Suffer the Gestalt is a depressive black metal project from San Jose, California, formed in 2020, channeling introspective despair and psychological bleakness into the DSBM tradition of slow, anguished compositions.

Los Angeles funeral doom band formed in 2012, delivering the glacially slow tempos, cavernous low-end, and suffocating atmosphere that define the most desolate end of the doom spectrum.

San Diego death metal band formed in 2022, contributing to the active Southern California extreme metal underground with a straightforward approach to the genre.

Venice, California's Suicidal Tendencies, led by the irrepressible Mike Muir, are one of the most important bands in the history of crossover thrash, having bridged the gap between hardcore punk and thrash metal since their 1983 self-titled debut and its iconic anthem 'Institutionalized.' Their influence extends across punk, metal, and funk metal through the groundbreaking work of members like Robert Trujillo (now in Metallica) and guitarist Rocky George. Four decades in, Suicidal Tendencies remain a furious, unpredictable live force whose impact on heavy music's cross-pollination of genres cannot be overstated.

Formed in Riverside, California in 2002, Suicide Silence became one of the defining bands of the deathcore movement under the tenure of vocalist Mitch Lucker. Their 2007 Century Media debut The Cleansing brought the genre significant mainstream attention, followed by No Time to Bleed (2009) and The Black Crown (2011). Lucker died in November 2012 following a motorcycle accident; the band continued with new vocalist Hernan 'Eddie' Hermida and is frequently cited alongside Whitechapel, Thy Art is Murder, and Job for a Cowboy as one of deathcore's founding pillars.

Sukkubys is a depressive black metal project from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2023, channeling the introspective anguish and lo-fi bleakness central to the DSBM tradition.

Sumeria is a black metal band from Downey, California, active since 2017 and drawing thematic and sonic inspiration from ancient civilizations within a raw and aggressive black metal framework.

Summation is a black metal band from Salinas, California, formed in 2020, operating in the raw and atmospheric traditions of underground American black metal.

Summoned is a death metal and grindcore band from Whittier, California, formed in 2007, combining the brutality of death metal with the speed and aggression of grind.