Fairwood Studios works with independent artists from around the world. We aim to bring Rock Band the music it didn't know it was missing: the eclectic, the homegrown, the absurd, the intense.

Forming in 1996 in Torino, Highlord went on to release half a dozen albums worldwide, collecting a large fanbase along the way. They put together not only virtuosic power metal with sweeping guitar solos and orchestral keyboards, but even record the occasional anime theme for good measure.

Songs: "Simple Man"

Genre: Power Metal

Highlord official website

This group of Wisconsin kids balances between a classic blues-rock sound and the occasional heartfelt ballad. Between their talents and songwriting, it's hard to imagine all the members of the band are younger than anyone at the studio.

Songs: "Just Hang On"

Genre: Blues Rock

2nd Thought official website

The inventors of "tofu thrash", Man Parts is not to be taken lightly- or seriously. Both members are avid Rock Band players, and know what makes for a solid playing experience. Whether they know what makes for a good joke, though, is open for debate.

Songs: "Motorcide", "Molten Death"

Genre: Novelty Metal

Man Parts on Facebook

It's not loud enough, he thought. 2 would be better than 1, 3 better than 2. And, ah, 4 is the magic number. "Now what?' he asked. 'What do you hear driving on a back road at night? When the sky seems endless, but there's still a nagging feeling of claustrophia.' Shall we find out.

Songs: "Magician"

Genre: Lo-Fi Indie Rock

Lightwires official Website

From the hell bound heart of the East Bay Metal Scene comes Down Factor, the heaviest band in the Bay Area. Based in Oakland, California, Down Factor is a metal band that has evolved to a new culture of music full of aggression and intensity. As physically demanding as it is intense.

Songs: "Blinded"

Genre: Heavy Metal

Down Factor official Website

Based out of Wolverhampton in the UK, Fear Without Reason brings experience and influence from a number of bands and genres into their own mix of punk and heavy rock and roll.

Songs: "Home"

Genre: Modern Rock

Fear Without Reason official Website

Voodoo Pharmacology is a Baltimore-based experimental musical collaboration of six multi-instrumentalists and songwriters. Going on their third album, Voodoo blends folk, electronic, metal, jazz, rock, classical and ambient for a surreal rock mix.

Songs: "Minnesota", "Vaticinium Ex Eventu"

Genre: Indie Rock/Grunge

Voodoo Pharmacology official Website

Part grit, part glamour, Stagehands is not just a band, but also a theatrical production which combines the sound and storytelling of Broadway with the power and excitement of rock. Their debut album doubles as a rock opera and a stage musical, jumping across styles and sounds to tell its story.

Songs: "Welcome to Our Town"

Genre: Broadway Rock

Stagehands official website

Over the last five years, Blue News' mix of alternative and blues brought them national television attention and wide soundtrack distribution. Not bad for a trio largely going it alone without a wild, controversial show- just the strength of their songwriting and musical skills.

Songs: "You've Got Someone"

Genre: Alternative

Blue News on Myspace

They're raunchy, loud, and heavy. Shokkher joined the metal world 30 years too late, encompassing the classic NWOBHM and hair metal sounds that the 80's were notorious for.

Songs: "Burn Her Out"

Genre: Hair Metal

Shokkher on Myspace

Electric Moon's members are an eclectic bunch- geeks, soldiers, and more- and they play eclectic metal. Not content on just blasting distorted guitars and slamming drums, Electric Moon throws in traditional piano tones for a uniquely gothic classical tone.

Songs: "Thunderclap"

Genre: Progressive Metal

The Raspberry Ants occupy the fuzzy zone between the overdriven alternative rock of Sonic Youth and the indie pop of an Elephant 6 band. Even when they clean up, they still let out a noisy, loud sound.

Songs: "Janie"

Genre: Indie/Noise Rock

The Raspberry Ants on Myspace

From the mythical Cornish sea serpent, Morgawr produces unique Pagan metal, touching on massive epics, battle themes, and uniquely British atmospheres accented by orchestral sweeps.

Songs: "Heathen Battlecry", "Lindisfarne", "Raise the Shieldwall", "Bifrost (Incarnation of Fire)", "Dawn (Blood Saga I)/Through the Maelstrom", "Bloodlust (Blood Saga II)", "Herlathing", "Frost (Blood Saga III)"

Genre: Black Metal

Morgawr on Myspace

Long-time veterans of Massapequa's music scene, Vision Through Sound have been working non-stop since 2001. The band's music has developed and evolved over the course of eight years, creating the most quirky alternative rock you've heard in a long time.

Songs: "Rinse and Repeat", "What's Yours is Mine"

Genre: Folk Rock

Vision Through Sound on Myspace

Yesternight's Decision plays rock songs. Simple as that. Their focus is on the show, giving their audiences whatever they want- from hard-rocking originals to clever and silly takes on popular songs from all sorts of genres.

Songs: "Dying Wish of a Living Man"

Genre: Hard Rock

Yesternight's Decision on Myspace

Named after a Doors track and pulling from several post-punk and alternative bands, Bright Midnight throw a funk and jazz influence into the post-punk of Interpol and The Smiths, winding up with a sound that doesn't need or want to be classified.

Songs: "A Hotel in Saigon"

Genre: Post-Punk

Bright Midnight on Soundclound

Those Among Us is John Brandon's modern new wave project, giving a different edge to the just-off-punk sounds that grew up in the early 80's. Traces of Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, and The Cure trickle through the group's debut EP.

Songs: "I Thought I Knew You"

Genre: New Wave

Those Among Us official website

BSM is a collaborative rock effort: with John Brandon, a songwriter from the United Kingdom; Brad Strickland, a musician/producer from the United States; and Steven Mesropian, a singer/songwriter from the United States, the trio produces straight-up rock with an 80's guitar sound.

Songs: "Falling Apart"

Genre: Rock

BSM official website

Built out of a Swedish church, Daas Bosh started in 2009 and quickly started creating atmospheric metal that gives more time to acoustic guitars and piano than blast beats and chunky chords.

Songs: "Eternal Divine Angel Death"

Genre: Alternative Metal

Daas Bosh on Myspace

The reviews say it all- dozens of them evoking Velvet Revolver, Led Zeppelin, and Biffy Clyro. The Virginmarys have been on the fast track through the Manchester scene thanks to their heavy, clever riffs and massive sound.

Songs: "Bang Bang Bang"

Genre: Hard Rock

The Virginmarys official website