INKcarceration is a rock and metal festival originating in 2018 in Mansfield, Ohio. It uniquely combines live music with a tattoo convention, held at the historic Ohio State Reformatory. Known for its distinctive atmosphere, the festival offers diverse bands, acclaimed tattoo artists, and tours of the famous "Shawshank Redemption" filming location. It has earned a Tourism Award of Excellence.
Formed in Lawrence, Massachusetts, rock band Godsmack has earned four Grammy nominations, two iHeartRadio Music Award nominations, and a Billboard Music Award. Known for hits like I Stand Alone, Awake, and Voodoo, their multi-platinum catalog includes eight albums.
Formed in Western Massachusetts in 2000, heavy metal band Killswitch Engage pioneered a fusion of European guitar style and East Coast hardcore. They earned two Grammy nominations, gold certifications for The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies, and released the definitive 2002 album Alive Or Just Breathing.
Hollywood Undead, a Los Angeles rap rock band formed in 2005, is known for their masked personas and genre-blending sound. They combine hip-hop, rock, and metalcore with provocative lyrics. Popular songs include "Undead" and "Everywhere I Go." Their albums include "Hotel Kalifornia" (2022). They have RIAA platinum and gold certifications and collaborated with artists like Tech N9ne and Papa Roach.
Led by frontman Tim Lambesis, the revitalized metalcore pioneers As I Lay Dying returned with singles like Echoes and If I Fall, featuring a powerhouse lineup of Chris Clancy, Bill Hudson, Don Vedda, and Tim Yeung.
Richard Patrick is the mastermind behind Filter and a former touring guitarist for Nine Inch Nails. After leaving NIN in 1993, he formed Filter, releasing the platinum debut Short Bus with the hit Hey Man Nice Shot, and the platinum follow-up Title of Record featuring Take a Picture.
Chelsea Grin is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based American deathcore band formed in 2007. Known for their brutal blend of deathcore, metalcore, and djent, they feature guttural vocals and intense breakdowns. Popular songs include "Recreant" and "Hostage". Notable albums are Suffer in Hell (2022) and Suffer in Heaven (2023). Their debut, Desolation of Eden, charted on Billboard. They are recognized for relentless touring and evolving within extreme metal.
Formed in Atlanta in 1994, Sevendust is a hard rock quintet known for rumbling grooves, unpredictable riffs, and soulful vocals. They have sold seven million albums worldwide, earned three gold records, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.
I Prevail, formed in Southfield, Michigan in 2013, is an American rock band known for its blend of metalcore, post-hardcore, and hard rock. They gained popularity with a metal cover of Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" and hits like "Bow Down" and "Hurricane." Their Grammy-nominated album "Trauma" and "Violent Nature" showcase their raw energy and emotional depth, captivating audiences.
Formed in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2001, the metalcore ensemble The Acacia Strain blends hardcore, noise, and death metal. They achieved commercial success with their 2008 album Continent and have released numerous acclaimed records, including Slow Decay.
Formed in San Antonio, Texas, Upon A Burning Body is a deathcore quintet known for massive riffs and punishing breakdowns. Signed to Sumerian Records, they released their debut album, The World Is Ours, in 2010, followed by Red. White. Green., The World Is My Enemy Now, Straight From The Barrio, and Southern Hostility.
Formed in 2011, metalcore quintet Fit For A King features Ryan Kirby, Bobby Lynge, Daniel Gailey, Ryan Tuck OLeary, and Trey Celaya. Known for albums like Descendants, The Path, and the Billboard-charting The Hell We Create, the band blends alternative melody, deathcore, and electronic elements.
Nashville-based rock band Halestorm formed in 1997 by Lzzy and Arejay. Known for Lzzy’s brutally honest, vulnerable songs. They’ve earned a GRAMMY win, another nomination, and seven #1 rock radio hits.
Formed in Phoenix, AZ, The Word Alive is a metalcore band now based in Nashville, TN. They’ve amassed over 1.4 billion streams, hundreds of thousands in album sales, earned a gold record single, and toured with A Day to Remember and I Prevail.
Traitors is a South Florida-based deathcore band formed in 2013, known for their crushing downtempo riffs, massive breakdowns, and aggressive vocals. Led by Tyler Shelton, their music explores themes of mental illness and societal discord. They released the album "Phobias" in 2025 and continue to release new music and perform.
Hard rock and alt metal group Devour the Day, led by Blake Allison and Joey "Chicago" Walser, are known for their unique sound and heavy anthems. Their daring work, produced by Grammy-nominated KJ Strock, reflects their resilience, earning them a dedicated fanbase.
Bay Area, California deathcore pioneers All Shall Perish have been championed by Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Robb Flynn (Machine Head), toured with In Flames, and played major festivals worldwide. Members include Eddie Hermida and founders Ben Orum and Matt Kuykendall.
Hunter Madison leads "Hunt the Dinosaur," a heavy, groovy rock band known for ear-splitting vocals, blistering guitars, pounding drums, and earth-shaking bass that fend off monsters.
American Dream Machine, an American alt-rock band known for heartfelt emo anthems like "Scapegoat" and their Deftones cover "Minerva," blends nostalgic Warped Tour vibes with raw emotion.
