Columbus, Ohio doom/sludge duo Churches Burn construct massive, slow-crawling dirges that lean heavily on feedback and minimalist songwriting. Their sound is oppressively heavy and desolate, built for endurance rather than aggression.

Washington state heavy/stoner metal act Churt blend riff-driven grooves with a heavier, more abrasive edge than typical desert rock fare. Their sound sits somewhere between the swagger of classic heavy metal and the haze of stoner rock.

Battle Ground, Washington one-person project CHVD crafts desolate, introspective depressive black metal characterized by icy tremolo lines and suffocating bleakness. The project leans into isolation and despair as core aesthetic anchors.

Raleigh, North Carolina's Château blend traditional heavy metal songcraft with black metal atmosphere, resulting in music that feels both nostalgic and unsettling. Their songs carry melodic hooks beneath a layer of occult darkness.

Portland, Maine band Chäpels combine the aggression of crust punk with the dragging weight of sludge metal, creating rough-edged, anarchic noise that hits hard and moves fast. Their sound is raw and confrontational, indebted to both Discharge and Eyehategod.

Chicago death/doom veterans Cianide have been crushing spines since the early 1990s, delivering some of the heaviest and most uncompromising music in the American underground. Their sound — slow, filthy, and utterly determined — has influenced a generation of death metal bands.

Hesperia, California death metal band Cicada Swarm pile on savage riffs and hammering rhythms in the tradition of American brutality. Their sound is straightforward and crushing, built around the kind of riff density that defines underground death metal.

Madison, Wisconsin solo project Cicada the Burrower weaves post-black metal and progressive metal into elaborate, emotionally turbulent compositions that range from serene to overwhelming. The project's releases on Bindrune Recordings have earned widespread underground recognition for their depth and originality.

St. Louis death/thrash outfit Cicatrix blend the punishing velocity of thrash with the heaviness of death metal, delivering razor-sharp riffs and aggressive rhythmic attack. Their sound sits in the classic crossover tradition between the two genres.