Mayfair were a progressive metal band from Frastanz in Vorarlberg, Austria, formed in 1989 and among the earliest Austrian acts to engage with the progressive metal sound emerging in the early 1990s. Their style combined hypnotic cyclical riffing reminiscent of Tool with ethnic percussive elements and European folk-tinged melodies, evolving toward avant-garde rock on later releases. The band released three albums in the 1990s and reunited in 2010, remaining active until 2022.

Mehen is an avant-garde death metal band from Nancy, France, formed in 2019. They push death metal into experimental, avant-garde territory with unconventional approaches.

Metus is an avant-garde black metal project from Porto Empedocle in Sicily, active since 2007. The project pushes beyond orthodox black metal into experimental territory, befitting the birthplace of the ancient philosopher Empedocles.

Michel Anoia is an avant-garde, technical death metal, and mathcore project from Lyon, France, active since 2013. They push extreme metal into cerebral, mathematically complex territory.

A Jessheim-based act that evolved from avant-garde black metal to progressive metal, Minas has been shape-shifting since 2018. The band channels experimental ambition into constantly evolving compositions.

A avant-garde black metal act from Mińsk Mazowiecki near Warsaw, Misanthropic Rage has been pushing black metal's boundaries since 2016. The band channels misanthropic fury into experimental, genre-defying compositions.

An avant-garde and progressive death metal band from Sofia, Bulgaria, rooted in the earlier project ITSI, where guitarist and chief composer Tony and harsh vocalist Milko originally collaborated. Their album 'Where Do You Come From' showcases their approach of layering extreme drumming and technical guitars against melodic female vocals and harsh male vocals over atmospheric electronic textures, with themes centered on introspection, fear, and enlightenment.

Molekh is an avant-garde black metal band from Dublin, Ireland, formed in 2018. They push black metal into experimental, boundary-crossing territory.

Mon'strum is an avant-garde death metal act from the tiny Groningen village of Eenrum, formed in 2025. The band pushes death metal into experimental territory from the rural Dutch north.