Bongzilla

From Madison, Wisconsin

Bongzilla formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1995 and helped define weed-themed stoner metal over three decades — slow, doomy, low-tuned sludge with marijuana as a central lyrical and aesthetic theme.

From Chicago, IL

Formed in spring 2003 by Steven Rathbone (vocals/guitar) and Donald James Barraca, both veterans of Chicago's 7000 Dying Rats, Lair of the Minotaur built their reputation on a crushing mix of thrash, sludge, and death metal. Their first three albums were released on Southern Lord Records, the Los Angeles imprint known for housing acts like Sunn O))) and Boris. Their 2008 album War Metal Battle Master remains a touchstone of that run. The band returned with new material in more recent years, including the single "Prowler Twin Sister."

From Lansing

Cavalcade is a Lansing band that defies categorization, swimming in the tidal pools of punk, sludge, black metal, grunge, dark ambient, industrial, power pop, and noise rock. The band features Sean Peters (vocals, synths), Craig Horky (bass, theremin), Brad van Staveren (guitar), Cale Sauter (guitar, samples, keys), and Christian Urrabazo (percussion). They've been featured on a 2009 compilation by Housecore Records, a label founded by former Pantera lead singer Phil Anselmo, who discovered the band through their "Into Bolivian" album and described their sound as "deconstructionist metal."