Top 10 Bands That Shockingly Didn't Breakout
Throughout the history of metal there has been a plethora of bands that many fans felt should have been bigger but for a myriad of reasons never reached the level of success expected of them. Sometimes the reasons for this are obvious, for example, the music is too inaccessible to reach a widespread audience or the band has not properly marketed themselves. Other times a band just can't seem to find a seen, which greatly helps with forming a built-in audience for a young band. There is the rare occasion where a band seemingly does everything right but just can't quite reach the audience it clearly sounds like they would obtain. Here are some of the most astonishing groups not to achieve a broader scale of popular acclaim.
1. Affiance (Metalcore/Progressive Metal) Why they should/should've been bigger: Musically similar to Killswitch Engage but with even more outstanding vocals. A perfect blend of interesting progressive songs and catchy arena ready anthems. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: The band did not have the support of a well-known record label. Due to the more progressive nature of the band they struggled finding a group of bands to fit in and share an audience with.
2. Cane Hill (Alternative Metal/Nu-Metalcore) Why they should/should've been bigger: They have captured the 90s sound and vibe that appeals to so many people perhaps better than any band. Also, simply put, their songs sound like hits. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: They came up at a time in which it is much more difficult for a band to find success. It is far harder to garner YouTube views and Spotify streams than it ever has been and the ability to reach a wider audience is the only thing holding the band back from stardom.
3. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! (Easycore) Why they should/should've been bigger: On par with the best songwriters in their genre. Anthemic, fun, catchy songs. Likable and relatable personalities. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: Very heavy French accents made it harder to connect with a large portion of their audience. Some lyrics and phrases were lost in translation. The easycore scene was fizzling out.
4. Destroy The Runner (Metalcore) Why they should/should've been bigger: Classic sounding choruses. Very appealing to fans of large metalcore acts like As I lay Dying and Bullet For My Valentine. Excellent balance between accessible and credible. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: Perhaps to similar to As I Lay Dying at times. Very ridiculed by music critics. Did not receive great exposure.
5. Karnivool (Progressive Metal) Why they should/should've been bigger: Appealing to a wide range of metal and rock fans. Very listenable yet have a strong sense of authenticity and integrity. Cult-like status in their native country. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: Came up in Australian at a time which it's heavy music scene was widely ignored abroad. Victim to often being pitted against and compared to Tool. Struggled getting exposure in North America.
6. My Ticket Home (Nu-Metal/Nu-Metalcore) Why they should/should've been bigger: One of the earliest bands to the nu-metal and 90s revival. The band probably sounds the most authentically from the 90s of any band in the scene. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: Very sporadic in terms of activity and musical output. Many other bands pursuing a similar style came soon after.
7. Still Remains (Metalcore) Why they should/should've been bigger: Melded the classic metalcore sound of the early to mid 2000's with some gothic themes that made them very intriguing. Made a fantastic comeback album retaining the classic melodic death metal inspired metalcore sound at a time it had completed faded away. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: Got lost in the shuffle at a time when the market was flooded with metalcore. Hit a snag with a less successful sophomore alb.
8. Villain Of The Story (Metalcore/Alternative Metal) Why they should/should've been bigger: The band plays a very original mix of metalcore, deathcore, and hard rock which logically should give them much wider reach among multiple fan-bases. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: They have severely struggled to find a scene to fit into. While standing out is an excellent trait, it can also hamper a band that is newer as it can be hard to find fans to initially connect with.
9. Phinehas (Metalcore) Why they should/should've been bigger: Impeccable songs throughout their discography. Great mix of heavy and catchy tracks with memorable guitar riffs. Bluntly, they are just a top tier songwriting band. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: The only feasible reason is that the band was playing a specific style of metalcore that was no longer popular by the time they got some notoriety.
10. Showbread (Post-Hardcore/Garage Rock/Screamo) Why they should/should've been bigger: One of the most unique bands of their era. Mixed a raw rock sound like The Hives with screamo vocals and post-hardcore reminiscent of Refused creating an infectious sound that could reach both core and rock fans. Why they weren't/aren't bigger: Their uniqueness may have worked against them as they often toured with metalcore bands who may not have had the audience to attach to the band.
