Madison, Wisconsin heavy metal act Chosen operate in a traditional vein, delivering straightforward metal built on solid riffs and classic songwriting values. Wisconsin's underground keeps the old flame burning.

Olympia, Washington's Christian Mistress built a devoted following with their bluesy, riff-forward heavy metal that draws deeply from 1970s hard rock and early NWOBHM. Their albums blend smoky atmosphere with Christine Davis's commanding vocals and songs built around memorable hooks.

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.

Philadelphia's Chulainns Hound draws on Celtic mythology and traditional heavy metal song structures to craft doom-tinged metal with an old-world character. Their music blends the weight of doom with the accessibility of classic heavy metal.

Washington state heavy/stoner metal act Churt blend riff-driven grooves with a heavier, more abrasive edge than typical desert rock fare. Their sound sits somewhere between the swagger of classic heavy metal and the haze of stoner rock.

Raleigh, North Carolina's Château blend traditional heavy metal songcraft with black metal atmosphere, resulting in music that feels both nostalgic and unsettling. Their songs carry melodic hooks beneath a layer of occult darkness.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania folk/heavy metal band Cimmerian draw on ancient mythology and pagan tradition to craft melodic, epic metal with a raw folk undercurrent. Their sound evokes the savage world of the Hyborian Age that inspired their name.

Philadelphia progressive/heavy metal band Cipher combine classic heavy metal songwriting with adventurous, prog-influenced arrangements and sophisticated harmonic choices. Their music rewards close listening while never sacrificing heaviness for complexity.

Ventura legends Cirith Ungol helped define American doom and epic heavy metal in the late 1970s and '80s with their dark, Tolkien-inspired sound and Tim Baker's instantly recognizable wail. Rediscovered by a new generation of doom devotees, they reunited in 2015 and continue to record.

Evansville, Indiana heavy metal act Citadel Besieged plant their flag in traditional metal soil, delivering anthemic songs built on honest riffs and a love of the classic form. They wear their influences openly and without apology.

Staten Island heavy/power metal band Cities have been delivering high-octane traditional metal since the 1980s, and their anthemic choruses and twin-guitar energy helped define the New York heavy metal underground. Their legacy looms large among East Coast metal die-hards.

Los Angeles speed/heavy metal outfit City Kings channel the spirit of NWOBHM and early American power metal into high-octane anthems built on galloping riffs and sky-high energy. They play classic metal with conviction and swagger.

Indiana's Clarence Oddbody brings a beefy groove metal sensibility to the rural Midwest, stacking heavy riffs on punishing mid-tempo rhythms. Named for the angel in It's a Wonderful Life, the band's approach is anything but angelic.

Fort Smith, Arkansas heavy metal act Claymore carry on the classic tradition with no-nonsense riffing and a blue-collar approach to the genre. Their sound evokes the no-frills power of American heavy metal's formative years.

US power/heavy metal act Cleanbreak blend melodic hooks with muscular traditional metal structures, drawing from the USPM lineage of bands that valued both force and melody. Cleanly produced and earnest, their music appeals to fans of classic American power metal.