A Sound of Thunder

Originating from the nation's capital, A Sound of Thunder—named after the Ray Bradbury short story—crafts a volume-intensive fusion of classic hard rock and classic power metal that calls to mind Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Dio. The group formed in 2008 around the commanding voice of classically trained opera singer Nina Osegueda, with guitarist Josh Schwartz and drummer Chris Haren establishing the core lineup. Their self-titled debut EP surfaced in 2009, and the full-length Metal Renaissance followed in 2011. The 2012 sophomore release Out of Darkness brought in platinum award-winning producer Kevin "131" Gutierrez, while 2013's Time's Arrow and 2014's The Lesser Key of Solomon both emerged through Kickstarter campaigns, the first of those two featuring a guest vocal by Blaze Bayley (Wolfsbane, Iron Maiden). Fan funding was employed once more for the voodoo-themed Tales from the Deadside in 2015.