From Shiprock to SiriusXM: Under Exile Is Building a Metal Legacy

“These guys should frankly already be on your radar if you’re a fan of that modern metalcore sound.”
– Metal Sucks

Under Exile isn’t just a metalcore band. They’re a sonic war cry rising straight out of Shiprock, New Mexico deep in the heart of the Navajo (Diné) Nation. This ain’t soft metal. This ain’t background noise. Under Exile brings modern metalcore aggression with spiritual weight behind it. Twin guitars from Ryland Benally and Rumeel Jim cut like blades. Trevor Martin and Wyatt Billie lock in a rhythm section that hits like a controlled earthquake. And Franklin Yazzie? Those vocals don’t sing — they erupt. Raw. Visceral. No filter. But here’s where it gets deeper. Their lyrics don’t just rage. They wrestle. Existentialism. Adversity. Taking control of your own narrative. Shifting the power inward. It’s that internal locus of control energy, the mindset that says, “I decide who I become.” That resonance? It’s rooted in their Navajo upbringing, but it speaks to anyone who’s ever had to fight for identity, purpose, or survival. They stepped back from 2019 to 2023. And when they came back? It wasn’t a comeback. It was a resurrection.

Benally, Jim, Billie, and Yazzie regrouped. Trevor Martin officially joined on bass. The chemistry snapped back instantly. Then they linked with producer Erik Jensen of Escape the Fate — and boom — “Meira” was born. “Meira” isn’t just a single. It’s a nihilistic meditation on human existence and impermanence. It stares into the void and dares it to blink first. The music video premiered on Metal Sucks and put the scene on notice. They dropped their self-titled album Under Exile in September and didn’t slow down. By the end of 2025, they were featured on SiriusXM’s Ian Christe Bloody Roots Show playlist, “ROOTS of Native American Metal 2025.” That’s legacy-building territory. Then January 2026? Metal Injection premiered “Ephemera,” the first single off their upcoming EP. And if “Ephemera” is the warning shot… the full EP is about to detonate. Under Exile isn’t following trends. They’re carving their own lane,heavy, intentional, and unapologetic.

Shiprock raised them. The world is next.

UNDER EXILE is:

Ryland Benally – guitar

Rumeel Jim – guitar

Wyatt Billie – drums

Franklin Yazzie – vocals

Trevor Martin – bass

Follow UNDER EXILE:

https://linktr.ee/UnderExile_

https://www.facebook.com/UnderExileNM/

https://www.instagram.com/underexile_/

https://www.youtube.com/@underexile2729

https://open.spotify.com/artist/underexile

Shop New UNDER EXILE Merch:

https://underexile.bigcartel.com/

Author Profile

Al Mega: I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!