Detroit's the Black Dahlia Murder, named for the infamous 1947 slaying of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, aka the Black Dahlia, actually sounds like they should live in Scandinavia, whence originates much of the frenetic brand of death and black metal that inspires them.Singer Trevor Strnad is one of the genre's most impressive vocalists, as he effortlessly alternates between screechy screams and guttural growls, without ever missing a beat

An extremely technical death metal band from Munich, Germany, Obscura were founded in 2002 by vocalist/guitarist Steffen Kummerer, who purportedly took the name from a 1998 album by Canada's influential Gorguts -- one of his inspirational touchstones, along with Cynic, Pestilence, Morbid Angel, and others. Now with a new lineup of virtuosos including guitarist Christian Münzner and drummer Hannes Grossman, formerly of respected German techno-deathsters Necrophagist, plus legendary Pestilence bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling

Complex and progressive-flavored death metal from Montreal. Nuclear Blast

Denmark's Hatesphere is one of a handful of bands reigniting the flame of '80s speed metal by way of the so-called Scandinavian neo-thrash movement (spearheaded by the likes of Arch Enemy and the Haunted). Nuclear Blast