Santa Cruz, California's Scowl, fronted by the magnetic Kat Moss, deliver a furious blend of hardcore punk and power-pop that has made them one of the most exciting crossover acts in the modern punk scene. Their 2022 album 'Psychic Dance Routine' on Flatspot Records showcased a band willing to blend raging hardcore with sugary melodies and surf-rock guitar tones. Scowl's ability to pack genuine menace and joyful energy into sub-two-minute songs has earned them widespread acclaim and tours with everyone from Turnstile to Drain.

Venice, California's Suicidal Tendencies, led by the irrepressible Mike Muir, are one of the most important bands in the history of crossover thrash, having bridged the gap between hardcore punk and thrash metal since their 1983 self-titled debut and its iconic anthem 'Institutionalized.' Their influence extends across punk, metal, and funk metal through the groundbreaking work of members like Robert Trujillo (now in Metallica) and guitarist Rocky George. Four decades in, Suicidal Tendencies remain a furious, unpredictable live force whose impact on heavy music's cross-pollination of genres cannot be overstated.