Grammy Award-winning metal titans Megadeth were founded in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for shaping heavy music, the multi-platinum band has sold 50 million records worldwide, earned 13 Grammy nominations, and released their self-titled final studio album.
Formed in London in 1976, The Damned are pioneering British punk rockers known for legendary live shows, 11 studio albums, and UK chart singles. Fronted by David Vanian, their dark lyrics and rich baritone vocals helped establish the goth-rock genre.
Formed in Austin, Texas in 2003, The Sword is a heavy band consisting of JD Cronise, Bryan Richie, Kyle Shutt, and Santiago Vela. They have released six full-length albums, including Age of Winters and Used Future, and toured with Metallica and Lamb of God.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1983, thrash metal band Dark Angel released albums like We Have Arrived, Darkness Descends, Leave Scars, and Time Does Not Heal. Known for their speed, aggression, and technical complexity, the group featured members including Gene Hoglan, Eric Meyer, and Ron Rinehart before breaking up.
Founded in 2015, The Cruel Intentions is a Norwegian sleaze rock band featuring Mats Wernerson, Kristian Solhaug, Robin Nilsson, and former Vains of Jenna singer Lizzy DeVine. Blending melodrama with fast-paced, hard-hitting rock, they carry on the classic rock legacy with a modern twist.
Finnish soprano and songwriter Tarja Turunen gained international fame as a co-founder of Nightwish, helping pioneer symphonic metal. Launching her solo career in 2006, she released albums like My Winter Storm and In the Raw, blending classical and rock music, and published a book in 2021.
Formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1999, Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) are hard rock/New Wave of American Heavy Metal pioneers with over 2B streams and 10M records sold. They’ve scored two consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 albums and multiple No. 1 rock singles.
Oakland's Machine Head, formed in 1991, pioneered the new wave of American heavy metal with aggressive groove and thrash. Known for "Davidian" and "Imperium," their influential catalog includes "The Blackening," an Album of the Decade, and "Unatoned." They boast a Grammy nomination and over 5 million albums sold, celebrated for uncompromising live performances.
Norwegian black metal band Emperor, known for their genre-defining music, mixed furious and melodic styles, influenced by folk and classical music. Their acclaimed albums include "In the Nightside Eclipse" and "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk." Despite legal issues, the band, led by Ihsahn and Samoth, achieved international cult status.
Jerry Cantrell, Tacoma-born rock icon and guitar legend, known for powerful melodies and riffs, has collaborated with Metallica and Ozzy. Lead in Alice In Chains, he’s acclaimed for his solo work, film contributions, and being one of Rolling Stone's top guitarists. His style blends metal, rock, blues, and Americana.
Ukrainian progressive groove metal band formed in 2009, blending post-hardcore with death/prog/nu-metal. Lineup includes vocalist Tatiana Shmailyuk. Released EPs OIMACTTA and Inhale, Do Not Breathe; signed to Napalm for King of Everything (2016).
Australian artist Kim Dracula blends metal, industrial, jazz, trap and Latin styles. Known for the multi-genre single Make Me Famous and the more melodic Drown, fusing post-hardcore with synthwave, EDM and metal.
Oslo, Norway rock’n’roll band famed for killer live shows; toured Europe/USA (SXSW, Cavern, Hard Rock Times Sq); longtime collab with Little Steven Van Zandt.
Oslo metal band Arachno, inspired by Power Trip and Metallica, debuted in 2023 with “Demolition.” Known for raw power, they’ve wowed fans and festivals with epic riffs and fierce live shows.
