Los Angeles symphonic metal project crafting cinematic heavy music since 2020. Their singles Illusion and Tales Untold pair orchestral grandeur with metal power, channeling Hollywood's epic sensibility into something genuinely heavy.

Los Angeles thrash metal outfit active since 2009, delivering conceptual thrash across multiple releases. The Battle of Mechanopolis builds a sci-fi narrative while Humans Are the Dumbest Animal takes a more satirical aim, all wrapped in tight, aggressive LA thrash.

Hayward, California thrash metal project active since 2023. Their catalog — including the cryptically titled B'AK K'AT,LOG referencing the Mayan calendar — blends Bay Area thrash traditions with unexpected cultural references.

Black metal project that migrated from Granite Falls, North Carolina to San Francisco. Two albums in quick succession — Reflection and The Ghost Town — channel the displacement of cross-country relocation into atmospheric black metal, the Sumerian deity name adding ancient weight.

Los Angeles thrash metal act with five releases since 2014, including live recordings and a deluxe anniversary reissue. Named after the Egyptian god of death, they bring mythological weight to LA's endless thrash tradition.

San Francisco NWOTHM legends with roots in the early Bay Area metal scene. A name that evokes the percussive power of Verdi's opera reimagined through heavy metal, representing one of the city's contributions to the traditional metal revival.

Napa death metal project from the California underground.

Los Angeles death metal project from the California underground.

San Francisco thrash metal act with six releases since 2018, including the Connecticut-referencing Connecticut Casual series. Their prolific output and the cryptic King Of Gods. No Second demonstrate a band with both the ambition and work ethic to stand out in the Bay Area's crowded thrash field.