Explore California Metal

Browse California Metal Bands

53 bands found
Bakersfield · 2018–present · active
Chaotic Evil is a crossover thrash band from Bakersfield, California that combines thrash metal riffs with hardcore punk aggression in the classic Southern California crossover tradition. The band operated independently before eventually splitting up.
Venice · 2013–present · active
Chaotic Noise was a crossover thrash band from Venice, California, active in the early 1980s as part of the vibrant Venice Beach punk and metal scene alongside Suicidal Tendencies and Beowülf. The band changed its name to Excel in 1985 and went on to greater prominence in the LA crossover scene.
· 2014–present · active
California's Chatterbox fused industrial metal's mechanized texture with thrash's serrated riffing, staking out a harsher corner of the early-90s industrial metal scene that was building momentum alongside acts like Ministry and Skinny Puppy. Their sound carries the abrasive, mechanical quality of a region generating some of the period's most experimental heavy music.
Arcata · 1991–present · active
Northern California's Cheap Evil plays heavy-thrash with a rough, basement-forged energy that reflects Arcata's distance from the polished commercial metal scenes further south. Their material values speed, grit, and a defiant DIY spirit.
Van Nuys · 2010–present · active
Van Nuys thrash outfit Chemi-Kill emerged from the fertile Southern California scene with a punishing approach to the genre. Their sound reflects the aggression and speed that defined the LA thrash movement.
Riverside · 2021–present · active
Riverside's Chemical Warfare straddles the line between crossover thrash and straight-ahead metal, bringing a punk-inflected aggression to California's inland underground scene. Their sets are short, loud, and combative.
Los Angeles · 2017–present · active
Los Angeles's China Girl operates in a deliberately chaotic space, blending black metal, death metal, thrash, and experimental noise into something abrasive and unpredictable. Their willingness to disrupt genre convention makes them a singular presence in the LA underground.
West Hills · 2013–present · active
West Hills crossover thrashers Cholos on Acid bring Southern California attitude to a chaotic blend of groove metal and full-throttle thrash. The name tells you most of what you need to know.
· 2014–present · active
California thrash solo project Chris Violence delivers old-school aggression in the Bay Area tradition, keeping the thrash flame lit with no-frills speed and attitude. Underground and unapologetic.

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California Metal Index indexes hundreds of California heavy metal bands across every subgenre — death metal, black metal, thrash metal, doom metal, metalcore, hardcore punk, grindcore, sludge, stoner metal, and more. Browse heavy metal bands by genre, city, or state.
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California Metal Index is an index of California heavy metal bands — death metal, black metal, thrash metal, doom metal, metalcore, hardcore punk, and all heavy music. Browse bands by genre, find metal concerts near you, and discover the California metal scene.