Arizmenda / Shataan / Iron Firmament / Autumn Strife / Shahanshah / Nganga

Arizmenda - Known for delivering a deeply unsettling and immersive experience in abrasive, melancholic black metal, Arizmenda uses dissonant guitars, agonizing vocals, and hypnotic, spiral-like song structures to invoke feelings of despair and utter darkness. Their live performances transcend typical metal shows—shifting into unpredictable, ritualistic, and psychologically caustic auditory journeys. First ever NC performance

Shataan - Breaking traditional genre boundaries, Shataan combines black metal aggression with prominent, evocative melodies and heavy metal hooks. Their music merges Southwestern mythos, lyrical depth, and earthy atmospheric textures to create an otherworldly, triumphant, and utterly unique live set. First ever NC performance.

Iron Firmament - Forging soundscapes of cold steel and unyielding grandeur, Iron Firmament brings a formidable presence to the stage all the way from the Pacific Northwest. Characterized by thunderous percussion, triumphant riffing, and an uncompromising atmosphere, their set delivers a disciplined, heroic onslaught of black metal that appeals to fans of modern USBM. First NC performance.

Autumn Strife - Captures the searing grief and crushing solitude of seasonal decay. Proudly hailing from the midwest, they blending mournful, melodic guitar passages with relentless, icy blast beats, exploring themes of loss, internal conflict, and nature’s quiet violence. Expect an emotional, high-intensity performance that stays with you long after the final chord. First NC performance.

Shahanshah - Taking their name from the ancient Persian title for “King of Kings, Shahanshah commands the stage with a grand, imposing blend of black metal laced with Middle Eastern musical motifs and imperial grandeur. Dark, regal, and fiercely aggressive, their performance weaves hypnotic melodies into relentless blackened metal fury. First NC performance.

Nganga - Raleigh’s own purveyors of avant-garde ritualistic chaos. Nganga defies the boundaries of traditional black metal, fusing scorched-earth blast beats with Dissection-esque melodies with a raw, feral energy that borders on post-black metal madness.