Florence, Alabama progressive metal project with a logician's sense of humor. Three EPs since 2022 — including the pun-laden 4Play and the computer science-referencing Logic Gates — pair technical musicianship with a playful intelligence rare in heavy music.

Black metal project that migrated from Fort Lauderdale to Portland to Finland.

West Virginia black metal project.

San Antonio, Texas doom metal project named after the volcanic rock.

Lancaster death metal project from the Pennsylvania underground.

Salt Lake City death metal project with an enormous eleven-release discography since 2012. Named after a demon from the Ars Goetia, their catalog sprawls across singles, compilations, and full-lengths that probe the boundaries of extreme music from the unlikely backdrop of Mormon country.

Pasadena NWOTHM project whose 2016 demos capture raw, unpolished classic heavy metal from the Rose City. A grassroots contribution to Southern California's thriving traditional metal revival.

Chicago black metal project from the Illinois underground.

Chicago power metal guitarist and multi-instrumentalist active since 2001. His solo catalog spans demos, full-lengths, and collaborative recordings that showcase technical prowess rooted in the Windy City's surprisingly deep power metal tradition.