Indianapolis metalcore outfit Haste the Day were a driving force in the Christian metalcore movement of the 2000s, blending melodic hooks with aggressive breakdowns across albums like 'Burning Bridges' and 'Pressure the Hinges.' Their farewell show at Furnace Fest became legendary, though the band has since reunited periodically to remind fans why they were one of the scene's most beloved acts.

Heavy//Hitter emerged from Orlando's underground in 2017 with a mission to crush the norms of mainstream metalcore through their chaotic blend of deathcore, beatdown, and sludge. Vocalist Austin Hayes leads the assault through devastating breakdowns and guttural vocals on releases like 'HATE MANIFEST' and 'Moments of Misery.' Their signing to Blue Grape Music in 2024 brought wider attention to a band that had already been terrorizing Florida's heavy music scene for years.