Minneapolis death metal project that emerged in 2023 with a demo and dropped their self-titled full-length in 2025. The progression from Demonstration MMXXIII to a proper album shows a band refining their brutality with purpose.

Chicago death metal project whose 2024 single Brad the Impaler puts a comedic spin on Vlad the Impaler's legacy. A playful title masking genuine heaviness from the city's deep extreme music well.

Saint Paul thrash metal project from the Minnesota underground.

Chaotic thrash metal from Houston. Released Echoes of Oppression EP in 2023. Influences include Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Sepultura.

Chicago black metal project whose albums Ghanima and MMXIX reveal a Dune-obsessed sensibility — Ghanima being a central character in Frank Herbert's saga. Atmospheric black metal filtered through science fiction's greatest worldbuilding, a combination that feels uniquely Chicagoan.

Boston death metal outfit with three releases since 2019, including the holiday-themed Black Christmas EP and the emotionally raw Grief. The remastered 2024 edition of the latter suggests a band committed to getting their sonic vision exactly right.

Boston crossover thrash project from the Massachusetts underground.

Corona heavy metal / nwothm project from the California underground.

Denver progressive metal act exploring expansive compositions since 2012. Their full-length The Cold Expanse lives up to its title — vast, atmospheric prog metal that channels Colorado's mountainous geography into sweeping musical narratives.