Conceived by Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan and guitarist Billy Howerdel in Los Angeles in 1999, A Perfect Circle channels art-rock ambition through a darker, more melodic lens than Keenan's primary band. Their debut 'Mer de Noms' became the highest-charting debut for a rock band at the time, followed by the politically charged 'Thirteenth Step' and 'Eat the Elephant.' The project represents Keenan's more introspective and emotionally vulnerable side, wrapped in Howerdel's lush, cinematic guitar work.

Ahti is a rising heavy act that blends crushing modern metal with atmospheric and progressive elements. Drawing from a wide palette of influences across metal subgenres, the project delivers dense, layered compositions that reward repeated listens. Their sound pushes beyond conventional genre boundaries, weaving intricate instrumental passages with powerful vocal performances.

Riverside, California's Alien Ant Farm rode their genre-bending cover of Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' to mainstream success in 2001, but the band's original material was far more adventurous than that hit suggested. Their debut 'ANThology' blended nu-metal riffs with funk, punk, and alternative rock in unpredictable ways. Frontman Dryden Mitchell's acrobatic stage presence and eclectic vocal style set them apart from the heavier acts they toured alongside.