Before the record deal and streaming numbers, there was the underground. For Metal to the Core, those ten years between formation and recognition weren’t waiting time – they were laboratory years, a decade of musical experimentation that shaped the band’s unique sound.

“People see the success now and think it happened overnight,” says bassist Veyra Shade, adjusting his bass strap in the rehearsal studio the band still calls home. “But there were literally thousands of hours in basements, warehouses, and venues that held maybe fifty people if we were lucky.”

The band’s early years were marked by a nomadic existence, moving between practice spaces as leases expired and landlords changed their minds about noise levels. They rehearsed in Normand Lewis’s garage until neighbors complained, moved to a shared space in an industrial district until it was condemned, and eventually found their current rehearsal room in a complex that houses everything from electronic music producers to death metal bands.

“That diversity was actually crucial for our development,” explains drummer Draven Holt. “Hearing other styles through the thin walls forced us to think about how our sound fit into a larger musical ecosystem. We weren’t just isolated in a metal bubble.”

The venue circuit that sustained Metal to the Core during these years reads like a guide to America’s underground music scene: The Rust Bucket in Detroit, where they learned to play through faulty sound systems; Basement Command in Portland, where they developed their intense stage presence playing to crowds packed into a space barely larger than most living rooms; and countless DIY spaces that existed for a few months before noise complaints or lease issues forced them to close.

“Every venue taught us something different,” Lewis recalls. “Some had great sound but no crowd, others had amazing energy but equipment held together with duct tape. We learned to adapt our performance to any situation.”

The band’s approach to recording during this period was equally resourceful. Unable to afford professional studio time, they recorded their early demos using borrowed equipment and whatever spaces they could access after hours. Their breakthrough came when they connected with an audio engineering student who needed projects for his thesis.

“We basically traded our songs for his learning experience,” Shade explains. “He got to experiment with recording techniques, we got professional-quality demos. It was perfect symbiosis.”

Those sessions, conducted over weekend nights in the college studio, produced the raw recordings that would eventually catch the attention of NotJustPrompts Records. But more importantly, they established the band’s collaborative approach to music creation that continues to define their process.

“We learned early that the best ideas could come from anywhere,” Holt says. “Whether it was a suggestion from our recording engineer, feedback from a venue owner, or even conversation with other bands on the bill, we stayed open to influence.”

The underground metal community, often perceived as insular, proved surprisingly supportive of Metal to the Core’s experimental approach. Bands they met during this period became collaborators, friends, and eventually, advocates when opportunities arose.

“When NotJustPrompts started asking around about us, it was our underground network that provided the references,” Lewis notes. “Ten years of showing up, supporting other bands, and being part of the community meant people knew we were serious about the music, not just chasing fame.”

Looking back, the band members view their underground years not as struggle, but as essential education. The technical skills, stage presence, and musical philosophy that define Metal to the Core were all forged in venues most people have never heard of, in front of audiences who came for the love of music rather than social media moments.

“We could have rushed to get a deal earlier,” Shade reflects. “But I don’t think we would have been ready. Those ten years weren’t lost time – they were preparation time. When our opportunity came, we knew exactly who we were as a band.”

That certainty, born from a decade of underground performance and constant refinement, now serves Metal to the Core as they navigate the complexities of a recording contract and growing recognition. The basement venues may be in their past, but the lessons learned in those spaces continue to guide their future.