Ferocious Industrial / Thrash / Groove Metal from Phoenix, Arizona (early); Austin, Texas (later).

Clovis, New Mexico melodic death/thrash project. The name's simultaneous evocation of autumn and collapse channels the high plains wind into heavy music.

Birmingham, Alabama deathcore and melodeath project. The paradoxical name — finding a cause worth ultimate sacrifice — adds existential weight to Magic City brutality.

A Haunted Mantra is a melodic death metal project from Charlotte, North Carolina, releasing the single-track "Across the Blackened Sky" in 2011. The project merges the twin-guitar harmonies and sweep-picked melodies of Scandinavian melodic death metal with American heaviness. Though limited in output, the project represents Charlotte's contribution to the melodeath tradition.

Fredericksburg, Virginia melodic death metal project. The autobiographical suffering implied in the name adds personal weight to Scandinavian-influenced extremity.

Santa Cruz, California melodic death metal project. Biblical language channeled through Scandinavian-influenced riffing from the coastal redwoods.

Asheville, North Carolina melodic death metal project. The name's cynicism channels mountain-town disillusionment through heavy melodicism.

Waterford, Virginia melodic death/thrash project. The name evokes both religious sacrifice and transcendence from the DC exurbs.

Los Angeles death/doom project — distinct from the Chicago act. West Coast interpretation of the same absence-themed name.

Acedia is a melodic death metal band from St. Louis, Missouri. Their catalog includes the 2017 full-length "Speculum Humanae Salvationis" and 2020 EP "Selfhatred.Addiction," blending melodic death metal's twin-guitar harmonies with introspective lyrical themes.

Acephalia is a slam and brutal death metal band from the Connecticut and Ohio area. Their 2026 EP "Visceral Atrophy" delivers three tracks of guttural, bone-crushing slam brutality.

Death metal project that migrated from Tampa to Pittsburgh to Columbus — three cities, each with deep metal roots. Named after the river of woe in Greek mythology.

Garden City, Long Island melodic death metal project. The biological term for a needle-like structure fits the precision of their Scandinavian-influenced approach.

Philadelphia melodic death metal project. The name — meaning devoted followers — signals allegiance to the melodeath tradition.

Act of Destruction is a melodic death and thrash metal band from the Downers Grove and Chicago area of Illinois. The band blends the melodic sensibilities of Scandinavian death metal with the raw aggression of American thrash.