Lancaster, Pennsylvania symphonic metal project whose 2019 single Suicide Lake pairs orchestral grandeur with heavy guitar work. Operating from Pennsylvania Dutch Country, they bring an unexpected dose of cinematic metal to a region better known for its pastoral landscapes.

Los Angeles symphonic metal project crafting cinematic heavy music since 2020. Their singles Illusion and Tales Untold pair orchestral grandeur with metal power, channeling Hollywood's epic sensibility into something genuinely heavy.

Cahokia power metal project from the Illinois underground.

Oakland grindcore outfit whose 2011 self-titled EP delivers rapid-fire aggression from the East Bay. Part of the Bay Area's long tradition of politically charged, musically ferocious extreme punk-metal.

Wilmington symphonic metal project from the Delaware underground.

Los Angeles symphonic metal project from the California underground.

Deltona, Florida death metal veterans with roots stretching back to 1994 — distinct from the Norwegian avant-garde band. Five releases including Aspera Hiems Symfonia and Constellation document a band that has been part of Florida's extreme underground since the genre's golden age.

Grand Rapids symphonic metal project wrapping orchestral grandeur around heavy riffs, adding a touch of Midwestern elegance to the bombastic symphonic metal template.

New Jersey symphonic metal project layering orchestral grandeur over heavy riffs, bringing dramatic, cinematic metal to the Garden State's diverse heavy music landscape.