Formed in 2006 by Phil Bozeman, Brandon Cagle, and Ben Savage, tech-heavy Knoxville, Tennessee-based death metal outfit Whitechapel (named for the London neighborhood where the notorious Jack the Ripper disposed of most of his victims) blend grindcore, hardcore, and black metal into an unholy trinity of audio violence.After rounding out the lineup with guitarist Alex Wade, bassist Gabe Crisp, and drummer Derek Martin, the band's 2006 self-produced EP led to a European record deal with the Siege of Amida label and a distribution deal with Candlelight, where the band released its full-length debut, The Somatic Defilement, in 2007. That same year, the band parted ways with Savage and Martin, who were replaced by guitarist Zach Householder and drummer Kevin Lane. After signing on with Metal Blade, the band returned with its sophomore effort, This Is Exile, in 2008, followed shortly thereafter by A New Era of Corruption in 2010. In 2011, Whitechapel parted ways with Lane, replacing the drummer with Ben Harclerode, who made his debut on the remix EP Recorrupted later that year. Whitechapel returned the following year with a self-titled album, which was followed by their fifth album, Our Endless War, in 2014. ~ James Christopher Monger

DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002, consisting of vocalist Dez Fafara (the only remaining original member), guitarists Mike Spreitzer and Neal Tiemann, drummer Austin D'Amond, and bassist Diego "Ashe

A Chelsea Grin in soccer hooligan terminology is the act of cutting a rivals mouth with either a credit card or blade and then kicking them in the crotch so their mouth muscles split into a bloody grimace. Chelsea Grin, the band from Utah armed with THREE guitarists use a foundation of hardcore grit combined with death metal technicality and grind speed to produce as much aural harm as the back alley jaw split.  

Windy city deathcore titans Oceano awaken with their brand new studio album, ‘Ascendants’. Oceano’s evolution continues on their 4th full length venture. The band’s trademark vicious hybrid of bone-splintering brutality ascends into a new realm and reach previously undiscovered depths. Their signature sound is revitalized through guitarists Scott Smith and Michael Kasper (Carnivale/Dead To Fall) and bassist Chris Wagner (Monsters). Vocalist Adam Warren’s visceral screams and guttural onslaught are further refined and expanded with near inhuman tone. Taking steps into previously unexplored territory, 'Ascendants' is a concept album transcending the norms of most modern metal acts. Within stand out tracks “Dead planet", "Transient gateways” and “Dawn of Descent”, eerie atmospherics come to the fore. ‘Ascendants’ is Oceano’s most focused effort to date, giving the album a greater intensity and deeper sense of purpose. Rediscovering their niche, 'Ascendants' is the definitive Oceano experience. Oceano has truely experienced an awakening and with it they hold the key album to re-define their genre.

JINJER is a Ukrainian female fronted band which plays a mixture of progressive metalcore and groove metal, with some inlays of funk, reggae and jazz, though on their second LP the band shifted a bit to death metal of the European school. JINJER were formed in 2010, when Tatiana Shmailyuk joined the guys as a vocalist. In 2013, the band were acknowledged as the best metal band of the year in Ukraine. JINJER are often mistakenly compared to Iwrestledabearonce, Straight Line Stitch, Arch Enemy, etc. Which is completely wrong, as members of JINJER, being asked about their influences, always name such bands as Lamb of God, Pantera, Gojira, Killswitch Engage, Death, Chimaira, All Shall Perish, Protest the Hero. However, Tatiana says that she really appreciates Sandra from Guano Apes and Shamaya from Otep for being her biggest inspirations as a female metal vocalist. She also mentions Mikael �...kerfeldt from Opeth and Randy Blythe from LOG. In April 2014 JINJER released their second LP - CLOUD FACTORY. The album is devoted to the devastating effect of the heavy industry and global businesses on the environment,nature and average people's lives. To support CLOUD FACTORY album the band went on a long European tour in April-May 2014 around Poland, Germany, Czech, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Russia. JINJER have shared the stage with TIAMAT, PAIN, CALIBAN, EKTOMORF, CLAWFINGER, EVENASCENCE, RASMUS, KATAKLYSM, BLESS THE FALL, etc. Over three years of touring JINJER have played more than 300 shows around the European Union, Russia and Ukraine. The band is a common participant of many top open-air festivals in Ukraine and the EU.   JINJER is a Ukrainian female fronted band which plays a mixture of progressive metalcore and groove metal, with some inlays of funk, reggae and jazz, though on their second LP the band shifted a bit to death metal of the European school. JINJER were formed in 2010, when Tatiana Shmailyuk joined the guys as a vocalist. In 2013, the band were acknowledged as the best metal band of the year in Ukraine. JINJER are often mistakenly compared to Iwrestledabearonce, Straight Line Stitch, Arch Enemy, etc. Which is completely wrong, as members of JINJER, being asked about their influences, always name such bands as Lamb of God, Pantera, Gojira, Killswitch Engage, Death, Chimaira, All Shall Perish, Protest the Hero. However, Tatiana says that she really appreciates Sandra from Guano Apes and Shamaya from Otep for being her biggest inspirations as a female metal vocalist. She also mentions Mikael �...kerfeldt from Opeth and Randy Blythe from LOG. In April 2014 JINJER released their second LP - CLOUD FACTORY. The album is devoted to the devastating effect of the heavy industry and global businesses on the environment,nature and average people's lives. To support CLOUD FACTORY album the band went on a long European tour in April-May 2014 around Poland, Germany, Czech, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Russia. JINJER have shared the stage with TIAMAT, PAIN, CALIBAN, EKTOMORF, CLAWFINGER, EVENASCENCE, RASMUS, KATAKLYSM, BLESS THE FALL, etc. Over three years of touring JINJER have played more than 300 shows around the European Union, Russia and Ukraine. The band is a common participant of many top open-air festivals in Ukraine and the EU.

Hope Before The Fall has defined itself as a force in the New England metal community. With the release of their third offering, 2015's EP "Tabula Rasa", they continue to gain momentum and find themselves with a renewed sense of purpose. The band looks to inspire a sense of positivity and community through their lyrics, while providing a cathartic outlet to their fans.  HBTF has always been a band whose sound has spanned across the various sub genres of metal, making them accessible to a wide audience. Their energetic and engaging live performances led to them receiving a nomination for Best Metal Act in RI in 2014. Some of their more notable live shows have included local and direct support for the likes of Periphery, After The Burial, Protest The Hero, Unearth, Fit For An Autopsy, The Acacia Strain, 36 Crazyfists, Misery Signals, Chimaira, Twelve Foot Ninja, The Color Morale, Affiance, Born of Osiris, Texas in July, All That Remains, Shadows Fall, The Summer Slaughter tour, New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, and many more.