforward commitment to the classic genre fundamentals — crunching riffs, driving rhythms, and the no-frills conviction that made heavy metal a Midwest staple.