Los Angeles's Gale Force, formed in 2022, occupy the classic end of the spectrum — heavy metal with hard rock hooks, built for rooms with big PA systems and bigger riffs.

There's a fitting darkness to a black metal band forming in Salem, Massachusetts — and Gallows, active since 2021, leans into that cursed history with cold, uncompromising riffs and bleak atmosphere. Their music feels native to the witch-trial soil it grew from.

Lincoln, Nebraska's Gallows Majesty have kept traditional heavy metal alive in the Great Plains since 2009, drawing from the classic riff-forward playbook with conviction and staying power. They're one of the more durable acts in the Midwest underground.

A fresh North Carolina entry in the heavy metal/hard rock tradition, Gamma Razor formed in 2023 with a sharp-edged, no-frills approach to classic metal songwriting. Still building their catalog, they show early promise in a state with a quietly strong metal scene.

Kansas City's Ganoderma — named for the medicinal mushroom genus — bring a melodic thrash sensibility to the Missouri heavy metal scene, balancing hook-driven songwriting with serious riff weight since 2018. They're one of the more interesting crossover acts in the Midwest's mid-sized city underground.

Portland, Oregon's Gargoyle draws from the deep well of classic heavy and power metal, favoring melodic hooks and traditional song structures over modern extremity. Their 2021 formation places them among a new generation reviving the genre's most anthemic qualities.

Fort Wayne, Indiana's Gary Lenaire is a solo heavy metal and hard rock project launched in 2020, channeling a classic sensibility with a personal and direct approach. The project sits comfortably in the traditional end of the spectrum, where hooks and power still carry the weight.

California crossover outfit Gatecrasher play the kind of thrash-fueled hardcore that belongs on sweaty club floors, tight and frantic with a punk-derived chip on their shoulder. Formed in 2019, they hit hard and keep it short.

Baltimore's Gateway to Hell deal in the slow, oppressive weight of doom metal with a traditional heavy metal backbone — riffs that lurch and crush rather than race. Active since 2014, they're a reliable presence in Maryland's enduring underground metal community.

Cleveland's Gatlin started out delivering heavy/power metal with fists clenched and feet planted, though their trajectory has since bent toward hard rock — a range that speaks to their melodic roots and willingness to evolve. Formed in 2020, they bring a muscular energy native to the Rust Belt.

Los Angeles's Gauntlet play heavy metal with a hard rock swagger, leaning into classic tones and direct songwriting since their 2022 formation. Unpretentious and built for volume, they carry the spirit of the Sunset Strip's heavier end.

American Canyon, California's Gawdamn blend heavy and thrash metal with the kind of attitude that makes it clear they are not here to negotiate. Formed in 2020, they bring a blunt, no-nonsense energy to a region more commonly associated with progressive and tech-death.

Tacoma's Generation Unknown play traditional heavy metal with a Pacific Northwest directness that keeps the material grounded and unpretentious since their 2014 formation. A solid, working-class entry in the heavy metal underground.

Pittsburgh's Genghis Khan draw from heavy, power, and speed metal traditions to build music with scope and ambition, active since 2014. Classic influences run strong here, delivered with the no-nonsense energy of Pennsylvania's steel-city underground.

Salt Lake City's Genocide plays heavy metal and hard rock with a straightforward, riff-driven intensity that stands apart from the more extreme sounds of their peers. Formed in 2013, they carry forward the blue-collar muscle of classic metal.