Inter Arma (USA)

They call it the Inter Arma Curse: For nearly two decades, as the boundless Richmond crew has emerged as one of the most inspired and fearless acts in or around American metal, they have endured an endless parade of complications, hurdles, and slights: visa problems in Russia, stolen passports in Europe, unexpected member turmoil in their ranks, and a pervasive paradoxical sense that they have either been too metal or not metal enough. It’s been forever Sisyphean, except they have sporadically crested the hill to make a series of visionary albums.

Describing themselves as “Blackened Whatever” they mix Black Metal elements with Sludge, Hardcore, Doom and Post-Metal to create a dark and sinister atmosphere, haunting its listeners and keeping them hostage in a menacing wall of sound.