San Francisco's Ghost of Winchester bring West Coast metalcore to a city better known for thrash and hardcore, their 2021 formation part of a broader resurgence of the genre on the Bay Area's crowded heavy scene. Tight, punishing, and melodically aware.

Named after a three-headed kaiju, Merced's Gidorah bring a corresponding multi-pronged assault of death metal brutality, groove-driven rhythm, and metalcore intensity. Their music hits like a creature that attacks from every direction at once.

Salinas, California's Give Her the Gun bring a melodically aware but uncompromising metalcore sound that's been sharpened through years of work since 2012. They're built for stages and pit floors in equal measure.

Boston's Give Zombies the Vote merge melodic death metal's harmonic sophistication with metalcore's rhythmic aggression and a name that's equal parts political provocation and horror camp. Active since 2012, they make technically ambitious music that never forgets to be fun.

Connecticut's Glass Divide brings groove metal's locked-in chug and metalcore's emotional intensity together in a combination that hits hard and keeps moving. The Shelton outfit has been sharpening this dual-edged attack since 2017.

Glass Killing Floor brings a blunt-force metalcore attack from the Louisville underground, pairing serrated riffing with the kind of emotional urgency that metalcore at its best has always traded in. They've been at it since 2019.

Indianapolis's Global Plague works the space between progressive metalcore's technical reach and groove metal's locking-in low end, building music with enough structural interest to reward repeat listens and enough blunt force to satisfy immediately. Active since 2020.

Out of Orange, Texas, Glory Glory plants its flag at the crossroads of Southern metal and metalcore — drawling groove and chest-forward aggression wrapped around songs with genuine emotional stakes. Since 2010 they've represented Southeast Texas with conviction.

New Brunswick, New Jersey's God Forbid helped shape early 2000s metalcore with their fusion of melodic thrash attack and heavy hardcore structure. Reunited and active, they remain one of the genre's most technically accomplished practitioners.