Most Promising Metal Bands of the 2020s
This list is about those young bands that proved to be incredibly good or innovative, and that will probably define what metal will be like in the next decade.
Since their album "Immortal" was released, they have produced only gems. Their sound is a crossover between deathcore, black metal, and symphonic metal, successfully blending old and new extreme metal sounds.
Their 2021 EP "And I Return to Nothingness" was a true revolution in the modern metal panorama and will surely inspire a new generation of metal bands, not just deathcore ones.
Their singer Will Ramos really helped the band gain more visibility. He's been doing interviews and various activities on YouTube. His voice is impressive and adds a lot to the band.
Shadow of Intent is one of those "one in a million" bands that are so rare to find even in a rich scene like the modern metal one. They have such a technical yet emotionally powerful sound, blending death metal, deathcore, and symphonic metal in a way that surpasses many bands in the same genre.
From the intense blast beats to the atmospheric melodies, the guitar riffs, and the emotional solos, the interaction between Chris' clean vocals and Ben's beast-like screaming performances is exceptional. This band is at the forefront of extreme metal nowadays and will likely lead the genre toward a bright future.
In my opinion, this band is one of the most interesting to ever come out of the progressive metal subgenre. They have released only two albums, but both are masterpieces.
Their sound is unique and intriguing, mixing djent, traditional progressive metal, and tribal music within a wonderful atmosphere. They are among the most underrated metal bands ever, and I believe they are going to have one of the highest quality discographies in the 2020s.
This band is currently leading the Swedish metal scene, one of the most recognized and powerful panoramas in metal. Their music is mainly groove/melodic death metal, but we can also find symphonic metal and deathcore influences.
The highlight of their tracks is the atmosphere, featuring amazing guitar riffs and, most notably, Niklas Karlsson's incredible voice, which stretches from low growls to powerful screams to intense and emotional clean singing.
Tallah is a relatively recent band, leading the new wave of one of the most legendary and powerful metal genres: nu metal. Despite how much this kind of sound was exploited in the 2000s, Tallah has found a way to innovate as no one else has before.
They get more experimental with every release, blending nu metal, deathcore, metalcore, and industrial metal. Their incredible creativity and youth show that Tallah is one of the most promising acts of the current decade.
This band mixes deathcore, metalcore, and alternative metal sounds in a fresh and innovative way. Their ethereal sound, creative grooves, ambient influences, and even black metal inspirations make them one of the most promising and underrated metal bands for the next decade.
Code Orange is an American metallic hardcore band that formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2008. Formed in high school as Code Orange Kids, the band acheieved early success for their energetic performances and hard-hitting music. In 2014, the band's name was officially changed to Code Orange, just... read more Everybody talked about these musicians since 2017 when their album Forever came out, displaying an aggressive industrial metalcore sound. These musicians are promising not only in metal but also in hardcore punk.
Code Orange never stops experimenting and changing their sound, regardless of public opinion, which is an important quality.
This band is one of the most incredible acts in the extreme metal scene, going far beyond deathcore and leaning more towards progressive metal. Some tracks on their latest album are among the best prog metal songs of the last decade.
I have never seen a metalcore band that is both intensely melodic and harsh. The violin in their songs is something metalcore has never had, making their sound extremely interesting. Moreover, Eddie Berg has an impressive vocal range, stretching from powerful screams to mesmerizing clean vocals.
The Newcomers
This deathcore/post-metal supergroup was formed in 2020. Since then, they've already shown their capabilities: chaotic riffs, brutal and demonic vocals, and a wonderful atmosphere, shifting from ominous to ethereal in seconds.
They're also quite productive, having released an EP, an album, various singles, and are about to release another album in just two years.
Spiritbox is one of the most recent revelations in the metal panorama. Their style blends djent and metalcore into an innovative kind of post-metal, featuring breakdowns, heavy riffs, and catchy choruses that will likely inspire many bands.
When Demolisher came out in 2020, nobody was ready for such brutality. It was probably the most popular extreme metal track in a while. This band is contributing both to the new wave of deathcore and the nu metal revival, bringing a fresh and amazing sound.
All the members are incredibly talented, evident in their incredible solos, fast and technical drumming, and beast-like vocals. Singer Alex Terrible has an impressive range as well.
Inferi is an American melodic death metal band forged from the bowels of Nashville, Tennessee. The band formed in 2006 and strived to merge the classic melodic metal sound with a taste of crushing technicality.