North Carolina-based Crystal Spiders originally emerged in 2019 as the brainchild of bassist and vocalist Brenna Leath, who wanted to explore a new creative path after years performing with Lightning Born. Quickly establishing themselves as pioneers of a new breed of heavy rock and stoner doom, their first self-recorded demo secured them a spot on The Obelisk’s yearly ranking of short releases, followed up shortly by a debut album release “Molt” with Ripple Music, produced by legendary Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity.

Having earned both global critical acclaim and the support of a diverse, growing fanbase over multiple singles, two full-length albums — MOLT and MORIERIS — and a slew of electric gigs to date, Crystal Spiders’ momentum is now at an all-time high as they prepare for their biggest year yet. An eagerly-awaited third full-length album and an appearance at Maryland Doom Fest are already on the horizon for 2025, with tour dates forthcoming.

Current Members: Brenna Leath (bass, vocals) Aaron Willis (percussion, vocals) Reid Rogers (guitar, vocals)

Chicago’s Shadow of Jupiter is a Stoner Rock/Heavy Psych band with heavy riffs and soulful vocals. Their debut album, Porta Coeli, landed high on the Doom Charts the month of its release and placed respectfully on the year-end Doom Charts Top 100 at the end of 2023. These accolades garnered them worldwide attention and incredible performance opportunities within the Windy City and around the USA. In 2024, Shadow of Jupiter were chosen among the greatest Stoner/Heavy Underground bands in the world to play Ripplefest Texas in Austin, TX. For 2025, a busy schedule has them playing more Chicago shows, and they are excited to have been invited to play Rhune Mountain Fest in Ontario, Canada and Grand Rapids Doom Fest in Grand Rapids, MI.

With a mutual love for bands like Black Sabbath, Fu Manchu and Clutch and a desire to write the heavy tunes they wanted to hear, the Hÿss was formed by guitarists Dave Fitzgerald and Pat Kennedy in 2011. With the addition of drummer Mike Scales (Renegade A-Bomb, Victory Auto Rockers), the band slowly started crafting the bluesy doom, stoner rock and grunge inspired songs that would become their signature and began honing their live chops in earnest by early 2013.

After recruiting old buddy and guitarist Bill Sullivan for the bass position and convincing formidable Renegade A-Bomb vocalist Matt McDonald to pick up the mic again, the Hÿss finally committed to tape some of their 20+ originals and released a self-recorded demo in August 2017. Since then, the band officially released the two 5-song bangers Hound & Extraterrestrial (both recorded by Pete Grossmann at Bricktop Recording) and continued to play out across the Chicagoland area.

In October 2022, the Hÿss headed to Berwyn Recording to record the final chapter of their EP trilogy Hÿss III: The Hÿssening. Recorded and mixed by Jackson Bomher (Theyrgy, Dead Sage Records) and mastered by Dennis Cimpeanu, Hÿss III showcases the best of the current Hÿss canon from the gate-crashing statement of intent “Are You Listening to the Hÿssening?” and cosmic garden vibes of “Gnome Ken Bone” to the harrowing tale of Cro-Magnon solitude that is “Silvio.”

Void The Light is an American Alternative Metal and prog band formed in the Chicago suburbs, 2012. Their influences include Tool, Deftones, Incubus and Nirvana.