Aurea delivers progressive and power metal from Genoa since 2005, their Latin name meaning 'golden' reflecting the polished quality of their two-decade body of work. From the Ligurian coast, they craft technically accomplished compositions that shine with melodic brilliance.

Auron explores progressive heavy metal from Saratov since 2018. Named after a character from Final Fantasy X, they bring videogame mythology to technically ambitious compositions from this Volga River city.

Auspex explores progressive metal from the Alpine city of Grenoble since 2006, their Roman-augur name reflecting compositions that seek to divine meaning through complex musical structures. Two decades of activity make them one of the Isère's most enduring progressive metal acts.

AUTARKH is an industrial death metal and progressive metal band from Tilburg, Netherlands, formed in June 2020 by Michel Nienhuis, who also founded the avant-garde black metal project Dodecahedron. The band's debut album Form in Motion, released on Season of Mist in March 2021, fused extreme metal with dense electronic programming and industrial textures. A second album, Emergent, followed, and the band secured festival appearances at events including Hellfest.

Autumn Aurora merges progressive death and black metal from Murmansk since 2016. From Russia's largest Arctic city, their seasonal-light name channels the brief, brilliant colors of polar autumn into compositions of technical extremity.

Autumn Equinox creates progressive metal from Hoorn in North Holland since 2022. Named after the September moment when day and night achieve perfect balance, their compositions seek similar equilibrium between heaviness and melody.

Avangard explores progressive and technical death metal from Irkutsk as of 2025. Their Russian spelling of 'avant-garde' drives technically ambitious compositions from the gateway city to Lake Baikal.

Avem are a Vienna-based progressive metal project whose music demonstrates an interest in dynamic contrast, layered arrangements, and a melodic sensibility that leans toward the progressive rock side of the spectrum. Their material channels an introspective energy into well-structured compositions that reward close listening over repeated plays.

Avenie merges death metal, melodic death metal, and progressive metal from Tampere since 2019, creating a three-pronged approach that showcases the breadth of Finnish extreme metal. Their sound channels Tampere's reputation as one of Finland's most musically ambitious cities.