18 Bands to watch in 2018

With 2017 behind us and a world full of great artists it just might be the breakout year for these aspiring rockers. Take a look and listen to them all and see if you agree that these are the top 18 to take it to the next level in 2018! These are in no order as we feel they all will have an outstanding 2018. (click on band photo’s to go their online pages.)

LETTERS FROM THE FIRE:

While Letters From The Fire had a huge year in 2017, the group only recently solidified its lineup adding new lead vocalist Nina Bergman (formerly of Dead Rose Beauty) and Seth Hostetter (Drums) to take the music world by storm in 2018. With a new album on the way, we can’t wait to see what 2018 brings from this San Francisco Bay Area band.

WHISKEY MYERS:

Like a travelling preacher on some dusty back road, Whiskey Myers come knockin to spread their version of gritty outlaw southern rock. Their songs are stories, with characters and situations that are immediately relatable. Stories of celebration, mourning, trials, and triumph.  The band has a huge following that has been growing bigger through social media and word of mouth. Taking that the rural areas are speaking with a louder voice, we can see these boys leading outlaw country back with every verse they sing.

AMERICAN STANDARDS:

Take Rage Against The Machine and add a dash of Iggy and The Stooges and you get American Standards from Phoenix, Arizona. With a growing hardcore scene and underground fans, American Standards has what it takes to make 2018 their bitch!

REASON DEFINE:

Reason|Define is an all-girl rock band based out of Charlotte, NC. Our style pulls from multiple genres including alternative, pop punk, metal, etc. partnered with powerful female harmonies. Thier debut album Far From Strangers was released on March 24th, 2017 and they have no intentions of slowing down!

DARK SIGNAL:

Dark Signal, hailing from Sacramento California, comes with a new rock sound. Powerful and dynamic rock rooted in the origins of a driving foundation. Make no mistake this is a performing group, with a vision for the stage as strong as the studio; working to deliver an experience worthy of their fans support.

JANE N THE JUNGLE:

This alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that has set fire to the indie alternative music scene with their electric performances and powerful female vocals.  The band released their debut EP in October 2016 with influences such as Alanis Morissette, The Cranberries, and Florence and The Machine.

IGNITE THE FIRE:

Ignite The Fire, Taneytown, MD based band is set for a big 2018. The band is a strong presence on the East Coast music scene (and even beyond), established through powerful music and a strong connection with their audience. Music fueled with raw and relatable emotion has drawn a dedicated fan base that continuously grows.

THEM EVILS:

Them Evils are a late-night joyride through rock and roll’s seedy underbelly. Born in the shadows of neon vice and nocturnal living in Las Vegas, nurtured by the proximity of Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip, and cradled in the same Orange County, CA home that has become synonymous to punk attitude and hard-driving rock history.

CORRODED:

Swedish hard rock band Corroded; a band that topped the music charts in Sweden and whose songs are worshipped by fans around the world.
Five years may have passed since their last album but, during this period Corroded has kept on touring and their popularity has been constantly rising.

SUMO CYCO:

Sumo Cyco is a four-piece, female fronted hard rock band from Toronto, Ontario. Sumo Cyco fuses hard rock guitar riffs with an in your face blast beats and dancehall rhythms, topped by electric female vocals. With the release of Opus Mar, they are ready to continue the climb to the top.

BLACKTOP MOJO:

Seamlessly blending melody with adrenaline-fueled, heavy rock and roll, Blacktop Mojo draws in everyone from old metal heads to people who’s radio dials have never left top 40 stations. With soaring, gritty vocals and impeccably blended heavy guitar riffs over top of a rhythm section that won’t falter, Blacktop Mojo’s live shows are sure to leave fans’ screaming at the top of their lungs with metal horns in the air.

BLACK INCOME:

The best way to describe Black Income is a new rock identity emerged from the Grunge wave in the early 90s, combined with elements from today’s Fuzz-Rock. Black Income may be inspired by acts like Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Fu Manchu, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots, but the sound and feel is their own. This is truly a unique rock band. 2018 could be the year of Black Income.

HAIL SAGAN:

Hail Sagan is a dynamic rock band out of Los Angeles featuring powerhouse vocalist Sagan Amery and ESP guitarist Nick Quijano (formerly of Powerman 5000), along with an anonymous group of superstar musicians known as the Nothing. The band features a state-of-the-art electronic stage show, along with many interactive surprises for the audience. 2017was a step up the ladder for the band but 2018 could be the breakout year.

ALL HAIL THE YETI:

All Hail The Yeti channel a groove that chills and captivates. It’s this kind of succinct bludgeoning that turned them into one of Hollywood’s most revered modern metal bands evoking the likes of Acid Bath and Pantera with a healthy dose of Mötley Crüe-style excess and infectiousness. The group has toured with everybody from In This Moment and Hollywood Undead to Motionless In White and 36 Crazyfists, carving out a fervent diehard fan base in the process.

BAD WOLVES:

Bad Wolves thrives on unpredictability, standing confidently at a crossroads between anthemic hard rock infectiousness and thought-provoking technically-charged heavy metal. Think a cross between the mind-numbing musical malevolence of Meshuggah and Sevendust’s timeless irresistibility.

TETRARCH:

Their debut album was recorded with producer Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation, Khemmis, Allegeon), and blends the modern metal core sound with the energy and dark vibes of 2000’s Nu Metal. With their influences being bands that have topped the metal world for years such as Slipknot, Korn and Metallica – Tetrarch is not shy about wanting to reach the top of the genre and are taking no prisoners in their fight to do so.

RAILGUN:

Railgun is a metal powerhouse from Long Beach CA formed in March 2014. Its relentless speed and intensity have been electrifying audiences since their founding. Standing on the shoulders of the likes of Testament, Exodus, and Judas Priest, they bring the power of true metal back into modern music. Thrash is back and Railgun will be paving a new way in 2018.

KEVLAR:

Hard, heavy, powerful, meaningful and emotionally charged… That’s what you can expect from every song and every live show. Brutally beautiful and expansive riffs and beats with soaring vocals that deliver stories of suffering, insecurity, and the struggles we all face in our daily lives. With a spot on the stage at Rocklahoma and many more doors opening Kevlar is heading for a great 2018.