Hailing from Chicago and the UK, CRUSADER is relatively new to the metal scene in Chicago, although they are all veterans of playing live music, having only been officially a band since spring of 2010. Tired of hearing run-of-the-mill corporate produced ‘metal’, CRUSADER decided to raise the flag and rally the troops to their banner. Raised on classic rock, speed metal and thrash through to doom, and everything in between and beyond, CRUSADER proudly and unashamedly wear their influences on their sleeves. Early 2011 saw the release of CRUSADER’s self released EP ‘Rise of the Templars’ which has received rave reviews: ‘If you close your eyes, you can picture hundreds of spiked gauntlets, punching the sky, lock step, united in war against poseurs. When the song takes off, it’s a groove thrasher with crooning vocals that reminds me a lot Death Angel’ – American Aftermath Webzine ‘Rise of the Templars’ is one great epic metal release, I do love the bass sound, this is indeed everything I want from a metal release in all fairness right down to the Grave Digger inspired EP cover artwork. The gauntlet is laid down and the challenge is accepted. Setting their stall out to emulate the metal giants (credit vidovic at dhead tech), Crusader makes a good account of themselves and I for one simply love this EP’ – Brutalism Webzine ‘This is prime NWOBHM inspired heavy metal taking you back to the days of Black Axe and Angel Witch…’ – Powerplay UK Magazine ‘Their NWOBHM sound, the epic-driven song titles and the cool performance are enough to guarantee you that you are gonna have great time when these guys are onstage. During their 30 minutes’ performance, I enjoyed “Templar” and “Asgard’s Fire” and the sure thing is that I’m going to dig their EP asap. Just a perfect way to warm up for ANVIL’s invasion, don’t ya think? – Metal Kaoz review – show with ANVIL 2012 will see the band recording their full length album and taking their sound all over the country. Think of a Crusader tank driving over a minefield littered with the skulls of the enemy dead…they’re taking it back to the roots: Drinking beers, throwing the horns and playing metal…

Three piece metal band from Chicago, Illinois. Formerly Miles From Exile.

A hard-working Chicago-based metal unit that specializes in no-frills, take-no-prisoners hard rock, thrash, and vintage heavy metal in the vein of artists like Metallica, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and Megadeth, HEMI were formed in 2003 and currently reside around the core grouping of lead vocalist and bass player Trent Zuberi, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Tim Wilkens, rhythm guitarist Sean Turnbull, and drummer/percussionist Mike Cieplik. After honing their "true metal" sound regionally and settling on a lineup, in 2007 the band issued its debut album, Fire in the Sky, which received a positive response from the hard rock community. HEMI followed up their success in 2012 with their first concert album/DVD, The Chosen Ones: Live in the Fire, which was recorded the year prior. The group's sophomore studio long-player, Undivided Intentions, marking the beginning of their collaboration with famed producer AJ Kolar, arrived in 2014 with a Motörhead tribute EP titled MotorHEMI following in 2016. The highly anticipated, Avalon was released in 2018 to an overwhelming worldwide response and spawned the singles, “Death Wizard” and “Re/Vengeance.” In 2019, IMPACT Wrestling, a division of Anthem Sports & Media, licensed “Decay” for use on their weekly television program IMPACT and Rebellion pay-per-view in April. A remix of the title track later titled “Avalon Averted (The Fixer Remix),” produced in collaboration with RavensFilm Productions, was also licensed by IMPACT Wrestling for the Bound for Glory pay-per-view event in October. Both events, along with the weekly program, are seen in over 120+ countries worldwide and on AXS TV, Twitch, and Pursuit Channel in the United States. HEMI is currently writing their next album!

Death By Technology is a self-proclaimed Scrap Metal band based out of Chicago, IL. Formed in 2004.