๐ธ Loud, overlooked & criminally underplayed โ letโs fix that!
Metalโs a big olโ beast, innit? With titans like Metallica, Slipknot and Maiden hogging the limelight (and the festival lineups), it’s easy to miss the bands tearing it up just outside the mainstream. Some of these lads and lasses are slogging it out in sweaty clubs, others are dropping albums that rival the greats but barely get a sniff of airplay. Time to put some proper respect on their names, butt!
Here are 15 underrated metal bands thatโll blow your boots off if you give โem half a chance. ๐ง
1. Sylosis ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ UK | Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Like Machine Head and Trivium had a feral Welsh child. Josh Middletonโs riffs are ungodly. Criminally underrated โ especially for a Reading band. ๐ค
๐ฅ Try: “Conclusion of an Age”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Lamb of God, Testament, Parkway Drive
2. Orbit Culture ๐ธ๐ช
๐ Sweden | Genre: Groove/Melodic Death Metal
Imagine Metallica and Gojira going on a Viking raid. Brutal vocals, seismic groove, and haunting melodies. How are these guys not huge yet?
๐ฅ Try: “The Shadowing”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Gojira, Metallica, In Flames
3. Alien Weaponry ๐ณ๐ฟ
๐ New Zealand | Genre: Thrash/Groove Metal with Mฤori lyrics
Young, fierce, and politically charged. They rap, growl and chant in Te Reo Mฤori, and it slaps harder than a haka before kickoff.
๐ฅ Try: “Kai Tangata”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Sepultura, Soulfly, Lamb of God
4. Jinjer ๐บ๐ฆ
๐ Ukraine | Genre: Progressive Metalcore
Yes, they’re gaining traction now โ but theyโre still not getting their due! Tatiana Shmaylukโs growl-to-clean switch is witchcraft.
๐ฅ Try: “Pisces (Live Session)”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Spiritbox, Gojira, Periphery
5. Venom Prison ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ Wales | Genre: Death Metal
Straight outta South Wales with lyrics that cut deep and riffs that cut deeper. Feminist death metal with brains AND brutality.
๐ฅ Try: “Uterine Industrialisation”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Napalm Death, Cattle Decapitation, Arch Enemy
6. Loathe ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ Liverpool | Genre: Experimental Metalcore/Post-Metal
Genre-melting Scousers who somehow blend Deftones and Meshuggah. Dreamy, heavy, weird โ in the best way.
๐ฅ Try: “Two-Way Mirror”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Deftones, Northlane, Code Orange
7. VOLA ๐ฉ๐ฐ
๐ Denmark | Genre: Progressive Metal/Rock
Synths, grooves, and djent riffs โ like if TesseracT joined Pink Floyd in a Scandinavian bunker. Pure vibes.
๐ฅ Try: “Stray the Skies”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Karnivool, Leprous, Porcupine Tree
8. While She Sleeps ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ Sheffield | Genre: Metalcore
Why these lads aren’t headlining arenas already is beyond us. DIY ethics, melodic firepower, and anthems that make you wanna burn down the system.
๐ฅ Try: “Anti-Social”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Architects, Bring Me The Horizon, Parkway Drive
9. Pallbearer ๐บ๐ธ
๐ Arkansas | Genre: Doom Metal
Slow, sad and heavier than your Nanโs Sunday roast. Doom metal with gorgeous vocals and funeral march vibes.
๐ฅ Try: “The Ghost I Used to Be”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Candlemass, YOB, Mastodon
10. Ithaca ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ London | Genre: Hardcore/Metalcore
Rage. Riffs. Raw power. With lyrics about trauma, identity, and healing โ delivered with throat-shredding fury. Cathartic as hell.
๐ฅ Try: “They Fear Us”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Converge, Employed to Serve, Rolo Tomassi
11. ERRA ๐บ๐ธ
๐ Alabama | Genre: Progressive Metalcore
Yes, theyโve been around forever, but theyโre STILL not getting their flowers. Every track is a math-metal odyssey.
๐ฅ Try: “Snowblood”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Periphery, Northlane, Veil of Maya
12. Svalbard ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ Bristol | Genre: Post-Metal/Blackened Hardcore
Bleak, brilliant, and brutally honest. Songs about mental health, feminism, and fighting back โ with a wall of sound you can drown in.
๐ฅ Try: “Open Wound”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Deafheaven, Oathbreaker, Envy
13. Employed to Serve ๐ฌ๐ง
๐ Woking | Genre: Hardcore/Metalcore
Absolute chaos merchants. Their riffs should be illegal. Their energy? Unmatched. They bring the pit to your living room.
๐ฅ Try: “Sun Up to Sun Down”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Knocked Loose, Code Orange, Power Trip
14. Vintersea ๐บ๐ธ
๐ Portland | Genre: Progressive/Melodic Death Metal
Operatic vocals and melodeath riffs wrapped in stormy black metal vibes. Symphonic AND savage. Lush stuff.
๐ฅ Try: “Fiery Tongue”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Epica, Ne Obliviscaris, Insomnium
15. Orbituary ๐บ๐ธ
๐ Florida | Genre: Death Metal Legends Still Killing It
Yeah, yeah, theyโre old school. But even after all these years, theyโre still somehow underrated. Filthy riffs, swampy groove, zero nonsense.
๐ฅ Try: “Sentence Day”
โ ๏ธ For fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Death, Morbid Angel
๐ค Honourable Mentions (Because 15 ain’t enough):
- Harbinger (UK tech-deathcore)
- Zeal & Ardor (Black metal meets gospel? YES MUN)
- Alpha Wolf (Aussie metalcore tantrum)
- Infected Rain (Moldovan fury fronted by Lena Scissorhands)
- Bloodywood (Indian folk metal with a nu-metal twist)
Final Thoughts:
Rock radio might still be stuck in 2003, but you donโt have to be. Give these underrated metal masters a spin, share ’em with your mates, and support your local riff dealers. ๐ค
Which bands did we miss? Drop your faves in the comments or shout at us on social:
๐ @theriffreportuk
๐ staging.theriffreport.co.uk/
