Greensboro, North Carolina progressive metal project named after the ultimate weapon in Final Fantasy VI. Their 2018 EP Through Seas of Gray channels JRPG epic scope through technical metal from the Piedmont Triad.

Mission Viejo, California black metal project whose 2018 debut En Trance plays on the double meaning of entrance and entrancement. Atmospheric black metal from Orange County's suburban sprawl.

Phoenix, Arizona death metal project with six releases since 2016. Human Extract and Fallout Frenzy deliver desert-baked brutality with a prolific work ethic, building one of the most substantial death metal catalogs in the Valley of the Sun.

Pasadena/La Porte, Texas crossover thrash act whose 2011 EP Blood, Sweat, and Beers captures the DIY spirit of Houston-area punk-metal. The title tells you everything about their priorities.

Los Angeles post-metal and progressive project whose 2016 debut Temporal explores the nature of time through atmospheric, boundary-crossing heaviness. Cerebral LA metal.

Dallas melodic death metal project with seven releases since 2021. A New Low and Empty Vessel anchor a prolific catalog that channels Scandinavian melodeath traditions through DFW Metroplex intensity, the name pairing nuclear physics with Durkheimian sociology.

Orlando, Florida crossover thrash act with seven releases since 2023. The name is a statement of maximum excess, and their prolific output — including a self-titled debut and the surf-rock-referencing Beyond the Sea — delivers exactly the over-the-top chaos it promises.

Spokane, Washington progressive metal project whose 2019 Supermoon Edition and subsequent instrumental mixes demonstrate a precision-obsessed approach to heavy music. The name fits — every note measured with scientific accuracy.

Virginia Beach black metal project with nine releases since 2020, including the memorably titled Bootymania. The wrestling-move name and irreverent titles suggest a band that refuses to take black metal's solemnity at face value.