2. The Ghost Inside- After seeing this band live, it has won my affections and deserve this spot both for its live show and recorded sound. Hailing from Los Angeles, this band is a sucker punch to the face sonically. The hardest band on this list, their newest, and (in my opinion) best, album Returners is about 40 minutes of straight screamo. Unwavering from their assault the band never sways from their precise and aggressive classic post hardcore, metal core approach. Breakdowns, chorus, verse, repeat. Although most bands using this approach stagnate musically after a while, The Ghost Inside keeps the energy flowing fast on their album and live. If you are looking for quality head banging or workout music, look no further. The breakdown in their song “Unspoken” from Returners gives me chills every time.

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Album: Returners

Songs: “Unspoken” and “Truth and Temper”

3. Farewell to Freeway- Arguably the most well known band on this list Farewell to Freeway has definitely paid their dues. From Canada, this band has been touring and recording ceaselessly since their formation and signing to Year of the Sun Records 10 years ago. Now on Victory Records, Farewell to Freeway has despite a constantly changing lineup put out a combined total of 7 albums and E.P.s. The band is sound wise mainstream metal core, and sound like a heavy version of the music you would be likely to hear on 9.89 the rock. They have an excellent guitar tone and their newest album Filthy Habits sounds raw and powerful yet well produced. Combining clean and screaming vocals Farewell to Freeway is a solid band and will one day be a band that you can say you knew “back when.” Plus any band that has a song titled “Liquor? I Don’t Even Know Er” has to be cool.

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Album: Filthy Habits

Songs: “Usurper” and “28.6.42.12”

4. Times of Grace- If this band sounds familiar, it is because they are. Composed of standout guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel from Killswitch Engage and the former leader singer of Killswitch, Jesse Leach, Times of Grace is a side project on steroids. Number four on this list because they least of all these bands need to be praised and reviewed, one day this band will be more appreciated than that other band the members are in. Times of Grace musically pushes genre boundaries and combines the familiar heavy riffage of Killswitch with a more tempered and artistic flair. Their debut album, The Hymn of a Broken Man is simply beautiful. With soaring vocal harmonies and sometimes reflective and down tempo guitar riffs, this is a band that takes their music seriously. To see what I mean, check out “Hymn of a Broken Man.” The title track, this song is all acoustic and complimented by the bluesy and sometimes religious or countresque vocals, it simply speaks to the soul. Look for this band in the future; they are outside public consciousness but won’t be for long.

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Album: The Hymn of a Broken Man

Songs: “The End of Eternity” and “In the Arms of Mercy”

5. Second Signal- Yes, this is my band, and at the risk of tooting my own horn, I will keep this short and to the point. Following in the footsteps of Kansas City favorites The Leo Project, Second Signal has an original sound, fusing hard rock and metalcore with melodic vocal harmonies. Multiple interlocking guitar harmonies and a detuned heavy rhythm section make this a band you should know. The fact I am most proud of about this band is that it defies description. Every industry and older person asked to describe their sound has come up with different influences and schools of musical thought.

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Album: Second Signal E.P.

Songs: “No More” and “Next To Me”