Explore California Metal
Featured Album
Dead Bodies Everywhere (2021)
Featured Heavy Metal Album
Metallica (Remastered Deluxe Box Set) (2021)
Featured Artist with an Upcoming Show
Featured Groove Metal Album
Outside The Box (2021)
Featured Artist with an Upcoming Show
Browse California Metal Bands
278 bands found
Madera/San Francisco black metal project whose 2018 releases Collection of Old Filth and In Defiance pair raw aggression with lo-fi aesthetics. Splitting operations between Central Valley isolation and Bay Area intensity.
San Francisco doom and gothic metal project whose 2017 single Angel blends dark beauty with crushing weight. A contribution to the Bay Area's diverse heavy music ecosystem.
NWOTHM act that migrated from Antioch, Illinois to Los Angeles. Their 2004 EP Fire In The Sky captures the classic heavy metal energy of the early NWOTHM wave, predating the movement's broader recognition.
Los Angeles NWOTHM project adding to the city's vast traditional metal roster. The name evokes medieval weaponry — fitting for a band committed to heavy metal's timeless warfare.
Los Angeles black metal project with five releases since 2021, including a full-length and single both titled Archaic Black Metal. The self-referential naming convention signals a band committed to the genre's most primal traditions.
Los Angeles thrash metal project — distinct from the Swedish Arch Enemy — contributing to LA's thrash legacy. Another addition to a city that has produced generations of speed-obsessed metal.
Santa Cruz heavy metal revivalists flying the NWOTHM flag from California's coast, delivering classic twin-guitar harmonies and galloping riffs with the swagger of the genre's golden era.
San Diego thrash metal project with ten releases since 2020 — including one oddly dated 2037. Their prolific, chaotic output and titles like Freakee Friday suggest a band that doesn't take genre conventions too seriously while still delivering ferocious thrash.
Modesto, California deathcore project. The Gnostic-derived name — referencing the archons who imprison human souls in matter — adds philosophical weight to Central Valley aggression.
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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.
Yes — browse California death metal bands in our index. Filter by genre to find death metal, technical death metal, and melodic death metal bands. We also index black metal, thrash metal, doom metal, and all heavy metal bands.
Use the genre filter to browse California black metal bands. We index black metal, atmospheric black metal, and related subgenres alongside death metal, thrash metal, doom metal, and all heavy metal bands.
Browse our index for California thrash metal bands. Filter by genre to discover thrash metal, crossover thrash, and speed metal bands. Our index covers all heavy metal bands including death metal, black metal, doom, and metalcore.
Yes — we index metalcore bands, doom metal bands, and every heavy metal subgenre. Browse California metalcore, doom metal, sludge metal, stoner metal, progressive metal, power metal, and more.
Yes — browse California hardcore punk bands alongside heavy metal bands. We cover hardcore punk, crust punk, D-beat, grindcore, metalcore, and all heavy music subgenres.
Filter by city and state to find heavy metal bands near you. Each band page includes streaming links, genre tags, and upcoming metal concerts. Discover death metal, black metal, thrash, doom, and all heavy metal bands in your area.
Visit our shows page for California metal concerts — death metal shows, black metal concerts, thrash metal shows, doom concerts, and all heavy metal events. Updated daily with ticket links from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek.
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.