Slackjaw is an American heavy metal trio based in South Carolina. The band was formed when Dallas Young (vocals, rhythm guitar, bassist), also widely known online as Soup, met Brady Riggenbach (lead guitarist) in 2017. Jacob Rigdon (drummer) was added to complete the trio in July 2021. Despite various lineup changes, Dallas and Brady held the band’s vision together by taking on multiple roles in the studio, with Brady being the studio drummer on almost every track to date. Through a mutual interest in Black Label Society and Pantera, Dallas and Brady quickly started writing material. The band’s first single, “Caught in the Crossfire,” and their first studio album, “Ritual of Dissonance,” were met with astounding appraisal from old and new fans alike. When the band formed, they gathered an impressive online following with no management, label, or supporting tour. With influences such as Pantera, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Meshuggah, Black Label Society, Tool, and many others, there’s no question this metal band has one goal: to follow in their predecessors’ footsteps and make albums that will stand the test of time.

Thrash metal from Greenville SC.

Violence System was founded in 2015 by guitarist Joshua Curl and vocalist John Dernar originally as a studio project. The duo went on to release their debut EP “Instinct” in 2016, establishing their unique blend of brutal yet melodic death metal and orchestral elements. Following the release of the Instinct EP, the duo made the decision to form a full band, and make Violence System their main focus. Recruiting lead guitarist Brian Sawyer, bassist Harry Alvarez, and drummer Kendrick Van Deusen, the band was ready to take the Atlanta metal scene by storm. Violence System began writing for their first full length album, as well as playing as many shows as they could in the southeastern United States. Quickly developing a reputation as one of the most energetic and hardest hitting acts from Atlanta, anticipation for the full length album was growing. “Gehenna” was released February 15, 2019, further cementing Violence System as a metal act to keep an eye on. Since the release of their first full length album, the band has gone on to share the stage with bands such as Exodus, Kataklysm, Battlecross, Fallujah, Soulfly and Vatican, as well as become a national finalist in the “Battle For Wakken” international battle of the bands. Violence System is currently working on a follow up to 2019’s “Gehenna”.

Northwest Indiana Metal Band

Ben Haavig – Guitars & Vocals

Robert Wooge – Guitars & Backing Vocals

Miguel Contreras- Drums

Evan Curtis – Bass

Departure’s genres include; Thrash, Metalcore, Melodic Death Metal, and Progressive Metal