Aetherius is a progressive metal band from North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. One of the most prolific acts in New England prog metal, the band has released four full-lengths and seven EPs since 2019, with titles like "Razed Youth" and "Things I Cannot Change" reflecting a deeply personal and emotionally driven approach to heavy progressive music.

Afterimage is a death metal and metalcore band from Barrington, Illinois. Across two full-lengths — "Lumière" (2015) and "EVE" (2018) — and an EP, the band has evolved from metalcore roots into more death-metal-influenced territory, with French-titled albums hinting at artistic ambitions beyond the genre norm.

Afterlife is a technical death metal band from Mishawaka, Indiana. With six EPs released in rapid succession across 2021-2022, the project maintains a prolific output of technically demanding death metal.

New York City djent and progressive metal project. Forward-thinking heaviness from the world's cultural capital.

Greenville, Ohio progressive metal project. The name promises renewal after the cold from small-town western Ohio.

Against All is a thrash metal and hardcore band from Tampa, Florida. Their 2020 full-length "2017-2019" compiles the band's formative years into a single release of crossover aggression.

Aghast is a death metal band from New York City. With five releases in 2020 alone — including remastered versions of earlier material — the project delivered a concentrated burst of death metal output.

Miami progressive metal project featuring members of Death's live lineup. Technical, jazz-influenced prog metal from South Florida's fertile extreme underground.

Agnosia is a death metal band from La Grange, Illinois. With four releases between 2019 and 2023, including the full-length "Outo Laakso" (Finnish for 'strange valley'), the band brings a European-influenced approach to Chicagoland death metal.