DIAMOND PLATE formed in 2004 in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. DIAMOND PLATE unknowingly arrived at the right time, just as thrash-metal was beginning to make a huge comeback worldwide. Due to the ferocity of their music, coupled with a revived hunger for thrash, DIAMOND PLATE quickly established themselves as one of the top forces in the emerging U.S. thrash metal scene.

Distinguishing themselves from Southern California’s extensive thrash roster, Bonded by Blood combine the raw aggression of punk and hardcore with speed, technical ability, attitude and good old-fashioned heavy metal. Formed in 2005, the teens set out with the task of finding a line-up to complete their vision. Despite clear musical differences, the band was united by their love for thrash and thus, Bonded by Blood was born.

Formed in Southern California in 2008 when vocalist James Paul Luna and drummer Tyler Meahl diverged from Pasadena metal squadron White Wizzard and teamed up with San Diegan guitar hero Eli Santana, the band was called Sorcerer until it became clear that the moniker didn’t quite capture the rarefied nature of the members’ collective talents. Sorcerer became Holy Grail. The band became so unstoppable that California just couldn’t contain them and now, like their spiritual forefathers in Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Dio, Holy Grail are poised to bring their hook-laden shred anthems to an arena near you.

Holy Grail are heavy metal personified, possessing a seemingly infinite arsenal of mind-blowing riffs, skyscraping vocal melodies and devastating drum dynamism. Not mention the kind of six-string acrobatics and straight-up power-shredding that would make Yngwie Malmsteen chuck the proverbial goat in sweep-picking solidarity. “We shred and we’re serious about it,” Luna offers. “This is not a tongue-in-cheek thing. It’s not throwback or retro. Holy Grail is a modern band with a new twist on the best of old-school metal with death metal riffs, modern breakdowns and power-metal singing. We just tried to pick stuff from all our favorite bands and make the best blend of metal we could.”

But don’t take our word for it—or Luna’s. The fine folks at Decibel magazine knew exactly what they were talking about when they hailed HOLY GRAIL as “the most exciting prefix-free metal band to come out of L.A. in the last two decades.” The esteemed editors at UK’s Metal Hammer nominated the gentlemen of the Grail for the magazine’s “Best New Band” award at their annual Golden Gods ceremony before Holy Grail even had an album out. But a certain tall, handsome genius over at Thrasher summed it up best when he proclaimed, “Holy Grail are the reason that heavy metal will never die.”

MALEVOLENT CREATION started their career in 1987 in Buffalo, NY, where they recorded and distributed their first demo. Moving to a more fertile music scene in Florida they produced their second demo with a pressing of 1,000 copies. Finally, a third demo the following year recorded by Scott Burns at Morris Sound which landed MALEVOLENT CREATION a record deal with Roadrunner and the first full-length album titled The Ten Commandments, considered by many to be one of the strongest Death Metal debut albums.

The recording process for the following albums, such as Retribution, and Stillborn, were riddled with line-up changes, the beginning of a common occurrence that has since become a MALEVOLENT CREATION trademark. As mastermind Phil Fasciana sums it up, “If you’re too slow, you’ve got to go”. Never allowing the revolving musicians to affect the power and skill of the band in a negative way, the rotation only added mystery and fan interest in the next step of the band’s career. Continuing to fight their martial battles stronger and stronger with each release, MALEVOLENT CREATION labeled ‘The Mike Tyson of Death Metal’ never let anyone down with new additions or replacements.

The bestial terror from Florida continued to release more albums spewing forth Eternal, Joe Black, In Cold Blood, The Fine Art Of Murder, Envenomed, The Will To Kill, Warkult and Doomsday X, followed by releasing one of their best albums to date Invidious Dominion