Knoxville, IA

As if existing in an alternate reality to cross-state nu-metal savages Slipknot, Knoxville, IA's Defyance specialize in sophisticated and intricate progressive metal, à la Queensrÿche or Fates Warning. Founded sometime in the mid-'90s by singer Brian Harrington, guitarists Marcus Peterson and Brent Scott, bassist J.J. Wagner, and drummer Doug Beary, the group debuted via 1996's Amaranthine, then welcomed new frontman Scott Andreus prior to 1999's Time Lost. This was followed in 2002 by album number three, Transitional Forms, which introduced new bassist Aaron Bell, but otherwise added little novelty to the Defyance's well-established sound. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia