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Synth-metal is a genre combining electronic rock with heavy metal and glam metal. A notable synth-metal album is Iron Maiden's Somewhere in Time, which feature guitar synthesizers. Bon Jovi, who would team up with Scandal member Frankie LaRocka, which for a time featured Jon Bon Jovi on the guitar, to record Bon Jovi's debut album, featured the synth-metal hit Runaway. Synthesizers are prominent throughout, giving it a slick synth-metal and glam metal sound. Additionally, their hit Livin' On A Prayer also featured prominent synthesizers as well.

More recently, Arcadea, formed in 2015 have been described as synth-metal.

History
Synth-metal would emerge in the early-mid 1980's. Instrumentation is similar to electronic rock, and is often combined with heavy metal and glam metal. Some overlap with electronicore, Nintendocore, industrial metal, digital hardcore, progressive metal and Neue Deutsche Harte may occur as well as all those genres have been known to incorporate electronic instruments such as the synthesizer. Additionally, synth-metal has also fused itself with black metal and ambient to create dungeon synth. This takes cues from black metal and applies them to the dreamy textures of ambient.

Subgenres
Electronicore, Nintendocore, industrial metal, digital hardcore, Neue Deutsche Harte, and dungeon synth can be considered subgenres of synth-metal. All have been known to incorporate the synthesizer, especially electronicore, Nintendocore, digital hardcore, Neue Deutsche Harte, and dungeon synth.

Heart of America Group is a company that specializes in restaurants, hotels, and even retail. The company started in 1978 with the founding of the Iowa Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa. This restaurant later expanded to include locations in Urbandale, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. in 1984, they founded Gramma's Kitchen/Checkered Flag in Walcott, Iowa, which is next to the I-80 Truck Stop. In 1985, Thunderbay Grille was founded in Davenport, and was expanded to include locations in the Rockford, Illinois viewing area that covers Illinois and Wisconsin. In 2002, the company's flagship restaurant Johnny's Italian Steakhouse opened with its flagship location in Des Moines, Iowa. A location in Moline, Illinois, which replaced the Heart of America owned Planted Earth Cafe, opened not long after followed by locations in other states in recent years. They are also known for their affiliation with Holiday Inn, which feature some of their restaurants.

Iowa Machine Shed
The company was started in Davenport, Iowa with the founding of the Iowa Machine Shed in 1978. This concept was expanded to other states including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The restaurant focuses on a farm theme and specializes in breakfast.

Gramma's Kitchen/Checkered Flag
In 1984, Gramma's Kitchen/Checkered Flag was opened. This sits next to the historic I-80 Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa, which is often touted as the World's Largest Truck Stop.

Thunderbay Grille
In 1985, Thunderbay Grille was started in Davenport. This concept was expanded to the Rockford, Illinois viewing area of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse is probably Heart of America's most famous restaurant. The restaurant's interior is based on 1940's jazz music and includes references to famous jazz musicians including the famed Rat Pack. Additionally, one of their menu items is called the Veil Sinatra, a reference to Frank Sinatra. Jazz music is also a staple of the restaurant, being heard at their locations.

The restaurant started in 2002 in Des Moines, Iowa. A second restaurant in Moline, Illinois was opened not long after. This replaced the John Deere themed Planted Earth Cafe that HOA also ran with support from John Deere. Other restaurants around the midwest opened and included states such as: Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, Ohio, and Michigan. They also have a presence in Texas as well.

Johnny's has stand-alone restaurants, but operate primary in other buildings. Most of them operate in Holiday Inn's that are also owned by Heart of America while the one in Moline operates in a building that is shared with John Deere and United Healthcare. Johnny's also allows franchising as well.

The J Bar
The J Bar is a newer venture by Heart of America group started in 2014 in Davenport, Iowa. This is situated in a Holiday Inn, which sits on the site of the new Elmore Market place off of Elmore Avenue that is also owned by Heart of America. A second J Bar was opened in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri.

Burger Shed
Burger Shed is a restaurant in Altoona, Iowa that is based on the Machine Shed concept. This restaurant specializes in burgers.

The Republic On Grand
Started in 2017 atop the 6th floor of the AC Hotel in Des Moines, The Republic On Grand focuses on Appetizers, Flatbreads and alcoholic drinks.

5th Avenue Syndicate
Started in 2019, the 5th Avenue syndicate is a French restaurant in Moline. As with Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, this restaurant specializes in a decade, this time the 1920's.

Hotels
Heart of America owns and operates many Holiday Inn hotels. Many of these feature Johnny's and J Bar restaurants.

Retail
In addition to owning the Holiday Inn off of Elmore Avenue in Davenport, they also own the adjacent Elmore Marketplace featuring shops such as Lane Bryant, Gap, anf Banana Republic, etc.

Category: Companies based in the Quad Cities Category: Davenport, Iowa Category: Des Moines, Iowa Category: Moline, Illinois Category: Companies based in Iowa Category: Companies based in Illinois Category: Companies established in 1978 Category: 1978 establishments in Iowa Category: Hospitality Groups of the United States Category: Restaurant Groups of the United States