De Queen, Arkansas groove metal outfit Combat Valley bring a Southern-fried heaviness to a genre defined by pocket and punch. Big riffs and a swaggering mid-tempo attack anchor their sound in the heartland.

New York's Combust tear through crossover thrash with hardcore's urgency and metal's muscle, keeping the tradition of NYHC brutality alive in a fast, chaotic form. Their sound is tight, aggressive, and built for live destruction.

Clementon, New Jersey's Come and Get It play black metal-tinged speed metal that's nasty and stripped-down, channeling the raw aggression of the early underground. Fast, mean, and unconcerned with polish.

Bellingham, Washington's Come Horrid Sigil weave progressive and technical ambition through their death and thrash metal, building arrangements that are as intricate as they are violent. The Pacific Northwest acts as a fitting backdrop for their dense, challenging sound.

New Hampshire's Come to Grief are a sludge-doom institution, dragging listeners through the most suffocating depths the genre has to offer. Their slow, mountainous riffs carry the misery of a long New England winter into every note.

Fredericksburg, Virginia's Come to Pass bring brutal death metal ferocity into deathcore structures, layering guttural intensity with devastating breakdowns. They represent the Virginia underground's more extreme end.

Bowling Green, Kentucky's Commander thrash with the no-nonsense aggression and riff-first mentality of the classic American scene. Solidly constructed and direct, they keep the Midwest's thrash tradition alive.

Los Angeles-based Commander play traditional heavy metal steeped in the city's storied hard rock and metal heritage. Their sound honors the classic LA approach to big riffs and infectious hooks.

Lansing, Illinois power metal act Commandment pair heavy, driving riffs with soaring melodic ambitions, crafting anthemic metal that nods to both classic American power metal and traditional heavy metal. They bring a polished, forceful sound to the Chicago suburbs.