Portland, Oregon's Murdered occupy the slam and brutal death metal corner of the Pacific Northwest underground, delivering suffocating low-end and guttural vocals with the kind of dense, physicality-first aesthetic that defines the genre. Formed in 2017, their Bandcamp handle — murderedslam — leaves no ambiguity about their allegiances.

Sacramento metalcore act Murdered by Horses arrived in 2023 with the kind of absurdist menace in their name that belies a genuine commitment to the genre's heavy mechanics. California's capital city has long punched above its weight in aggressive music, and this young band adds to that tradition.

Murdered in the Basement are a death metal and grindcore act whose location remains unknown but whose name and genre placement situate them firmly in the lo-fi, basement-dwelling end of US extreme music. Formed in 2023, they lean into the claustrophobic, DIY aesthetic that the name implies.

Portland, Oregon's Murderess have been fusing black metal's cold atmosphere with crust punk's raw, anarchic energy since 2009, building a sound that's as politically charged as it is sonically corrosive. One of the longer-running acts in Portland's vibrant extreme underground, they've stayed true to the abrasive intersection of those two worlds.

Omaha groove metal outfit MurderHouse have been delivering heavy, riff-forward metal since 2015, fitting neatly within the tradition of bands that prioritize thick groove and punishing tone over technical complexity. Nebraska's largest city doesn't produce metal acts in abundance, making MurderHouse one of its more notable heavy exports.

Dayton, Ohio's Murderman traffic in brutal death metal and goregrind, piling on guttural extremity with the kind of single-minded dedication that defines the most uncompromising end of Ohio's underground. Formed in 2020, they operate in a city with deep roots in both punk and metal.

Richmond, Virginia's Murdersome play speed and thrash metal with the raw, neck-snapping energy of a band that takes classic metal as both inspiration and benchmark. Founded in 2023, they join Richmond's rich tradition of heavy music with a sound rooted in the '80s metal underground.

Chicago heavy metal act Murdock 13 have been operating in the city's sprawling metal underground since 2017, playing traditional heavy metal with the directness and confidence that a city like Chicago demands. The number 13 in the name sets the tone — bad luck runs through the music.

Palm Bay, Florida's Murdok have been grinding it out since 1994, making them one of the more tenacious heavy metal acts in the state — three decades of survival in a scene that chews through bands constantly. Straight-ahead heavy metal with the longevity to back it up.