Few bands these days can adequately encapsulate their surroundings into their sound—but Ohio’s Mayfly manages to successfully navigate these waters. Leaping forth from the very depths of the Midwest, this dynamic group of musicians wages war on the listener with a fast-past and eclectic blend of melodic hard rock and hard-hitting metalcore. Mayfly draws from a variety of influences—from Deftones to Underoath, and As Cities Burn to Dead Poetic—to create a fresh, forward and engaging breed of Hard rock/metal the likes of which the listener has likely never heard.

Formed in November of 2011, Mayfly has seen several iterations including a variety of line-up changes. However, throughout these changes, the group has been creating steadily more immersive and unique music the likes of which has been taking their local scene of Dayton, Ohio by storm. In one part, this is due no doubt to the variety with which they reach out and snare the listener’s ear. On one hand, Mayfly has faster, more aggressive tracks like “Skylights,” which blend 90’s style hard rock and hardcore with more modern metalcore and melodic elements (think As Cities Burn meets Refused for a drink, but gets into a bar fight with Underoath). On the other hand, tracks like “Jihad” heir more towards the radio-friendly side, incorporating more melodic elements and crooned, clean singing, a la Dead Poetic or Funeral for a Friend flirting with a Deftones song. While those tracks represent either extreme of the band’s spectrum, “Eternal Respiration” looms in the dead center, with fast-paced and pummeling instrumentation that walks hand-in-hand with softly sung (and the occasional belted refrain) vocals.

While it might not be at the forefront of the band’s lyrical message, Mayfly is certainly not ashamed to represent their Christian roots and devout beliefs. “We all believe Jesus is the son of God,” says the band. “…We are messed up, and we admit it. We hope to be better today than we were yesterday.” However, even in spite of their beliefs and morals, Mayfly makes it a point to reach out to fans of all walks of life—especially when it comes to their live performance. “We’re open to discussion, but we don’t push the issue…People come to be entertained, not to be preached at,” says Joel Holycross. Rather than focus on preaching, Mayfly instead puts their energy into an engaging and energetic live performance. Whether it’s at a smaller, indoor venue or an open air festival, the members of Mayfly are absolutely sure to put their all into a memorable experience for each other and for their fans.

Whether it’s the band’s aggressive, fast paced and rough-around-the-edges take on metalcore, a commitment to their community or the dedication to an energetic and unforgettable live performance, Mayfly is a young, forward-thinking band you shouldn’t sleep on. With the Midwest in its sights, surely national domination will be soon to follow—and you’ll want to be prepared when their gathering storm finally hits home.