Miss May I

Miss May I emerged from the fertile Ohio metalcore scene of the late 2000s, quickly distinguishing themselves through a technical proficiency that belied their young age. While many of their contemporaries leaned into the 'scenecore' aesthetic of the era, Miss May I maintained a closer tie to traditional metal influences, specifically thrash and melodic death metal.

This 'metal-first' approach earned them a crossover appeal between the Warped Tour crowd and more traditional metalheads. Their career arc is defined by a remarkable consistency in lineup and sound, anchored by Levi Benton's distinct vocal presence. After a successful run on Rise Records, their move to SharpTone Records marked a shift toward even more mature, darker themes while retaining their signature high-energy delivery. Critically, they are viewed as a foundational pillar of the second wave of American metalcore, praised for their ability to maintain the genre's intensity without sacrificing the hook-driven songwriting that made them Billboard regulars.