Body Count is a Los Angeles heavy metal band formed in 1990 by rapper Ice-T and lead guitarist Ernie C, both of whom met as classmates at Crenshaw High School. Their 1992 self-titled debut on Sire Records drew national controversy over 'Cop Killer,' a song that prompted label pressure and was voluntarily pulled by Ice-T from subsequent pressings. The band is credited with helping pioneer rap metal, and after decades of continued activity, they won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance at the 2021 ceremony for 'Bum Rush' from Carnivore (2020).

Bonded by Blood is a thrash metal band formed in 2005 in Pomona, California, named directly after the classic Exodus album of the same title. Rooted in the Bay Area thrash tradition, the band self-released their debut EP Extinguish the Weak in 2007, which earned them a deal with Earache Records. Their debut full-length Feed the Beast (2008) and follow-ups Exiled to Earth (2010) and The Aftermath (2012) established them as committed revivalists of 1980s Bay Area aggression.

Brian Posehn is a San Francisco-born stand-up comedian and actor with a long history of integrating heavy metal into his comedy, beginning with his debut comedy album Live In: Nerd Rage (Relapse Records, 2006), which included the original metal track 'Metal by Numbers.' His 2020 album Grandpa Metal, co-written with Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman, features guest appearances from Corey Taylor, Scott Ian, Weird Al Yankovic, Michael Starr, and Brendon Small, functioning as a genuine metal record built around comedic metal archetypes rather than parody.