Intense Melodic Groove Metal / Metalcore from Fort Worth.

Formed in Chicago in 2005, Locrian is an experimental trio built around the intersection of black metal, drone, noise, and electronics. The band—Terence Hannum, André Foisy, and Steven Hess—has released a series of critically noted albums on Profound Lore Records, including Return to Annihilation (2013), Infinite Dissolution (2015), and End Terrain (2024), following a seven-year recording hiatus. Their densely layered approach draws on krautrock, 1990s death metal, and avant-garde electronics in equal measure, placing them at the extreme edge of experimental metal.

Baltimore's Lofton have been trafficking in no-frills heavy metal and hard rock since 2014, building a reputation on honest songwriting and muscular live performances.

South San Francisco's Lokheira arrived in 2023 with a power metal sound built on soaring vocals, galloping rhythms, and the wide-open ambition of the Bay Area's metal tradition.

Bend, Oregon's Londor push sludge metal into experimental terrain, wrapping dissonance and punishing weight in unpredictable structural choices since forming in 2024.

Watertown, New York's Lonely Star weave atmospheric post-black metal with introspective longing, finding beauty in bleak northern skies and cascading tremolo waves.

Razor-sharp Thrash / Groove Metal from Rio Grande Valley.

Blistering Melodic Thrash Metal / Metalcore from Houston.

Houston's Long Live The Lights deliver energetic post-hardcore and metalcore that channels the anthemic intensity of Beartooth and Bring Me The Horizon. With polished production and an emphasis on emotional, melodic songwriting backed by heavy breakdowns, the band is establishing itself as a rising voice in the Texas heavy music scene.