Fiends

Fiends, originating from Sarasota, Florida, represents the 2010s-2020s wave of 'nu-metalcore' which blends the technicality of progressive metal with the rhythmic sensibilities of nu-metal and the ethics of hardcore. Formed in 2017, the band quickly established a sound defined by James Hyde and Garrett Moore's vocal interplay and a rhythm section that prioritizes syncopated, high-impact grooves.

Their 2018 debut 'Me Time' laid the groundwork for a sound that avoids the 'djent' clichés in favor of a more aggressive, street-level intensity. Critically, they are often grouped with contemporaries like 156/Silence and Fox Lake, artists who utilize the 'bounce' of the 90s but apply modern, clinical production standards. Their evolution into the 2023 release 'Insolent Noise' shows a lean toward denser layering and more explicit social commentary. The band occupies a niche for listeners who demand high-fidelity production alongside the raw emotional catharsis of the hardcore scene, making them a staple for modern heavy music curators.