Valient Thorr

A decade into its career, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, rockers Valient Thorr still stick to the shtick that its members are from Venus and crash-landed on Earth to warn us of the error of our ways. (Seriously.) Both Valient Thorr and its fervent fan base (referred to as "Thorriors" by the band, its fans and absolutely no one else) share a number of common traits — unkempt facial hair, sketchy tattoos, a penchant for denim vests and probably an aversion to deodorant — all of which add to the quintet's appeal. While its albums can be hit-or-miss, Valient Thorr excels in the live setting. The band performs upward of 250 times a year, so it knows how to handle itself in front of just about any crowd imaginable — whether it's on Warped Tour or opening for Motörhead. Hell, even rock legend Wayne Kramer joined 'em on guitar for an especially rowdy SXSW set a few years back. When frontman Valient Himself tells you to get down, son, you best get down.