Smile Empty Soul

A heavy alternative trio formed while its three members were still in Santa Clarita, California, high schools, Smile Empty Soul channel the sort of churning rage their name might imply. Led by singer/guitarist Sean Danielson's gravelly, gritty (yet surprisingly tuneful) vocals, the three piece act summons an unearthly wall of sound, balancing fire and melody in the vein of Bush or Creed, while not immune to a Metallica-esque guitar riff or two. By the end of the '00s, the band was established among the forefront of the post-grunge universe.