[2025] Overseas Metal Bands You Absolutely Can’t Miss — From Veterans to Newcomers

BleedMeshuggah

MESHUGGAH – Bleed (Official Music Video)

Formed in 1987, Sweden’s Meshuggah is a band that pursues avant‑garde metal built on complex polyrhythms and polymeters.

Grounded in death metal and fused with progressive elements and a groovy sound, their musical style has earned support from many musicians.

Since the album Destroy Erase Improve, they have drawn attention for their experimental approach and advanced musicianship, and their innovation has been highly acclaimed, including a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

Their distinctive sound—combining the massive riffs of 8‑string guitars, jazz‑fusion‑tinged solos, and robotic death vocals—is the perfect pick for listeners seeking new musical frontiers.

The StargateBLOOD INCANTATION

BLOOD INCANTATION – The Stargate (Official Video)

Formed in Colorado in 2011, the death metal band Blood Incantation crafts a grand sonic universe themed around space, philosophy, and more.

They debuted in 2016 with the album “Starspawn,” captivating old-school death metal fans with an ambitious sound that incorporates psychedelic and progressive elements.

While inheriting the hallmarks of traditional death metal, their music layers in ambient and psychedelic flavors, drawing attention not only from old-school devotees but also from listeners interested in experimental sound.

Their fourth full-length album, “Absolute Elsewhere,” released in 2024, was widely acclaimed—a fresh memory for many.

If you want to discover a new form of death metal, this is a band you should definitely check out!

GravitySleep Theory

Sleep Theory – “Gravity” (Official Music Video)

Sleep Theory is a rock band gaining attention for its unique sound that fuses heavy metal and R&B.

Originally launched as a solo project by vocalist Cullen Moore, it now operates as a full band.

Their debut single, “Another Way,” released in 2023, racked up over 500,000 plays on social media in just 36 hours, drawing significant buzz from the very start.

Since then, their momentum hasn’t slowed—“Stuck In My Head” even hit No.

1 on the U.

S.

Active Rock chart.

Blending a hefty, Linkin Park–inspired sound with a pop sensibility, their music is a must-hear for listeners seeking the next generation of rock.

In the Name of the FatherPRESIDENT

PRESIDENT – In the Name of the Father

President, who belongs to the same management as Sleep Token, burst onto the scene like a comet.

All members wear masks, and this up-and-coming band is shrouded in mystery.

Their music is built on a foundation of metalcore and hard rock, delivering a heavy, signature sound that some have dubbed “Octanecore.” Their debut single, released in May 2025, pairs radio-friendly catchiness with aggressive riffs and powerful vocals for an impressive result.

There are even rumors within the industry that they’re a “supergroup,” and their strategic moves—such as announcing an “inauguration ceremony” at a major festival in June 2025—make them hard to ignore.

If you want melody-forward music without compromising on heaviness, this band is perfect for you!

OblivionMastodon

Mastodon – Oblivion (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]

Hailing from the U.

S.

state of Georgia, Mastodon continues to dominate the metal scene with a style that uniquely fuses sludge metal and progressive metal.

Since forming in 1999, they have gradually incorporated progressive elements into their raw sound, establishing a diverse musical identity.

Their 2002 debut album Remission quickly drew attention for its originality.

Since then, they’ve earned high acclaim with a series of conceptual works, and in 2018 they won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

The heavy sound and experimental musicianship of the four accomplished members—Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor—make this a perfect pick for listeners seeking everything from crushing heaviness to innovative sonics.

Don’t Reach For MeKnocked Loose

Knocked Loose “Don’t Reach For Me” (Official Music Video)

Formed in Kentucky in 2013, Knocked Loose has established a distinct, heavy sound that effortlessly leaps across the boundary between hardcore and metalcore.

Their 2016 debut album, Laugh Tracks, achieved success by reaching No.

163 on the Billboard 200 despite the band’s underground roots.

Their 2024 release, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, which includes the Grammy-nominated track “Suffocate,” also features a collaboration with pop star Poppy.

Blending the ferocity of hardcore with the technicality of metalcore, their sound grips listeners seeking aggressive music.

Their world of sound—woven from destructive riffs and distinctive shouted vocals—signals new possibilities for heavy music.

Eagle Fly FreeHelloween

Helloween – Eagle Fly Free

Helloween is the quintessential example of so-called “German metal.” Since their debut in 1984, they’ve achieved worldwide popularity with their melodic power metal to speed metal rooted in Germany.

Although guitarist Michael Weikath is now the only original member, the band is also known for having produced musicians like Kai Hansen—who left to form Gamma Ray—and Michael Kiske, the renowned vocalist who helped drive the band’s early popularity.

Their flowing twin-lead guitars with classical influences, astonishing high-register vocals, and beautiful, wistful melodies that particularly appeal to Japanese listeners make them easy to enjoy even for newcomers to heavy metal.

Start with their classic third album from 1988, Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II—also known in Japan by the title “Shugoshinden: Dainishō” (The Legend of the Guardian Gods – Chapter Two).