Futants:

Hailing from Kansas City, The Futants are one of the most original acts in the music scene right now. Their "Pass Me The Butter" release, is a strong statement to their style of music. You can right off the bat hear the influences of Tool and Primus. Each of their tracks are a great mixture of Progressive Metal, Grunge, and solid Rock music. The first tracks bring in classic riffs, similar to Alice In Chains, and the crush you until the song is over. This is a very talented and aware band when it comes to songwriting. The music itself has a fresh sound that separates this band from all others. They push their genre far and may end up creating their own. Check out The Futants for something new if you dare!

Aftertayst:

Aftertayst is a classic metal act that calls Santa Rosa their home. The California metal scene definitely had a strong effect on this band. Their tracks remind you of some of the legends of metal, including Exodus, Metallica, and Testament. The vocals are the definition of old school metal, from high screams to thunderous lows. The riffs are simple but keep your head banging until your neck cramps up. This is truly a metal band for fans of TRUE metal. They have already play numerous shows and have been raising hell all over California. If thrash metal continues to make its return, this band will be in the forefront. So raise your fists, turn it up, and let the headbanging commence!

Bionic Monks:

The Bionic Monks are truly a band of brothers. This family band includes members from young to old, and the chemistry is heard throughout each song. Their crunchy, bass-thumping riffs create havoc in each song. The guitar solo's remind me of Kirk Hammett, which is a big statement, but the talent is there. Add in the old school vocals, and the combination brings a smile to your face. There is definitely some classic metal in this family's bloodline, which is a great thing for this band's future. Reviews of their live shows have been good, so I see nothing but good things for this band in the future. Maybe need a name change, but that's just me!

Tainted:

One of the best raw sounding bands that I've heard in a while is Tainted from Kansas. The strong guitar riffs and vocals take charge of each song from beginning to end. Fans of Disturbed, Sevendust, and Seether would absolutely love this band. The lyrics are powerfully emotional, and lets you into the singer's heart in their music. The music provides a perfect compliment to the lyrics. This band has a great overall sound. Both men and women can really enjoy this band, which is a great thing to say about any band. Be on the lookout for Tainted, because their future could be as good as this band's sound comes across.

Vert:

Vert is a phenomenal band that comes to us from the United Kingdom. I can honestly say that there is no surrender at all in this band. They grab your attention right away and never let up. You can guarantee that the pits are intense when this band plays live. The vocals are a great mix of a clean and fierce screaming attack. The guitar work is stunning and the songwriting is perfect for this band. All hard rock and even some metal fans will raise the horns to this band. Fans of Bloodsimple, Nonpoint, and Sevendust should check this band out as soon as possible, you won't be disappointed. If their music is any sign of things to come, we will surely be hearing from Vert in the future.

Brave:

Brave is a perfect name for this band. Some people either grasp or throw away bands of their style very quickly. I personally love female-fronted groups, if they do it right. Michelle has one of the best vocal range that I have heard in a long time. Her voice is sensual and brings an imminent smile to your face. As far as the music goes, it is not too original, but there are some progressive guitar moments that caught my ear. The one thing that stands out, other than the vocals, is their use of a violin. The addition of this instrument is used perfectly in their songs. It adds another element, along with the vocals, that keeps you wanting more and more. Huge things could be in store for this band, if their music gets in the right hands. I love this group and can't wait to hear further material from this group.

Jameson:

There is only one word to correctly describe the band Jameson: BRUTAL! A true, non-stop, face-melting metal attack that will leave you bruised and battered. The guitar playing and vocals are incredible in this band. The vocals make the band and leaves your ears bleeding at the end of each track. The guitar work is really technical and put together really well in each song. The songs bring together many different styles of metal and it works. It's hard to set yourself apart in the world of metal, but this band is doing it right. If you want something talented, loud, and impressive, then Jameson is the band for you. Horns up!

Structured To Collapse:

Structured To Collapse is a New York metal band that brings their style of metal to the table. It's an insane mix of technical riffs, high screams, and heavy breakdowns. This style is being done by a lot of bands, so hopefully this band can change it up a bit, to assure themselves a future in the industry. Breakdowns are fun, but too many get annoying. The talent in the band is there, and the vocals can definitely carry this band to make a name for themselves. Hopefully this band can get on some big tours and let the people hear their stuff soon. For fans of Dillinger Escape Plan, Emmure, Stick To Your Guns, this band will get ya dancing. Best of luck in the future to Structured To Collapse.