Weedeater was born the mid-’90s, in Wilmington, NC, originally taking shape as a side project of vocalist/bassist “Dixie” Dave Collins, who was otherwise engaged with sludge metal cult favorites Buzzov*en at the time. However, upon that band’s official demise in 1998, Collins was free to concentrate his efforts on Weedeater, which released two sludgecore albums to kick off the new millennium: 2001’s And Justice for Y’All and 2002’s Sixteen Tons, both produced by stoner specialist Billy Anderson. Collins later decided to tour briefly as bass player for Bongzilla and also found time to lend his four strings to Wilmington neighbors, Sourvein, but continued to work with Weedeater guitarist Shep and drummer Keko, touring relentlessly over the years, with the likes of C.O.C. and Alabama Thunderpussy. Busy as he was, Collins and co. finally got around to recording their third long-player, God Luck and Good Speed, which was release through Southern Lord in 2007. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi

THE GATES OF SLUMBER encapsulates the metal experience for true believers. The Indianapolis doom metal trio formed in the late 1990’s with the goal of creating a band whose sound delivered an updated take on the member’s long list of favorite heavy metal greats. Weaned on Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, the melodic might of Iron Maiden and a host of classic bands from Thin Lizzy to Rainbow to Mercyful Fate, THE GATES OF SLUMBER draw deep from heavy metal’s most powerful blood and deliver doom in its purest form.

Black Tusk was born from sweat. There was blood, and maybe a few tears, too, but more than anything, it was sweat that marked the earliest years of Savannah, Georgia’s Black Tusk. Formed in 2005 by three lifelong friends—bassist Jonathan Athon, guitarist Andrew Fidler, and drummer James May—the band welded together what they called “swamp metal.”

Photo credit Geoff Johnson