Chicago post-metal/sludge act crafting atmospheric heaviness from the Windy City, blending shoegaze textures with crushing sludge in the tradition of Neurosis and Isis.

Death metal project named after the ancient Mesopotamian flood narrative, operating from an undisclosed location with mythology-driven extremity.

Oakland black metal and crust punk fusion whose 2016 debut Eternal Downfall merges the fury of D-beat punk with black metal's atmospheric extremity. A key voice in the Bay Area's thriving blackened crust scene.

Tucson thrash band from the Arizona desert, delivering aggressive speed metal from a city that continues to produce quality extreme music despite its modest size.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin melodic death metal project named after the mythological king. Their 2015 debut The Spear and the Ichor that Follows channels Greek tragedy through Scandinavian-influenced melodeath from Fox Valley.

Orange County's Atreyu helped shape the metalcore landscape of the early 2000s with their dual-vocal attack and melodic sensibility on albums like 'The Curse' and 'A Death-Grip on Yesterday.' Named after the hero of The Neverending Story, the band's anthemic choruses and Alex Varkatzas's fierce screams made them staples of the Ozzfest and Taste of Chaos touring circuit.

Portland deathrock institution with four releases since 2011. Dead as Truth and An Unending Pathway blend post-punk atmosphere with crushing heaviness, establishing them as one of the Pacific Northwest's most distinctive heavy bands — too dark for rock, too melodic for metal.

New York City black metal project with fifteen releases since 2019. One of the city's most prolific extreme acts, their catalog — from the color-study Cerulean to the mathematical Constant Variables — treats black metal as a medium for ceaseless exploration.

Brutal Deathcore from El Paso.