Raleigh’s native sons Corrosion of Conformity pretty much put North Carolina on the metal map with the release of Animosity back in ’85.  And while the state hasn’t sprung forth a well of heavy riffage like neighbouring Georgia and Virginia of late–to say nothing of the Florida death metal scene–there are at least a handful of bands from the Tarheel State that, well, if you like COC, you’d probably be into them too.  So cook up some grits and lace up those powder blue Air Jordans as I list ‘em off over the next few days.  (Oh, and COC are playing the Opera House on Thursday–but I’m sure you knew that already…)

• Black Skies

Sourvein

These guys have been kicking around in one form or another for nearly 20 years.  They put out a split with Buzzoven back in ’96 and also appeared on the sludge-metal comp He’s No Good to Me Dead with the likes of Grief and Bongzilla in ’99, but it wasn’t till 2002 when they broke through with their Will to Mangle album on Southern Lord.  A series of splits, moves and lineup changes would follow, with the lone constant being frontman T-Roy, aka Troy Medlin (pictured, bottom right), while past members of the band would go on to join such big names as Electric Wizard (Liz Buckingham), Saint Vitus (Henry Vazquez) and The Gates of Slumber (Cool Clyde Paradis).  Finally, after a near 10-year wait, their third album, Black Fangs, dropped last summer on Candlelight.  Check out “Night Eyes” offa Black Fangs below.