Of Mice and Men formed in Costa Mesa, California, in 2009 after Austin Carlile's departure from Attack Attack!, with Carlile and Jaxin Hall launching the band during the peak of the late-2000s metalcore and post-hardcore wave. Their 2010 self-titled debut introduced a volatile sound built on screamed vocals, clean melodic hooks, sharp breakdowns, and emotionally charged lyrics, with "Second & Sebring" becoming an early signature song. The Flood followed in 2011 and strengthened the band's position in modern metalcore, while Restoring Force in 2014 expanded the sound toward alternative metal and nu-metal-influenced groove without abandoning heavy riffs. After major lineup changes, bassist Aaron Pauley moved into the lead vocal role, and the band continued through albums such as Defy, Earthandsky, Echo, Tether, and Another Miracle. The current lineup of Pauley, Valentino Arteaga, Phil Manansala, and Alan Ashby has leaned into a heavier but more streamlined version of the band's identity. Of Mice and Men's catalog traces a path from scene-era metalcore intensity to a broader modern metal sound built around resilience, melody, and rhythmic weight.

Las Vegas hard rock outfit Otherwise, built around the Basham brothers Adrian and Ryan, have forged a muscular yet melodic sound that splits the difference between modern hard rock and post-grunge. Their breakout single 'Soldiers' from the 2012 debut 'True Love Never Dies' earned significant radio play, while subsequent albums have demonstrated consistent growth in their arena-ready songwriting. Grinding it out through relentless touring and independent releases, Otherwise embody the DIY spirit of Sin City's rock underground.