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{{short description|Extreme subgenre of heavy metal music}} | |||
{{genrebox|name=Death metal | |||
{{hatnote group| | |||
|color=#BB0022 | |||
{{Other uses}} | |||
|bgcolor=white | |||
{{Distinguish|Death rock}} | |||
|stylistic_origins=] | |||
}} | |||
|cultural_origins=Early-Mid ] ], ], and ]. | |||
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}} | |||
|instruments=] - ] - ] | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} | |||
|popularity=Underground in early 1980s, moderate in late 1980s and early 1990s, increased popularity in recent years. | |||
{{Infobox music genre | |||
|derivatives= | |||
| name = Death metal | |||
|subgenrelist=List of Thrash Metal genres | |||
| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|]<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/death-metal-ma0000002547|title=Death Metal|access-date=July 4, 2008|website=]|quote=Death Metal grew out of the thrash metal in the late '80s.|archive-date=April 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402094104/http://www.allmusic.com/explore/style/d384|url-status=dead}}</ref>|]|]<ref>{{cite book|first=Gerd|last=Bayer|title=Heavy Metal Music in Britain|publisher=]|year=2009|page=59|isbn=978-1-4094-9385-3}}</ref>}} | |||
|subgenres=] - ] - | |||
| cultural_origins = Mid-1980s, United States | |||
|fusiongenres=] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] | |||
| derivatives = | |||
|regional_scenes=] - ] - ] - ] | |||
| subgenrelist = | |||
|other_topics=] - ] - ] | |||
| subgenres = * ] | |||
** ] | |||
* industrial death metal | |||
* ] | |||
* old school death metal | |||
* symphonic death metal | |||
* ] | |||
| fusiongenres = * Blackened death-doom | |||
* ] (] | |||
* ]) | |||
* ] (]) | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* deathrash | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
| regional_scenes = | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
| local_scenes = * ] | |||
| other_topics = * ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* {{nowrap|]}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Death metal''' is a sub-genre of ] that evolved out of ] during the early 1980s. | |||
'''Death metal''' is an ] subgenre of ]. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as ] and ]; deep ] vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, featuring ] and ] techniques; minor keys or ]; abrupt tempo, key, and ] changes; and ] chord progressions.<ref name=loudwire>{{cite web |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon | |||
== Characteristics == | |||
|url=https://loudwire.com/heavy-metal-101-history-of-death-metal/|title=Heavy Metal 101: The History of Death Metal |website=] |date=31 August 2017 |access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref> The lyrical themes of death metal may include ]-style violence,<ref name="Moynihan, Michael 1998 p. 27">Moynihan, Michael, and Dirik Søderlind (1998). Lords of Chaos (2nd ed.). Feral House. {{ISBN|0-922915-94-6}}, p. 27</ref> ], ], ], ], ] and ].{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=39-42}}<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=masterclass>{{cite web| url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/death-metal-guide | title=All About Death Metal: 5 Notable Death Metal Bands | work=] | date=16 June 2021 | access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref> | |||
Building from the musical structure of ] and ], death metal emerged during the mid-1980s.<ref name="hbj">{{cite video|people=Dunn, Sam (Director)|date=August 5, 2005|url=http://imdb.com/title/tt0478209/|title=Metal: A Headbanger's Journey|medium=motion picture|location=Canada|publisher=Dunn, Sam}}</ref> Bands such as ], ], ], and ] were important influences on the genre's creation.{{sfn|McIver|2000|p=14}}{{sfn|McIver|2000|p=100}}{{sfn|McIver|2000|p=55}} ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Possessed Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5171|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Renda|first=Patricia|title=Chuck Schuldiner: The pain of a genius|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/chuck.htm|publisher=]|year=1999|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Necrophagia Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/necrophagia-mn0000862214/biography|website=]|access-date=June 11, 2018}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason Birchmeier |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/obituary-mn0000465562/biography |title=Obituary | Biography |website=] |access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113803 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907181854/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113803 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |title=Autopsy's Chris Reifert Comments On First New Material In 15 Years - Blabbermouth.net |work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET }}</ref> and ]<ref>{{cite web|last=Prato|first=Greg|title=Morbid Angel Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4953|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> are often considered pioneers of the genre.<ref name=loudwire/> In the late 1980s and early 1990s, death metal gained more media attention as a popular genre. Niche record labels like ], ], and ] began to sign death metal bands at a rapid rate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Heeg|first=Robert|title=Is Metal Still Alive?|url=http://www.emptywords.org/Watt4-93ismetalstillalive.htm|publisher=]|date=April 1993|access-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> | |||
Commonly recognized characteristics include usually violent or dark lyrics which focus on death as a nihilistic metaphor (although lately more philosophy-based lyrics, such as those of later ] have become popular as well), ] progressions and a narrative or "story telling" song structure such that there is not a ] cycle as much as an ongoing development of themes and motifs. It is usually identified by downtuned rhythm guitars, fast percussion, and dynamic intensity. "]s" are frequently used to add to the ferocity of the modern music. The vocals are commonly low gurgles named ], growl, or death growl. This kind of vocalising is distorted by use of the throat and guts, unlike traditional singing techniques which discourages this technique. Some people consider it similar to the ] style of singing. Music journalist Chad Bowar notes that, because of the similarity of the vocals to "unintelligible yelling", the style is sometimes described as "] vocals"<ref>{{cite web | title=Cookie Monster Vocals | work=about.com | url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/glossary/g/gl_cookiemonste.htm | accessdate=January 21 | accessyear=2006}}. See further examples of this usage at {{cite web | title=The cookie monster vocal explained | work=rocknerd | url=http://rocknerd.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/15/1626209 | accessdate=January 21 | accessyear=2006}} and {{cite web | title=The categorization of death metal | work=metalstorm.ee | url=http://www.metalstorm.ee/articles/article.php?id=18 | accessdate=January 21 | accessyear=2006}}.</ref>. | |||
Since then, death metal has diversified, spawning several subgenres. ] combines death metal elements with those of the ]. ] is a complex style, with uncommon time signatures, atypical rhythms, and unusual harmonies and melodies. ] combines the deep growled vocals and double-kick drumming of death metal with the slow tempos and melancholic atmosphere of ]. ], ], and ] mix the complexity of death metal with the intensity, speed, and brevity of ]. ] combines death metal with ] traits. ] combines death metal's ] and highly ], ] guitar riffs with elements of 1970s ] and ].<ref name="Entombed">{{cite magazine|first=Cosmo|last=Lee|title=Phazm: Antebellum Death 'n' Roll|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/phazm/antebellum-death-n-roll.htm|magazine=]|date=March 14, 2007|access-date=September 18, 2007|quote=Death 'n' roll arose with Entombed's 1993 album Wolverine Blues ... Wolverine Blues was like '70s hard rock tuned down and run through massive distortion and death growls.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617183213/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/phazm/antebellum-death-n-roll.htm|archive-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref> | |||
Death metal's subject matter usually addresses more nihilistic themes than any other genre (alongside ]), usually using metaphors of a gruesome nature to represent a larger concept. The genre was founded as the branch of metal praising 'death.' The focus on mortality along with the extreme nature of the music (as well as ]'s "]") likely inspired the naming of this genre. | |||
==History== | |||
Death metal is occasionally known for abrupt ], ], and ] changes, and extremely fast and complex guitar and ]work, although this is not always the case. Bands of this genre frequently utilize downtuned and distorted ]s, a downtuned, sometimes distorted ], a drum set (almost universally using two ]s or a double bass drum pedal). Although this is the standard setup, bands have been known to incorporate other instruments such as ]. Death metal is very physically demanding of its musicians, especially in its more "technical" forms. Indeed, it is said by many familiar with death metal that much of the genre's oeuvre rivals ] and ] in difficulty; in particular, drummers in the style are almost universally required to have immense ability, as all but the most basic death metal requires incredible speed and accuracy, as well as the ability to play in odd meters and remember constant changes. | |||
===Emergence and early history=== | |||
There are two widely-based theories on the origin of the term "death metal." The first being the title of the ] song ''Death Metal'', which was featured on their ] debut album ] (an album widely regarded as the first death metal album, predating ]'s and ] works), and a song made famous on the underground tape-trading circuit shortly before. The other is that the name of death metal pioneers ] was made into the genre's name, where their ] debut album ] made death metal a more recognised style of music. Their simplistic name has said to have been adopted into the genre's title. A third theory emerged in 2003 when the late Thomas 'Quorthon' Forsberg of ] band ] claimed in an interview with the British journalist ] that he had invented the term 'death metal' as far back as 1984, even though his band never pursued a death metal approach. | |||
] in 1989]] | |||
English extreme metal band ], from ], crystallized the elements of what later became known as ], death metal and ], with their first two albums '']''<ref>{{cite web |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |title=Venom: Welcome to Hell |website=] |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000268406|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> and '']'',{{sfn|Kahn-Harris|2007}} released in late 1981 and 1982, respectively. Their dark, blistering sound, harsh vocals, and ], proudly Satanic imagery proved a major inspiration for extreme metal bands.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|title=Venom Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5755|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> Another highly influential band, ], formed in 1981. Although the band was a thrash metal act, Slayer's music was more violent than their thrash contemporaries ], ], and ].<ref name="Metal Hammer">{{cite web|last=de Paola|first=Enrico|title=Into The Lungs of Hell|url=http://www.emptywords.org/MetalHammerItaly03-2000.htm|work=]|publisher=Empty Words|date=March 2000|access-date=July 19, 2014}}</ref> Their breakneck speed and instrumental prowess combined with lyrics about death, violence, war, and Satanism won Slayer a cult following.<ref>{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Slayer Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5453|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> According to Mike McPadden, '']'', Slayer's second album, "largely invent much of the sound and fury that would evolve into death metal."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/gfg7pz/slayer-hell-awaits-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404081929/https://www.vh1.com/news/gfg7pz/slayer-hell-awaits-30 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |title='Hell Awaits' by Slayer Turns 30, Still Head Of The Thrash Class of '85 |last=McPadden |first=Mike |date=March 22, 2015 |website=] |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> According to ], their third album '']'' inspired the entire death metal genre.<ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Huey|title=Slayer: Reign in Blood|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r18220|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=January 5, 2007}}</ref> It had a big impact on genre leaders such as ], ], and ].<ref name="Metal Hammer"/> | |||
] of ]{{sfn|Mudrian|2004|p=}}]] | |||
== Early history (up to 1989) == | |||
Death metal is a subgenre of ]. ] are the primary identifier for death metal for the newer generation. But this by itself also includes works such as ''Welcome to Hell'' from ] by British metal group ] where the vocals may be mostly "growling", but the music is not what is generally meant by "death metal" today. Venom never labelled what they did, but their album '']'' became the basis for labelling music with 'Satanic' lyrics and growling vocals as "]". | |||
], a band that formed in the ] during 1983, is described by AllMusic as "connecting the dots" between thrash metal and death metal with their 1985 debut album, '']''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Eduardo|last=Rivadavia|title=Possessed: Seven Churches|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r15558|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> While attributed as having a Slayer influence,<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Possessed Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5171|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> current and former members of the band had actually cited Venom and ], as well as early work by ], as the main influences on their sound. Although the group had released only two studio albums and an EP in their formative years, they have been described by music journalists and musicians as either being "monumental" in developing the death metal style,{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=54}} or as being the first death metal band.<ref>{{cite book|last=McIver|first=Joel|title=The Bloody Reign of Slayer|publisher=]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-84772-109-9}}</ref>{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=12}}{{sfn|Mudrian|2004|p=70}} ] noted that "the likes of Trey Azagthoth and Morbid Angel based what they were doing in their formative years on the Possessed blueprint laid down on the legendary ''Seven Churches'' recording. Possessed arguably did more to further the cause of 'Death Metal' than any of the early acts on the scene back in the mid-late 80's."<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview With Jeff Becerra |url=http://www.earache.com/WickedWorld/interview/possessed/possessed.html |publisher=] |access-date=July 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113120317/http://www.earache.com/WickedWorld/interview/possessed/possessed.html |archive-date=November 13, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
Genres are not usually identified solely by aesthetic form, and black or death metal labels are not easy to apply to some bands. One example of this is the American band ], a pioneering ] band. This genre (one that predates death metal), is also characterized by complex rhythmics and heavy guitar riffing. Slayer is not usually classified as a death metal band, and have never labelled themselves as such. Even so, with ] from 1986, and subsequent works, they certainly influenced many early death metal bands. | |||
] (1967–2001) of ], during a 1992 tour in Scotland in support of the album '']''.]] | |||
Around ], aggressive U.S. bands such as Florida's ], California's ], and Chicago's ] began to form. If one would call this diffuse genre "early death metal", the first recorded examples of this would be ]'s album '']'' from 1985, ]'s album '']'' from 1986 and early demotapes by Death, followed by Death's album '']'' from 1987. ] is another band that largely influenced the death metal scene, releasing numerous demos and rehearsal since 1983. To their credit, these "early death metal" bands did push the format forward, something that would ultimately pay off in a new form of music that was substantially different from their closest forefather, ]. | |||
During the same period as the dawn of Possessed, a second influential metal band was formed in Orlando, Florida. Originally called Mantas, Death was formed in 1983 by ], ], and ]. Inspired by the ] act ], they took the sound of Nasty Savage and deepened it.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Stevenson|first1=Arielle|date=October 22, 2009|title=The way the music died: The earliest days of Tampa Death Metal|url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027025354/https://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088/|archive-date=October 27, 2009|website=]|publisher=]|accessdate=April 26, 2016}}</ref> In 1984, they released their first demo entitled ''Death by Metal'', followed by several more. The tapes circulated through the tape trader world, quickly establishing the band's name. With Death guitarist Schuldiner adopting vocal duties, the band made a major impact in the emerging ] scene. The fast minor-key riffs and solos were complemented with fast drumming, creating a style that would catch on in tape trading circles.{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=54}} Schuldiner has been credited by AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia for being widely recognized as the "Father of Death Metal".<ref name="Death">{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Death Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4050|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> Death's 1987 debut release, '']'', has been described by About.com's Chad Bowar as being the "evolution from thrash metal to death metal",<ref>{{cite web|last=Bowar|first=Chad|title=Death Profile|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/death/p/pro_death.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=January 14, 2014|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502050614/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/death/p/pro_death.htm|url-status=unfit}}</ref> and "the first true death metal record" by the '']''.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Aldis, N.|author2=Sherry, J.|title=Heavy metal Thunder|newspaper=]|year=2006}}</ref> In an Interview Jeff Becerra talked about the discussions of being the creator of the genre, saying that Schuldiner cited Possessed as a massive influence, and Death were even called "Possessed clones" early on.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jeff-beccera-puts-an-end-to-debate-over-who-was-the-first-death-metal-band-death-or-possessed/|title = JEFF BECERRA Puts an End to Debate over Who Was the First Death Metal Band: DEATH or POSSESSED|date = August 20, 2017}}</ref> Along with Possessed and Death, other pioneers of death metal in the United States include ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Norton|first=Justin M.|title=Post Mortem - 'Coroner's Office' Retrospective|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/postmortem.htm|publisher=]|date=February 19, 2009|access-date=February 14, 2014|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221221406/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/postmortem.htm|archive-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marquard|first=Bryan|title=John McCarthy, at 40; was lead singer for local thrash rocker Post Mortem|url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2009/02/08/john_mccarthy_at_40_was_lead_singer_for_local_thrash_rockers_post_mortem/?page=full|access-date=February 14, 2014|newspaper=]|date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> | |||
The late 1980s saw the rise of death metal in ], and in particular in ] with bands like ] (then Nihilist), ], Carnage (later ]) and ]. The debut albums of these bands were mostly released in the early 1990s and characterised by a distinct guitar sound, which is heavly inspired by the sound of the ] ] act ]. | |||
===Growing popularity=== | |||
However, other death metal historians maintain that the 1985 brand of "early death metal" is more aptly summarised by the moniker "post-thrash" and that the band Death receives inflated credit partly because of its name. In particular, the music flora around 1985, although fitting the above description of "extreme brutality and speed" for its time, did not create anything significantly new compared to their immediate predecessors, and one would be hard pressed to identify strong and specific musical differences between, say Death's debut album from ] and same-period work by ] bands such as the ]ian ] or even the aforementioned Venom, except perhaps slightly "growlier" vocals. | |||
By 1989, many bands had been signed by eager record labels wanting to cash in on the subgenre, including Florida's Obituary, Morbid Angel and ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Andy|title=Death metal, the sound of Tampa, won't be heard at Republican convention|url=https://news.yahoo.com/death-metal-sound-tampa-wont-heard-republican-convention-113030167.html|agency=Reuters|publisher=Yahoo News|access-date=August 25, 2012|date=August 25, 2012|quote=When they convene in Tampa to nominate Mitt Romney for president next week, Republicans will not hear a note from the city's most notable musical exports: death-metal bands such as Deicide and Obituary.}}</ref> This collective of death metal bands hailing from Florida are often labeled as "]". Morbid Angel pushed the genre's limits both musically and lyrically, with the release of their debut album '']'' in 1989.{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=18}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://decibelmagazine.com/hall-of-fame/2015/3/19/morbid-angel-altars-of-madness|title=Morbid Angel - "Altars of Madness"|work=Decibel Magazine|access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> The album "redefined what it meant to be heavy while influencing an upcoming class of brutal death metal."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/morbid-angel-altars-of-madness-best-debut-metal-albums/|title=No. 4: Morbid Angel, 'Altars of Madness' – Best Debut Metal Albums|website=Loudwire|date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> | |||
Following the original death metal innovators, new subgenres began to develop the end of the decade, such as ]. Death released their fourth album '']'' in 1991, which has become a hallmark in ]. Death's founder Schuldiner helped push the boundaries of the genre with uncompromising speed and technical virtuosity, combining intricate rhythm guitar work with complex arrangements and emotive guitar solos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org|title=Welcome to Empty Words|website=www.emptywords.org}}</ref> | |||
The alternative standpoint is that the modern concept of "death metal"—the point when it clearly decouples from the origins in heavy metal and thrash metal—can be set to ] or ]. Just as in the original creation of ] (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) by ] and other bands was sparked by the youthful energy of ] in the late ], so did cross-fertilisation between metal and punk once more create something new in the late ]. The chaotic and often confusing development that took place around this time is well illustrated by the British band ], often characterised as a "]" band (see below). This band was simultaneously always part of the ] scene. However, Napalm Death themselves changed drastically around or before ], leaving ] (and most of the band members) behind. | |||
Earache Records, ] and Roadrunner Records became the genre's most important labels,<ref>'Death Metal Special: Dealers in Death' ''Terrorizer #151''</ref> with Earache releasing albums by Carcass, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, and Entombed, and Roadrunner releasing albums by Obituary, and ]. Although these labels had not been death metal labels, they initially became the genre's flagship labels at the beginning of the 1990s. In addition to these, other labels formed as well, such as ], ], and ]. Many of these labels would go on to achieve successes in other genres of metal throughout the 1990s. | |||
In particular, on 1990's '']'', Napalm Death can be heard playing something most fans would call death metal today, i.e. "modern death metal" by the above characterization. This album clearly displays aggressive and fairly technical guitar riffing, complex rhythmics, a sophisticated growling vocal delivery by ], and thoughtful lyrics. Other bands contributing significantly to this early movement include Britain's ] and ], Buffalo's ], Sweden's ], New York's ], and Florida's ]. | |||
In September 1990, Death's manager ] held one of the first North American death metal festivals, ''Day of Death'', in ] suburb ], and featured 26 bands including Autopsy, ], Hellwitch, Obliveon, Revenant, Viogression, Immolation, ], and ].<ref>{{usurped|1=}}. Retrieved December 10, 2008</ref> | |||
To close the circle, the band ] put out the album '']'' in 1991, certainly an example of modern death metal. The band Death's founder ] helped push the boundaries of uncompromising speed and technical virtuosity, mixing in highly technical and intricate rhythm guitar work with complex arrangements and emotive guitar solos. Other examples of this are Carcass's '']'' from 1991, Suffocation's debut '']'' from the same year and Entombed's '']'' from 1992. | |||
At this point, all the above characteristics are clearly present: abrupt ] and count changes, on occasion extremely fast ], morbid lyrics and growling delivery. | |||
]]] | |||
== Later history (1991-) == | |||
{{unreferencedsect}} | |||
During the 1990s, death metal grew in many directions, spawning a rich variety of subgenres, including the following: | |||
=== |
===Later history=== | ||
Death metal's popularity achieved its initial peak during 1992–1993, with some bands such as Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse enjoying mild commercial success. However, the genre as a whole never broke into the mainstream. The genre's mounting popularity may have been partly responsible for a strong rivalry between ] and ] scenes. ] of ] has noted that Norwegian black metal musicians were "fed up with the whole death metal scene" at the time. Death metal diversified in the 1990s, spawning a rich variety of subgenres that still have a large "underground" following at the present.<ref>{{cite video|first=Bill|last=Zebyb|year=2007|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZd13-dSrAc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414005145/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZd13-dSrAc&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2012-04-14|title=Black Metal: A Documentary|medium=motion picture}}</ref> | |||
], where harmonies and melodies are much more present in the guitarwork. Although more melodic, it can sound more raw than the more precise sounding American variety. This subgenre is mostly associated with ], especially in ], as well as ] and ] (see ]). The genre finds its best representation in ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
In the 2000s, a number of bands in the ] scene, including ] and ] began to incorporate elements of death metal into their sound.<ref name="Schafer, 2018">{{cite web |last1=Schafer |first1=Joseph |title=In 2018, Death Metal Reigned Supreme |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/in-2018-death-metal-reigned-supreme/ |website=] |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> This was followed by a wave of bands expanding upon the death-doom style of ] while incorporating elements of ], including ] and ].<ref name="Schafer, 2018" /> | |||
===Scandinavian death metal=== | |||
], which could be called the forerunner of melodic death metal with bands like ], ], ], ], and the aforementioned ]. Entombed (ex-Nihilist) was the band, which started to combine punk and death/thrash riffs and set a trademark "]" guitar sound - formed by linking together two distortion boxes to create a raw, mechanical, electric buzz, which many bands of this genre later tried to reproduce. Nevertheless, this sound was inspired by British ] band ] on their debut album ''Human Error''. | |||
In the 2010s, a movement of bands reviving the sound of original 1980s death metal emerged, termed the "New Wave of Old School Death Metal".<ref>{{cite web |title=BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO OLD SCHOOL DEATH METAL |url=https://toiletovhell.com/beginners-guide-to-old-school-death-metal/ |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> One of the earliest groups in this wave was ], who formed in 2009,<ref>{{cite web |title=A History of North American Death Metal in 30 Albums |url=https://www.treblezine.com/a-history-of-north-american-death-metal-in-30-albums/ |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> who along with ] took a progressive take the genre.<ref name="Schafer, 2018" /> Tomb Mold, Necrot, Undergang and ] were some of the earliest bands to gain traction in the 2010s, with the ] amplifying the amount of attention drawn to the movement, through ], Slimelord and Vaticinal Rites.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deller |first1=Alex |title=The Young Upstarts of UK Death Metal |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/uk-death-metal-scene-report |website=] |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> In a 2022 article by '']'' writer Christopher Krovatin stated "Right now, as a music journalist, all I hear about is death metal."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rhombus |first1=Emperor |title=Poll: Which Band in the New Wave of Death Metal Is Your Favorite? |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2022/06/30/poll-which-of-the-new-wave-of-death-metal-bands-is-your-favorite/ |website=] |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> In the UK, this movement became the "New Wave of British Death Metal", fronted by Mortuary Spawn, Vacuous and Celestial Sanctuary, this name being coined by Tom Cronin, of Celestial Sanctuary, in order to separate these hardcore-indebted bands from the country's prior movements. The earliest bands in this wave were Cruciamentum and Grave Miasma.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frankel |first1=Eddy |title=What the hell is the New Wave of British Death Metal? |url=https://www.timeout.com/uk/arts-and-culture/what-is-the-new-wave-of-british-death-metal |website=] |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> | |||
===Florida death metal=== | |||
Florida death metal are more rigid and percussive than the Swedish variant, more precise, refined and traditional; in many ways this style can be seen, at least in the early days as an extension of ], especially the ]/]/] variety, but with added complexity and brutality. It tends to be more direct and brutal than the "technical death metal" pioneered by bands such as ] and ]. Bands include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], though later Death's albums fall more into the category of progressive death metal (see below). | |||
A large part of the New Wave of Old School Death Metal was death metal bands who originated from the hardcore scene, some of which merge elements of hardcore into their style. ] and Fuming Mouth were two of the earliest groups, with the wave being solidified by ], 200 Stab Wounds, Creeping Death,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Breiham |first1=Tom |title=Hardcore And Death Metal: Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2199510/hardcore-and-death-metal-two-great-tastes-that-taste-great-together/columns/let-the-roundup-begin/ |website=] |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> ] and Kruelty.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kruelty – "Untopia" |url=https://everythingisnoise.net/reviews/kruelty-untopia/ |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> ] came from this scene and gained particular attention for their confrontation of what '']'' called death metal's "misogyny problem", by instead writing "rape-revenge narrative".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zorgdrager |first1=Bradley |title=How Brutal Death Metal Is Confronting Its Misogyny Problem |url=https://www.kerrang.com/how-brutal-death-metal-is-confronting-its-misogyny-problem |website=] |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> Their lead vocalist Larissa Stupar was described by the publication as "metal's most important - and uncompromising - voice".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morton |first1=Luke |title=Venom Prison the Remarkable Story of the Rise and Rise of Metal's Most Important - and Uncompromising - Voice |journal=] |date=27 May 2019}}</ref> | |||
===Technical death metal=== | |||
], a narrow but influential subgenre, refers to bands who are particularly distinguished by the virtuosity of their musicians. It should be noted, however, that much death metal requires considerable instrumental skill to perform. In fact, some consider the term "technical death metal" misleading, as it suggests that artistry and songwriting are given less focus than virtuosity and instrumental skill. Nonetheless, it is a term commonly applied to such bands as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
==Characteristics== | |||
===Progressive death metal=== | |||
Progressive death metal, is a subgenre of death metal that incorporates characteristics such as ] and mood changes from ]. The overlapping of genres is quite common. The genre typically showcases death metal's growls, blastbeats, chaotic alternating rhythms of progressive metal, acoustic parts and the use of instruments not common to traditional heavy metal such as the ]. ], ], ], and ] are seen as Progressive death metal. | |||
=== |
===Instrumentation=== | ||
The setup most frequently used within the death metal genre is two guitarists, a bass player, a vocalist, and a drummer often using "hyper ] ]s".{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=9}}{{sfn|Kahn-Harris|2007|p=32}} Although this is the standard setup, bands have been known to occasionally incorporate other instruments such as ]s.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202223443/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/heavymetal101/p/melodicdeathmetalprofile.htm |date=February 2, 2017|url-status=unfit }}, About.com (Retrieved October 27, 2010)</ref> | |||
Brutal death metal (also known as "percussive death metal") developed by combining certain aspects of the song structures of ]/] with death metal. This genre tends to be highly technical (see above). Brutal death metal is associated with bands like ], ], ], ], ], ], early ], and ] One main characteristic of brutal death is the vocal style, called ], which are almost always very low-pitched. The lyrics are mostly ] related, sung in a slow and choppy manner. In addition, the guitar riffs are usually chunky grooves or hyper fast and down-tuned, often with pinch harmonics. The drumming is usually highly varied in style, ranging from slow and churning to ], as is often the case in ]; New York bands such as Suffocation and Morpheus Descends, and Florida bands such as Deicide can be considered the origins of this style. | |||
] has performed with death metal bands ], ] and ].]] | |||
] drummer ]]] | |||
=== |
===Vocals and lyrics=== | ||
] vocalist ]]] | |||
] is a slow and melancholic subgenre inspired by and mixed with classic ]. The genre was created by the likes of ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
Death metal vocals are referred to as ]s; which are coarse roars/snarls. Death growling is mistakenly thought to be a form of screaming using the lowest vocal register known as ], however vocal fry is actually a form of overtone screaming, and while growling can be performed this way by experienced vocalists who use the fry screaming technique, "true" death growling is in fact created by an altogether different technique.<ref>Interview with Samuel Deschaine, Death Metal Vocal Instructor 2011</ref> Growling has been called ] vocals, tongue-in-cheek, due to the vocal similarity to the voice of the popular '']'' character of the same name.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cookie Monster Vocals|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/glossary/g/gl_cookiemonste.htm|publisher=]|access-date=January 21, 2006|archive-date=February 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060205192652/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/glossary/g/gl_cookiemonste.htm|url-status=unfit}}</ref> Although often criticized, death growls serve the aesthetic purpose of matching death metal's aggressive lyrical content.<ref>Sharpe-Young, Garry. ''Death Metal'', {{ISBN|0-9582684-4-4}}</ref> | |||
]cation vocalist ]]] | |||
The lyrical themes of death metal may invoke slasher film-stylised violence,<ref name="Moynihan, Michael 1998 p. 27"/> but may also extend to topics like religion (sometimes including ]), ], ], nature, ], ], ], philosophy, science fiction, and politics.{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=39-42}} Although violence may be explored in various other genres as well, death metal may elaborate on the details of extreme acts, including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Sociologist ] commented this apparent glamorisation of violence may be attributed to a "fascination" with the human body that all people share to some degree, a fascination that mixes desire and disgust.{{sfn|Kahn-Harris|2007|p=}} Heavy metal author ] also stated there does seem to be a connection between "how acquainted one is with their own mortality" and "how much they crave images of death and violence" via the media.<ref>Baddeley, Gavin. ''Raising Hell!: The Book of Satan and Rock 'n' Roll''</ref> Additionally, contributing artists to the genre often defend death metal as little more than an extreme form of art and entertainment, similar to horror films in the motion picture industry.<ref name="hbj"/> This explanation has brought such musicians under fire from activists internationally, who claim that this is often lost on a large number of adolescents, who are left with the glamorisation of such violence without social context or awareness of why such imagery is stimulating.<ref name="hbj"/> | |||
According to ], bassist of Cannibal Corpse, "The gory lyrics are probably not, as much as people say, from being mainstream. Like, 'death metal would never go into the mainstream because the lyrics are too gory?' I think it's really the music, because violent entertainment is totally mainstream."<ref name="Cannibal Corpse Alex Webster">{{Cite web|url=http://www.waytooloud.com/2007/10/23/cannibal-corpse-alex-webster-and-george-%E2%80%9Ccorpsegrinder%E2%80%9D-fisher/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604092255/http://www.waytooloud.com/2007/10/23/cannibal-corpse-alex-webster-and-george-%E2%80%9Ccorpsegrinder%E2%80%9D-fisher/|url-status=dead|title=Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) interview|archivedate=June 4, 2008}}</ref> | |||
==Etymology== | |||
The most popular theory of the subgenre's christening is ]'s 1984 demo, ''Death Metal''; the song from the eponymous demo would also be featured on the band's 1985 debut album, '']''.{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=53}} Possessed vocalist/bassist Jeff Becerra said he coined the term in early 1983 for a high school English class assignment.{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=11}} Another possible origin was a magazine called ''Death Metal'', started by ] and ] of ] and ]. The name was later given to the 1984 compilation '']'' released by ].{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=53}} The term might also have originated from other recordings, such as the demo released by ] in 1984, called ''Death by Metal''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Anton|last=de Wit|url=http://www.emptywords.org/Martelgang01-2002.htm|title=The Death of Death|work=Martelgang Magazine|date=January 2002|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> | |||
==Subgenres and fusion genres== | |||
<!-- Please refrain from name-dropping your favorite band; as we would all love to include our favorites, only a few examples are needed to benefit the article. --> | |||
Cited examples are not necessarily exclusive to one particular style. Many bands can easily be placed in two or more of the following categories, and a band's specific categorization is often a source of contention due to personal opinion and interpretation. The musical genres in this list are sorted alphabetically. | |||
{{dynamic list}} | |||
===Blackened death-doom=== | |||
Blackened death-doom is a microgenre that combines the slow tempos and monolithic drumming of ], the complex and loud riffage of death metal and the ] of ].<ref name=BDD>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Kim |title=Morast Expertly Synthesize Black, Death, and Doom Metal on 'Ancestral Void' |url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/aepy85/morast-expertly-synthesize-black-death-and-doom-metal-on-ancestral-void |website=Noisey Vice |date=March 29, 2017 |access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> Examples of blackened death-doom bands include Morast,<ref name=BDD/> Faustcoven,<ref name=BDD/> ],<ref name=BDD/> ],<ref name=BDD/> Necros Christos,<ref name=BDD/> Harvest Gulgaltha,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mattia |first1=A. |title=DON'T LOOK BELOW: HARVEST GULGALTHA – 'ALTARS OF DEVOTION' REVIEW + STREAM |url=https://www.cvltnation.com/dont-look-below-harvest-gulgaltha-altars-of-devotion-review-stream/ |website=Cvlt Nation |date=February 7, 2017 |access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Falzon |first1=Denise |title=Dragged Into Sunlight 'Widowmaker' (album stream) |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/dragged_into_sunlight-widowmaker_album_stream |website=] |date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> Hands of Thieves,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Doug |title=The Black Market: The Month In Metal – August 2016 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1896781/the-black-market-the-month-in-metal-august-2016/franchises/the-black-market/ |website=] |date=August 31, 2016 |access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Daniels |first1=Eric |title=ERIC DANIELS / SOULBURN |url=https://www.jacksonguitars.com/artists/eric-daniels-bio |website=] |access-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-date=June 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618114517/https://www.jacksonguitars.com/artists/eric-daniels-bio |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Whelan |first1=Kez |title=Soulburn: Band Of The Day |url=http://www.terrorizer.com/news/botd/soulburn-band-day/ |website=] |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> | |||
===Blackened death metal=== | ===Blackened death metal=== | ||
{{Main|Blackened death metal}} | |||
], which is death metal fused with the Satanic elements of ], is most defined by the vocals and riffing style. ], ], ], ], ], and ] are prime examples of this genre, as is ] on their '']'' album. | |||
].]] | |||
Blackened death metal is commonly death metal that incorporates musical, lyrical or ideological elements of ], such as an increased use of ], anti-] or ] lyrical themes and chord progressions similar to those used in black metal.<ref name="Sound, Symbol, Sociality">{{cite book |last1=Unger |first1=Matthew |title=Sound, Symbol, Sociality: The Aesthetic Experience of Extreme Metal Music |page=27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/ninewinged-serpent-mw0000780983 |title=Ninewinged Serpent - Devian |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=] |access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/hacavitz.htm |title=Hacavitz - Venganza Review |last=Bowar |first=Chad |work=] |access-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-date=June 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617104950/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/hacavitz.htm |url-status=unfit }}</ref> Blackened death metal bands are also more likely to wear ] and suits of armour, than bands from other styles of death metal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gardner |first1=Robert Owen |title=Studies in Symbolic Interaction |page=119}}</ref> Lower range guitar tunings, ]s and abrupt ] changes are common in the genre.<ref>{{Cite youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_rpgS73sPI |title=Blackened Death Metal band debate with Jason Deaville of Bravewords {{!}} LOCK HORNS (archive) |date=2016-10-05 |last=Dunn |first=Sam |author-link=Sam Dunn |last2=Deaville |first2=Jason |type=Podcast}}</ref> Examples of blackened death metal bands are ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terrorizer.com/blog1.php/2011/10/21/belphegor-suspend-all-activities |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714222121/http://www.terrorizer.com/blog1.php/2011/10/21/belphegor-suspend-all-activities |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |title=Belphegor Suspends All Activities |date=October 21, 2011 |work=] |access-date=September 3, 2012 }}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/behemoth-mn0000789429 |title=Behemoth |last=Prato |first=Greg |work=] |access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/akercocke/words-that-go-unspoken-deeds-that-go-undone.htm |title=Akercocke – Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone – Review – Stylus Magazine |last=Lee |first=Cosmo |date=February 21, 2006 |work=] |access-date=October 22, 2012 |quote=Death metal and black metal are notoriously insular, but Akercocke has distinguished itself by freely drawing from both. Death metal tends to emphasize the low end, while black metal mainly resides in the midrange and treble, so Akercocke's 'blackened death' hybrid is rich and full-bodied. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509181014/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/akercocke/words-that-go-unspoken-deeds-that-go-undone.htm |archive-date=May 9, 2012 }}</ref> and ].<ref>Pretorious, Neil (July 30, 2009). "Review - Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun"]. ''The Metal Observer''. "If you think that Blackened Death Metal begins and ends with DISSECTION, then think again. SACRAMENTUM seriously dropped the (snow) ball with 'The Coming of Chaos' and 'Thy Black Destiny', but on 'Far Away from the Sun' they really delivered the goods on all fronts."</ref> | |||
===Deathrash=== | |||
] (also known as "Death/thrash") is a form of thrash metal with elements of death metal, including speed, guitar picking techniques, and vocals. In the earliest incarnation this style was the progression from thrash metal to death metal. Some bands in this particular genre are: ], ], ] and ] with their early albums, ], ], ], Criminal and the first two ] albums. | |||
=== |
====Melodic black-death==== | ||
Melodic black-death<ref name="Dissection Clones" /> (also known as blackened melodic death metal or melodic blackened death metal)<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> is a genre of ] that describes the style created when ] bands began being inspired by black metal and European ]. However, unlike most other black metal, this take on the genre would incorporate an increased sense of melody and narrative.<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson">{{cite web |last1=ANDREW |first1=J |title=Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/lists/blackened-melodic-death-metal-a-history-lesson |website=Metal Injection |access-date=July 25, 2018|date=February 19, 2015 }}</ref> Some bands who have played this style include ],<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /><ref name="Dissection Clones" /><ref name="Swedish Death Metal">{{cite book |last1=Ekeroth |first1=Daniel |title=Swedish Death Metal |page=267}}</ref> ],<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /><ref name="Dissection Clones" /> ],<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> ],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Divita |first1=Joe |title=GOD DETHRONED RETURN WITH 'THE WORLD ABLAZE,' UNLEASH DEATHLY MELODIC NEW SINGLE 'ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE WIRE' |url=http://loudwire.com/god-dethroned-the-world-ablaze-new-single-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-wire/ |website=Loudwire |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref> ],<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> ],<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> ],<ref name="Dissection Clones" /><ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> ]<ref>{{cite web |last1=WIEDERHORN |first1=JON |title=SKELETONWITCH: HOW AN ANTON LAVEY–LOVING EX–CHOIR MEMBER PUSHED THRASHERS TO NEW LEVEL |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/skeletonwitch-how-anton-lavey%E2%80%93loving-ex%E2%80%93choir-member-pushed-thrashers-new-level |website=] |access-date=25 July 2018|date=18 June 2018 }}</ref> and ].<ref name="Dissection Clones">{{cite magazine |last1=D |first1=Chris |title=Top 5 Dissection Clones |url=http://decibelmagazine.com/featured/36966/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325001026/http://decibelmagazine.com/featured/36966/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 March 2016 |magazine=] |access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref><!---The Metal Injection source references to this list as a list of bands playing this style. Also don't add unreliable sources for listings. ---> | |||
Grindcore is considered by some to be an even more extreme variant of death metal and hardcore punk. However, many fans of grindcore and music historians would place it in a genre by itself, since the genre historically developed in parallel to death metal (both developed in the 1980s, death metal from ] and grindcore from ]), each influencing the development of the other, but with early ] having a much more obvious ], ], and ] influence. Early grindcore bands include ] (considered by many to be the founder of the genre), ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
=== |
====War metal==== | ||
War metal<ref name=mh112011>Robert Müller: ''Wollt Ihr den ewigen Krieg?''. ''Der tote Winkel''. In: '']'', November 2011.</ref><ref name=wbm/><ref name=rh304>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''SARCOFAGO''. ''I.N.R.I.'' In: ''Rock Hard'', Nr. 304, September 2012, p. 73.</ref> (also known as war black metal<ref name=wbm>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''War Black Metal: Die Extremsten der Extremen''. ''Was bleibt, ist Schutt und Asche''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 279, pp. 71-73.</ref> or bestial black metal)<ref name=rh304/> is an aggressive,<ref name=wbm/> cacophonous<ref name=mh112011/> and chaotic<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/> subgenre of blackened death metal,<ref>{{cite news |last1=KATEL |first1=JACOB |title=Florida's Top Ten Black Metal Bands |newspaper=] |date=2013}}</ref> described by '']'' journalist Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann as "rabid"<ref name=wbm/> and "hammering".<ref name=wbm/> Important influences include first wave black metal band ],<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/> first wave black metal/death metal band ]<ref name=wbm/> as well as old ], black and death metal bands like ],<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/> ],<ref name=wbm/> ]<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/><ref name=rh304/><ref name=rh307/> and the first two ] releases.<ref name=wbm/><ref name=rh307/> War metal bands include ],<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/><ref name=rh307>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''Impaled Nazarene''. ''Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 307, December 2012, p. 77.</ref> ],<ref name=wbm/> ],<ref name=wbm/> ],{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=359}} ], ],<ref>{{cite web |title=A HILL TO DIE UPON - OMENS CD |url=https://boonesoverstock.com/products/a-hill-to-die-upon-omens |access-date=August 8, 2018}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web |last1=DISTEFANOl |first1=ALEX |title=The 13 Most Satanic Metal Bands |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/13-most-satanic-metal-bands-8798306 |website=] |access-date=August 8, 2018 |date=October 30, 2017 |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801232853/http://www.laweekly.com/music/13-most-satanic-metal-bands-8798306 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Christe|first=Ian|title=Sound of the beast: the complete headbanging history of heavy metal|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-380-81127-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWRv3E59V0YC|author-link=Ian Christe|access-date=March 13, 2012|page=281|date=February 17, 2004}}</ref> | |||
===Brutal death metal=== | |||
On the one hand, there are also other heavy metal sub-genres that have come from fusions between death metal and other non-metal genres, such as the fusion of death metal and ] played by ] on their ''Spheres'' album, or the work of Florida bands Atheist and Cynic, the former of which sometimes went as far as to include ]-style drum solos on albums, and the latter of which incorporated notable influences from ]. ] have also incorporated Egyptian music and Middle Eastern themes into their style. Also such genres as Thrash Death metal exist, and ] such as ]. | |||
{{Main|Brutal death metal}} | |||
Brutal death metal is a subgenre of death metal that privileges heaviness, speed, and complex rhythms over other aspects, such as melody and timbres.<ref name=masterclass/><ref name=Lexington>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSZOph-zlEgC|title=Death Metal and Music Criticism: Analysis at the Limits|first=Michelle|last=Phillipov|date=August 31, 2018|publisher=Lexington Books|via=Google Books|isbn=9780739164594}}</ref> Brutal death metal bands employ high-speed, palm-muted power chording and single-note riffage.<ref name=Lexington/> Notable bands include ],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Purcell |first1=Natalie J. |title=Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture |date=September 17, 2015 |publisher=] |isbn=9780786484065 |page=59 |quote=Cannibal Corpse's first album, Eaten Back to Life, was deemed pure, brutal Death Metal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=McIver |first1=Joel |title=Extreme Metal II |date=March 10, 2010 |publisher=] |isbn=9780857122247 |quote=Buffalo band Cannibal Corpse are perhaps the most devoted brutal death metal act in this book, rarely diverging from the path of the blastbeat and the throaty roar.}}</ref> ],<ref name=Lexington /> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/best-metal-bands-different-subgenres/#photogallery-1=5|title=Best Metal Bands From 40 Different Subgenres|website=Loudwire|date=June 21, 2017 }}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2011/12/02/cryptopsy-none-so-vile/|title=Cryptopsy - "None so Vile"|first=Kevin|last=Stewart-Panko|date=December 2, 2011|website=Decibel Magazine}}</ref> and ].<ref name="BMDestroy">{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/reunited-skinless-were-back-to-destroy/|title=Reunited Skinless: 'We're Back To Destroy'|work=]|date=August 13, 2013|access-date=October 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="BMTrampleReview">{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/trample-the-weak-hurdle-the-dead/|title=Trample The Weak, Hurdle the Dead Skinless|work=]|access-date=October 16, 2013|date=June 26, 2006}}</ref> | |||
====Slam death metal==== | |||
With the recent rise in popularity of ], strong modern ] influences have also been utilized in death metal. ] is one such band, with a handful of members having been active at times in their local ] scene, and even releasing an ] with a cover song by their hardcore peers, Next Step Up. Other notable acts openly fusing death and hardcore include ], ], and ], who put out an entire album of hardcore and ] cover songs. | |||
{{further|Brutal death metal#Slam death metal}} | |||
Slam death metal is a brutal death metal ] that evolved from the 1990s ] death metal scene, incorporating elements of ].<ref name=masterclass/><ref name="auto">{{cite web| url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/discover-your-next-favorite-phoenix-metal-band-at-az-brutal-fest-7287179 | title=Discover Your Next Favorite Phoenix Metal Band at AZ Brutal Fest | work=] | date=April 14, 2015 | access-date=July 6, 2017 | last=Wise | first=Lauren }}</ref> In contrast to other death metal styles, it is not generally focused on guitar solos and blast beats; instead, it employs mid-tempo rhythms, breakdowns, and palm-muted riffing, as well as ]-inspired vocal and drum beat rhythms.<ref name="auto"/> The ] riff of ]'s "]" has been credited by ] as the first slam riff in death metal.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/suffocation-gramercy-theatre-frank-mullen-final-show-review-758169/ |title=Farewell, Frank Mullen: Suffocation's Death-Metal Maestro Goes Out on Top |last=Shteamer |first=Hank |date=November 19, 2018 |magazine=] |access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref> The first wave of bands in the genre were New York bands like ] and Pyrexia,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Purcell |first1=Natalie J. |title=Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture |date=September 17, 2015 |publisher=] |isbn=9780786484065 |page=9 |quote=Many New York style bands like Suffocation, Dying Fetus and Internal Bleeding are slam-orientated and bass-based; this sort of music promotes dancing with rapid shifts from low and slow to fast and blast.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Purcell |first1=Natalie J. |title=Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture |date=September 17, 2015 |publisher=] |isbn=9780786484065 |page=19 |quote=Slow 'slam' riffs helped bands like Internal Bleeding and Pyrexia, inspired by Suffocation, to become successful in the mid 1990s. Today, New York style bands like Skinless and Dying Fetus dominate the scene with 'crowd-pleasing mosh riffs'}}</ref> with notable subsequent acts including ]<ref name=K!>{{cite web| url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/how-brutal-death-metal-is-confronting-its-misogyny-problem/ | title=How Brutal Death Metal Is Confronting Its Misogyny Problem | work=] | date=August 29, 2019 | access-date=January 19, 2021 | last=Zorgdrager | first=Bradley }}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Butler |first1=Will |title=Cannabis Corpse - Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise LP |journal=Don't be Swindle |issue=1 |quote= Most standard death metal, and particularly its more brutal offshoots, is just too damn serious. Not too many people can enthusiastically back slam metal shit like Devourment or Cephalotripsy.}}</ref> | |||
===Death-doom=== | |||
It is also noteworthy that many bands can easily be placed in two or more of the preceding categories, and a band's specific categorization is often a source of contention due to personal opinion and interpretation. | |||
{{Main|Death-doom}} | |||
] at Frozen Rock Fest. 2007.]] | |||
Death-doom is a style that combines the slow tempos and pessimistic atmosphere of ] with the deep ] and double-kick drumming of death metal.<ref name="Doom Metal Special: Doom/Death Terrorizer #142">"Doom Metal Special: Doom/Death", ''Terrorizer #142''.</ref> Influenced mostly by the early work of ] and ], the style emerged during the late 1980s and gained a certain amount of popularity during the 1990s.<ref name="Doom Metal Special: Doom/Death Terrorizer #142" /> Death-doom was also pioneered by bands such as ],{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} ],{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} ],{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} ], ], and ].{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} | |||
====Funeral doom==== | |||
==Key artists== | |||
{{Main|Funeral doom}} | |||
<!-- Don't add or remove bands without discussion on the talk page! --> | |||
Funeral doom is a genre that crosses ] with ].<ref name="Dirge">{{cite news |author=Davis, Cody |title=Funeral Doom Friday: FUNERAL MOURNING's Blackened, Deadly Inertia of Dissonance (A Sermon in Finality) |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/funeral-doom-friday/funeral-mournings-blackened-deadly-inertia-of-dissonance-a-sermon-in-finality |work=Metal Injection |access-date=July 29, 2018|date=September 9, 2016 }}</ref> It is played at a very slow tempo, and places an emphasis on evoking a sense of emptiness and despair.<ref name="Bandcamp">{{cite web |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/02/02/doom-metal-a-brief-timeline/ |title=Doom Metal: A Brief Timeline |work=Bandcamp daily |access-date=June 30, 2018|date=February 2, 2017 }}</ref> Typically, electric guitars are heavily distorted and ] aspects such as ] or ]s are often used to create a dreamlike atmosphere.<ref name=AE>{{cite thesis |last=Ebner |first=Arne |date=July 25, 2010 |title=Ästhetik des Doom |type=Bachelor |institution=Macromedia University of Applied Sciences for Media and Communication - Cologne |url=http://doom.resettheworld.com/aesthetik_des_doom_arne_ebner_40mb.pdf |access-date=August 18, 2018 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075156/http://doom.resettheworld.com/aesthetik_des_doom_arne_ebner_40mb.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Vocals consist of mournful chants or growls and are often in the background.<ref name=AE/> Funeral doom was pioneered by ] (Australia), ] (United Kingdom), ] (United States), ] (Norway), ] (Finland), and ] (Finland).<ref>James Minton, Kim Kelly, and Jenn Selby, "Filth Parade", ''Terrorizer'' #188, September 2009, p. 56.</ref> | |||
Key death metal bands include: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
===Death 'n' roll=== | |||
==References== | |||
{{Main|Death 'n' roll}} | |||
<references /> | |||
Death 'n' roll is a style that combines death metal's ] and highly ] ] guitar riffs along with elements of 1970s ] and ].<ref name="Entombed"/><ref name="Gorefest">{{cite web|first=Huey|last=Steve|title=Gorefest Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p39113/biography|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=February 15, 2008|quote=Erase, was released in 1994 and found the band moving subtly toward more traditional forms of metal, partly through its sure sense of groove. That approach crystallized on 1996's Soul Survivor, which combined death metal with the elegant power and accessibility of '70s British metal.}}</ref> Notable examples include ],<ref name="Entombed"/> ],<ref name="Gorefest"/> and ]. | |||
== |
===Deathcore=== | ||
{{Main|Deathcore}} | |||
* ] | |||
With the rise in popularity of ], some of its traits have been combined with death metal. Bands such as ], ] and ] combine death metal with a variance of metalcore elements.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sharpe-Young|first=Garry|title=Salt the Wound|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/ohio/cleveland/salt+the+wound1|publisher=]|access-date=July 8, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001083537/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/ohio/cleveland/salt+the+wound1|archive-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> Characteristics of death metal, such as fast drumming (including ]), down-tuned guitars, ], ], and ] are combined with the ] of metalcore. '']'' magazine stated that "one of ]'s trademarks, breakdowns, has spawned an entire metal subgenre: deathcore."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Cosmo|title=Suffocation reclaim their rightful place as kings of death metal|issue=59|quote=One of Suffocation's trademarks, breakdowns, has spawned an entire metal subgenre: deathcore|journal=]|date=September 2009}}</ref> | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
===Deathgrind, goregrind and pornogrind=== | |||
<!-- == External links == | |||
{{Main|Goregrind|Pornogrind}} | |||
] are "key contributors to the ] genres," according to ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Aborted Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p568178|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=June 10, 2009}}</ref>]] | |||
Goregrind, deathgrind and pornogrind<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Jonathon|title=Everything you ever wanted to know about pop (but were too old to ask)|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-pop-but-were-too-old-to-ask-463915.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614094343/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-pop-but-were-too-old-to-ask-463915.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2008|work=]|access-date=June 16, 2009|location=London|date=September 6, 2007}}</ref>{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=24}} are styles that mix ] with death metal, with goregrind focused on themes like ] and ],<ref name=Terrorizer>Badin, Olivier (2009). "Goregrind". ''Terrorizer'', 181, p.41.</ref> and pornogrind dealing with sexual and ]ographic themes.<ref>{{cite news |author=Anderson, Vicki |title=Running the musical gauntlet |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/166537 |newspaper=]|access-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref><ref name=washingtoncity>{{cite news |author=Hess, Amanda |title=Brick and Mordor: A record store heavy on the metal spins its last gloom and doom |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/13034822/brick-and-mordor |newspaper=]|access-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref> Some notable examples of these genres are ], ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Pop and Rock Listings:The Locust, Cattle Decapitation, Daughters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/arts/music/13pop.html|work=]|access-date=August 6, 2008|date=April 13, 2007}}</ref> ], ],<ref>{{cite news|first=Bryan|last=Reed|title=The Daily Tar Heel Column|url=http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/07/19/Arts/phantom.Limb.Exorcises.Its.Emotions-2925041.shtml|work=]|access-date=August 6, 2008|date=July 19, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081202153909/http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/07/19/Arts/phantom.Limb.Exorcises.Its.Emotions-2925041.shtml|archive-date=December 2, 2008}}</ref> ], ], ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Hess|first=Amanda|title=Brick and Mordor: A record store heavy on the metal spins its last gloom and doom|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=34450|work=]|date=January 18, 2008|access-date=June 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519084649/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=34450|archive-date=May 19, 2008}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mincemoyer|first=John|title=Gore International|journal=]|year=2002|issue=98|pages=19–20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sharpe-Young|first=Garry|title=Deaden Biography|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/deaden|publisher=]|access-date=July 17, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925031003/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/deaden|archive-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref> | |||
===Deathrash=== | |||
Only *quality* links here. Links that complement existing content and that do NOT violate ] or ] --> | |||
Deathrash, also known as death-thrash, is a shorthand term to describe bands who play a fusion of death metal and ].<ref name=Deathrash>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2012/01/03/album-of-the-day-deathchains-deathrash-assault/|title=ALBUM OF THE DAY: DEATHCHAIN'S DEATHRASH ASSAULT|date=January 3, 2012|publisher=Metal Sucks|last=FORD|first=LEYLA|access-date= August 30, 2018}}</ref>{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p={{page needed|date=June 2021}}}} The genre gained notoriety in ], Indonesia, where it attracted criticism of being related to the accelerated tourism development on the island and the superseding of its local culture, particularly by ]n one.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baulch |first1=Emma |date=June 26, 2003 |title=Gesturing elsewhere: the identity politics of the Balinese death/thrash metal scene |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/popular-music/article/gesturing-elsewhere-the-identity-politics-of-the-balinese-deaththrash-metal-scene/445967636598FFB140ACA6DCE39892F8 |journal=Popular Music |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=195–215 |doi=10.1017/S026114300300312X |s2cid=154198377 |access-date=August 30, 2018}}</ref> Notable bands include ],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2012/10/09/a-very-heavy-halloween-ii-into-the-darkness-into-the-grave/|title=A Very Heavy Halloween II: Into the Darkness, Into the Grave|date=October 9, 2012|magazine=Decibel Magazine|access-date= August 29, 2018}}</ref> ],<ref name="AMO">{{cite web | url = http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=332 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080810182831/http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=332 | title = Mortification | work = Australian Music Online (AMO) | publisher = ] (]) | archive-date = August 10, 2008 | access-date =August 18, 2011 }}</ref> ],{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p={{page needed|date=June 2021}}}} Incapacity,{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p={{page needed|date=June 2021}}}} ],{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p={{page needed|date=June 2021}}}} ],<ref name=Deathrash/> and ].<ref name=aln97>{{cite AV media notes |title=Arise |title-link=Arise (Sepultura album) |others=] |year=1997 |first=Don |last=Kaye |page=10 |type=CD booklet |publisher=] |location=], ]}}</ref> | |||
===Industrial death metal=== | |||
Industrial death metal is a genre of death metal that adds elements of ].<ref name=Kerrang>{{cite magazine|last=Arnopp|first=Jason|year=1993|title=Industrial Metal: A User's Guide|magazine=]|pages=44|number=462}}</ref> Some notable bands include ],<ref name="AM FF">{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/fear-factory-mn0000167320/biography |title=Fear Factory — Biography |last=Huey |first=Steve |website=AllMusic |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=September 15, 2017}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/anaal-nathrakh-announces-new-album-a-new-kind-of-horror|title=ANAAL NATHRAKH Announces New Album A New Kind Of Horror|date=May 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hell-is-empty-and-all-the-devils-are-here-mw0000582701|title=Hell Is Empty, and All the Devils Are Here - Anaal Nathrakh - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nocleansinging.com/2015/04/16/autokrator-a-get-to-the-point-interview-and-a-review| title=Autokrator, a get to the point interview and a review| publisher=No Clean Singing| year=2015| access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref> and ].<ref name=Kerrang/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=16769|title=It's Official: CANNIBAL CORPSE Are The Top-Selling Death Metal Band Of The SoundScan Era|date=November 17, 2003|publisher=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=September 13, 2017|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602230201/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=16769|archive-date=June 2, 2008}}</ref> | |||
===Melodic death metal=== | |||
{{Main|Melodic death metal}} | |||
] performing in 2008.]] | |||
] could be considered the forerunner of "melodic death metal." Melodic death metal, occasionally shortened to "melodeath", is a fusion of ] with elements of death metal. The subgenre is heavily influenced by the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-melodic-death-metal-1756186|title = What is Melodic Death Metal?|url-status=unfit}}</ref> Unlike most other death metal, melodeath usually features screams instead of growls, slower tempos, and much stronger emphasis on melody. Clean vocals may be used on occasion. ] is sometimes credited with releasing the first melodic death metal album with 1993's '']'', although Swedish bands ], ], and ] are usually mentioned as the main pioneers of the genre and of the ] sound. | |||
===Old school death metal=== | |||
Old school death metal is a style of death metal characterized by its slower and simpler song structures, less focused on the technical aspects of its composition and employing less usage of blast beats.{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} It gained notoriety in the late 1990s, with bands like ],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.stim.se/sv/nyheter/tobias-forge-far-stims-platinagitarr-2019 |title=Tobias Forge får Stims Platinagitarr 2019 |magazine=] |language=Swedish |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p={{page needed|date=June 2021}}}} ],<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/04/04/interview-thanatos/ | title=Interview: Old-School Dutch Death Metallers Thanatos at 35 Years, with New Compilation, New Label, and New Album in 2020 | work=] | date=April 4, 2019 | access-date=May 1, 2021 | last=Lewis | first=James}}</ref> ],{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} ],{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} ]{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} and ].{{sfn|Purcell|2003|p=23}} | |||
===Symphonic death metal=== | |||
Symphonic death metal is a genre of death metal that adds elements of ]. Bands described as symphonic death metal include ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-fleshgod-apocalypse-king|title=Album Review: FLESHGOD APOCALYPSEKing - Metal Injection|date=February 5, 2016|newspaper=Metal Injection|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-09-27/10-of-the-best-metal-bands-from-greece|title=10 of the best metal bands from Greece|date=September 27, 2016|newspaper=Metal Hammer|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/show-recap/marduk-couldnt-make-it-but-rotting-christ-carach-angren-and-necronomicon-put-on-quite-the-show|title=Marduk Couldn't Make It, But Rotting Christ, Carach Angren and Necronomicon Put On Quite The Show - Metal Injection|date=September 8, 2016|newspaper=Metal Injection|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Distefano |first=Alex |date=December 5, 2016 |title=Children of Bodom Prepare For a Night of Shredding at Observatory |url=https://www.ocweekly.com/children-of-bodom-prepare-for-a-night-of-shredding-at-observatory-7723345/ |access-date=January 22, 2017 |newspaper=OC Weekly}}</ref> ]'s 2000 album, '']'', has been described as death metal-styled symphonic metal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-11-02/the-10-essential-symphonic-metal-albums|title=The 10 Essential Symphonic Metal Albums|date=November 2, 2016|newspaper=Metal Hammer|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> | |||
===Technical death metal=== | |||
{{Main|Technical death metal}} | |||
] performing in 2010.]] | |||
Technical death metal (also known as tech-death, progressive death metal, or prog-death)<ref name="techprog1">{{cite web |author=Simms, Kelley |title=''Obscura Interview'' |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/Obscura-Interview.htm |publisher=] |access-date=June 20, 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105063047/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/Obscura-Interview.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2013 }}</ref> is a subgenre of death metal that employs dynamic song structures, uncommon time signatures, atypical rhythms and unusual harmonies and melodies. Bands described as technical death metal or progressive death metal usually fuse common death metal aesthetics with elements of ], ] or ]. While the term technical death metal is sometimes used to describe bands that focus on speed and extremity as well as complexity, the line between progressive and technical death metal is thin. ''Tech death'' and ''prog death'', for short, are terms commonly applied to such bands as ], ], and ]. ] and ] are known for a classical music-influenced death metal style. Death metal pioneers ] also refined their style in a more progressive direction in their final years. Some albums for this subgenre are '']'' (1990) by the German band ] and Death's '']'' (1991). This style has significantly influenced many bands, creating a stream that in Europe was carried out at first by bands such as ] and Electrocution.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sub Terra|last=Vitolo|first=Eduardo|publisher=Tsunami Edizioni|year=2012|isbn=978-88-96131-41-1|location=Milano|pages=316–319}}</ref> The Polish band ] gained recognition as one of Europe's primary modern technical death metal acts.<ref>{{cite web|first=Eduardo|last=Rivadavia|title=Decapitated Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p420031|pure_url=yes}}|website=]|access-date=February 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Decapitated's New Lineup Performs Live For First Time|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134476|work=]|date=February 3, 2010|access-date=February 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426050603/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134476|archive-date=April 26, 2011}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
==Bibliography== | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Christe |first=Ian |author-link=Ian Christe |year=2003 |title=Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal |title-link=Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-380-81127-4}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Ekeroth |first=Daniel |year=2008 |title=Swedish Death Metal |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-9796163-1-0}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Kahn-Harris |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Kahn-Harris |year=2007 |title=Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-84520-399-3}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=McIver |first=Joel |author-link=Joel McIver |year=2000 |title=Extreme Metal |url=https://archive.org/details/extrememetal00mciv |url-access=registration |publisher=] |isbn=978-88-7333-005-9}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Mudrian |first=Albert |year=2004 |title=Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore |title-link=Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-932595-04-8}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Netherton |first=Jason |year=2014 |title=Extremity Retained: Notes From the Death Metal Underground |publisher=Handshake, Inc. |isbn=978-1-631734-74-8}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Purcell |first=Natalie J. |year=2003 |title=Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-7864-1585-4}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Swinford |first=Dean |year=2013 |title=Death Metal Epic (Book I: The Inverted Katabasis) |publisher=Atlatl Press |isbn=978-0-9883484-3-1}} | |||
==External links== | |||
{{heavymetal}} | |||
*{{Commons category-inline|Death metal}} | |||
{{Extreme metal}}{{Hardcore punk}}{{Heavy metal music}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 07:23, 22 December 2024
Extreme subgenre of heavy metal music For other uses, see Death metal (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Death rock.
Death metal | |
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Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | Mid-1980s, United States |
Subgenres | |
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Fusion genres | |
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Regional scenes | |
Local scenes | |
Other topics | |
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, featuring double kick and blast beat techniques; minor keys or atonality; abrupt tempo, key, and time signature changes; and chromatic chord progressions. The lyrical themes of death metal may include slasher film-style violence, political conflict, religion, nature, philosophy, true crime and science fiction.
Building from the musical structure of thrash metal and early black metal, death metal emerged during the mid-1980s. Bands such as Venom, Celtic Frost, Slayer, and Kreator were important influences on the genre's creation. Possessed, Death, Necrophagia, Obituary, Autopsy, and Morbid Angel are often considered pioneers of the genre. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, death metal gained more media attention as a popular genre. Niche record labels like Combat, Earache, and Roadrunner began to sign death metal bands at a rapid rate.
Since then, death metal has diversified, spawning several subgenres. Melodic death metal combines death metal elements with those of the new wave of British heavy metal. Technical death metal is a complex style, with uncommon time signatures, atypical rhythms, and unusual harmonies and melodies. Death-doom combines the deep growled vocals and double-kick drumming of death metal with the slow tempos and melancholic atmosphere of doom metal. Deathgrind, goregrind, and pornogrind mix the complexity of death metal with the intensity, speed, and brevity of grindcore. Deathcore combines death metal with metalcore traits. Death 'n' roll combines death metal's growled vocals and highly distorted, detuned guitar riffs with elements of 1970s hard rock and heavy metal.
History
Emergence and early history
English extreme metal band Venom, from Newcastle, crystallized the elements of what later became known as thrash metal, death metal and black metal, with their first two albums Welcome to Hell and Black Metal, released in late 1981 and 1982, respectively. Their dark, blistering sound, harsh vocals, and macabre, proudly Satanic imagery proved a major inspiration for extreme metal bands. Another highly influential band, Slayer, formed in 1981. Although the band was a thrash metal act, Slayer's music was more violent than their thrash contemporaries Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Their breakneck speed and instrumental prowess combined with lyrics about death, violence, war, and Satanism won Slayer a cult following. According to Mike McPadden, Hell Awaits, Slayer's second album, "largely invent much of the sound and fury that would evolve into death metal." According to AllMusic, their third album Reign in Blood inspired the entire death metal genre. It had a big impact on genre leaders such as Death, Obituary, and Morbid Angel.
Possessed, a band that formed in the San Francisco Bay Area during 1983, is described by AllMusic as "connecting the dots" between thrash metal and death metal with their 1985 debut album, Seven Churches. While attributed as having a Slayer influence, current and former members of the band had actually cited Venom and Motörhead, as well as early work by Exodus, as the main influences on their sound. Although the group had released only two studio albums and an EP in their formative years, they have been described by music journalists and musicians as either being "monumental" in developing the death metal style, or as being the first death metal band. Earache Records noted that "the likes of Trey Azagthoth and Morbid Angel based what they were doing in their formative years on the Possessed blueprint laid down on the legendary Seven Churches recording. Possessed arguably did more to further the cause of 'Death Metal' than any of the early acts on the scene back in the mid-late 80's."
During the same period as the dawn of Possessed, a second influential metal band was formed in Orlando, Florida. Originally called Mantas, Death was formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner, Kam Lee, and Rick Rozz. Inspired by the Brandon, Florida act Nasty Savage, they took the sound of Nasty Savage and deepened it. In 1984, they released their first demo entitled Death by Metal, followed by several more. The tapes circulated through the tape trader world, quickly establishing the band's name. With Death guitarist Schuldiner adopting vocal duties, the band made a major impact in the emerging Florida death metal scene. The fast minor-key riffs and solos were complemented with fast drumming, creating a style that would catch on in tape trading circles. Schuldiner has been credited by AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia for being widely recognized as the "Father of Death Metal". Death's 1987 debut release, Scream Bloody Gore, has been described by About.com's Chad Bowar as being the "evolution from thrash metal to death metal", and "the first true death metal record" by the San Francisco Chronicle. In an Interview Jeff Becerra talked about the discussions of being the creator of the genre, saying that Schuldiner cited Possessed as a massive influence, and Death were even called "Possessed clones" early on. Along with Possessed and Death, other pioneers of death metal in the United States include Macabre, Master, Massacre, Immolation, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, and Post Mortem.
Growing popularity
By 1989, many bands had been signed by eager record labels wanting to cash in on the subgenre, including Florida's Obituary, Morbid Angel and Deicide. This collective of death metal bands hailing from Florida are often labeled as "Florida death metal". Morbid Angel pushed the genre's limits both musically and lyrically, with the release of their debut album Altars of Madness in 1989. The album "redefined what it meant to be heavy while influencing an upcoming class of brutal death metal."
Following the original death metal innovators, new subgenres began to develop the end of the decade, such as melodic death metal. Death released their fourth album Human in 1991, which has become a hallmark in technical death metal. Death's founder Schuldiner helped push the boundaries of the genre with uncompromising speed and technical virtuosity, combining intricate rhythm guitar work with complex arrangements and emotive guitar solos.
Earache Records, Relativity Records and Roadrunner Records became the genre's most important labels, with Earache releasing albums by Carcass, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, and Entombed, and Roadrunner releasing albums by Obituary, and Pestilence. Although these labels had not been death metal labels, they initially became the genre's flagship labels at the beginning of the 1990s. In addition to these, other labels formed as well, such as Nuclear Blast, Century Media, and Peaceville. Many of these labels would go on to achieve successes in other genres of metal throughout the 1990s.
In September 1990, Death's manager Eric Greif held one of the first North American death metal festivals, Day of Death, in Milwaukee suburb Waukesha, Wisconsin, and featured 26 bands including Autopsy, Broken Hope, Hellwitch, Obliveon, Revenant, Viogression, Immolation, Atheist, and Cynic.
Later history
Death metal's popularity achieved its initial peak during 1992–1993, with some bands such as Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse enjoying mild commercial success. However, the genre as a whole never broke into the mainstream. The genre's mounting popularity may have been partly responsible for a strong rivalry between Norwegian black metal and Swedish death metal scenes. Fenriz of Darkthrone has noted that Norwegian black metal musicians were "fed up with the whole death metal scene" at the time. Death metal diversified in the 1990s, spawning a rich variety of subgenres that still have a large "underground" following at the present.
In the 2000s, a number of bands in the hardcore punk scene, including Black Breath and Trap Them began to incorporate elements of death metal into their sound. This was followed by a wave of bands expanding upon the death-doom style of Incantation while incorporating elements of ambient music, including Dead Congregation and Necros Christos.
In the 2010s, a movement of bands reviving the sound of original 1980s death metal emerged, termed the "New Wave of Old School Death Metal". One of the earliest groups in this wave was Horrendous, who formed in 2009, who along with Tomb Mold took a progressive take the genre. Tomb Mold, Necrot, Undergang and Blood Incantation were some of the earliest bands to gain traction in the 2010s, with the COVID-19 pandemic amplifying the amount of attention drawn to the movement, through Cryptic Shift, Slimelord and Vaticinal Rites. In a 2022 article by MetalSucks writer Christopher Krovatin stated "Right now, as a music journalist, all I hear about is death metal." In the UK, this movement became the "New Wave of British Death Metal", fronted by Mortuary Spawn, Vacuous and Celestial Sanctuary, this name being coined by Tom Cronin, of Celestial Sanctuary, in order to separate these hardcore-indebted bands from the country's prior movements. The earliest bands in this wave were Cruciamentum and Grave Miasma.
A large part of the New Wave of Old School Death Metal was death metal bands who originated from the hardcore scene, some of which merge elements of hardcore into their style. Xibalba and Fuming Mouth were two of the earliest groups, with the wave being solidified by Gatecreeper, 200 Stab Wounds, Creeping Death, Sanguisugabogg and Kruelty. Venom Prison came from this scene and gained particular attention for their confrontation of what Kerrang! called death metal's "misogyny problem", by instead writing "rape-revenge narrative". Their lead vocalist Larissa Stupar was described by the publication as "metal's most important - and uncompromising - voice".
Characteristics
Instrumentation
The setup most frequently used within the death metal genre is two guitarists, a bass player, a vocalist, and a drummer often using "hyper double-bass blast beats". Although this is the standard setup, bands have been known to occasionally incorporate other instruments such as electronic keyboards.
Vocals and lyrics
Death metal vocals are referred to as death growls; which are coarse roars/snarls. Death growling is mistakenly thought to be a form of screaming using the lowest vocal register known as vocal fry, however vocal fry is actually a form of overtone screaming, and while growling can be performed this way by experienced vocalists who use the fry screaming technique, "true" death growling is in fact created by an altogether different technique. Growling has been called Cookie Monster vocals, tongue-in-cheek, due to the vocal similarity to the voice of the popular Sesame Street character of the same name. Although often criticized, death growls serve the aesthetic purpose of matching death metal's aggressive lyrical content.
The lyrical themes of death metal may invoke slasher film-stylised violence, but may also extend to topics like religion (sometimes including Satanism), occultism, Lovecraftian horror, nature, mysticism, mythology, theology, philosophy, science fiction, and politics. Although violence may be explored in various other genres as well, death metal may elaborate on the details of extreme acts, including blood and gore, psychopathy, delirium, mutilation, mutation, dissection, exorcism, torture, rape, cannibalism, and necrophilia. Sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris commented this apparent glamorisation of violence may be attributed to a "fascination" with the human body that all people share to some degree, a fascination that mixes desire and disgust. Heavy metal author Gavin Baddeley also stated there does seem to be a connection between "how acquainted one is with their own mortality" and "how much they crave images of death and violence" via the media. Additionally, contributing artists to the genre often defend death metal as little more than an extreme form of art and entertainment, similar to horror films in the motion picture industry. This explanation has brought such musicians under fire from activists internationally, who claim that this is often lost on a large number of adolescents, who are left with the glamorisation of such violence without social context or awareness of why such imagery is stimulating.
According to Alex Webster, bassist of Cannibal Corpse, "The gory lyrics are probably not, as much as people say, from being mainstream. Like, 'death metal would never go into the mainstream because the lyrics are too gory?' I think it's really the music, because violent entertainment is totally mainstream."
Etymology
The most popular theory of the subgenre's christening is Possessed's 1984 demo, Death Metal; the song from the eponymous demo would also be featured on the band's 1985 debut album, Seven Churches. Possessed vocalist/bassist Jeff Becerra said he coined the term in early 1983 for a high school English class assignment. Another possible origin was a magazine called Death Metal, started by Thomas Fischer and Martin Ain of Hellhammer and Celtic Frost. The name was later given to the 1984 compilation Death Metal released by Noise Records. The term might also have originated from other recordings, such as the demo released by Death in 1984, called Death by Metal.
Subgenres and fusion genres
Cited examples are not necessarily exclusive to one particular style. Many bands can easily be placed in two or more of the following categories, and a band's specific categorization is often a source of contention due to personal opinion and interpretation. The musical genres in this list are sorted alphabetically.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.Blackened death-doom
Blackened death-doom is a microgenre that combines the slow tempos and monolithic drumming of doom metal, the complex and loud riffage of death metal and the shrieking vocals of black metal. Examples of blackened death-doom bands include Morast, Faustcoven, The Ruins of Beverast, Bölzer, Necros Christos, Harvest Gulgaltha, Dragged into Sunlight, Hands of Thieves, and Soulburn.
Blackened death metal
Main article: Blackened death metalBlackened death metal is commonly death metal that incorporates musical, lyrical or ideological elements of black metal, such as an increased use of tremolo picking, anti-Christian or Satanic lyrical themes and chord progressions similar to those used in black metal. Blackened death metal bands are also more likely to wear corpse paint and suits of armour, than bands from other styles of death metal. Lower range guitar tunings, death growls and abrupt tempo changes are common in the genre. Examples of blackened death metal bands are Belphegor, Behemoth, Akercocke, and Sacramentum.
Melodic black-death
Melodic black-death (also known as blackened melodic death metal or melodic blackened death metal) is a genre of extreme metal that describes the style created when melodic death metal bands began being inspired by black metal and European romanticism. However, unlike most other black metal, this take on the genre would incorporate an increased sense of melody and narrative. Some bands who have played this style include Dissection, Sacramentum, Naglfar, God Dethroned, Dawn, Unanimated, Thulcandra, Skeletonwitch and Cardinal Sin.
War metal
War metal (also known as war black metal or bestial black metal) is an aggressive, cacophonous and chaotic subgenre of blackened death metal, described by Rock Hard journalist Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann as "rabid" and "hammering". Important influences include first wave black metal band Sodom, first wave black metal/death metal band Possessed as well as old grindcore, black and death metal bands like Repulsion, Autopsy, Sarcófago and the first two Sepultura releases. War metal bands include Blasphemy, Archgoat, Impiety, In Battle, Beherit, Crimson Thorn, Bestial Warlust, and Zyklon-B.
Brutal death metal
Main article: Brutal death metalBrutal death metal is a subgenre of death metal that privileges heaviness, speed, and complex rhythms over other aspects, such as melody and timbres. Brutal death metal bands employ high-speed, palm-muted power chording and single-note riffage. Notable bands include Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Suffocation, Cryptopsy, and Skinless.
Slam death metal
Further information: Brutal death metal § Slam death metalSlam death metal is a brutal death metal microgenre that evolved from the 1990s New York death metal scene, incorporating elements of hardcore punk. In contrast to other death metal styles, it is not generally focused on guitar solos and blast beats; instead, it employs mid-tempo rhythms, breakdowns, and palm-muted riffing, as well as hip hop-inspired vocal and drum beat rhythms. The breakdown riff of Suffocation's "Liege of Inveracity" has been credited by Rolling Stone as the first slam riff in death metal. The first wave of bands in the genre were New York bands like Internal Bleeding and Pyrexia, with notable subsequent acts including Devourment and Cephalotripsy.
Death-doom
Main article: Death-doomDeath-doom is a style that combines the slow tempos and pessimistic atmosphere of doom metal with the deep growling vocals and double-kick drumming of death metal. Influenced mostly by the early work of Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, the style emerged during the late 1980s and gained a certain amount of popularity during the 1990s. Death-doom was also pioneered by bands such as Winter, Disembowelment, Paradise Lost, Autopsy, Anathema, and My Dying Bride.
Funeral doom
Main article: Funeral doomFuneral doom is a genre that crosses death-doom with funeral dirge music. It is played at a very slow tempo, and places an emphasis on evoking a sense of emptiness and despair. Typically, electric guitars are heavily distorted and dark ambient aspects such as keyboards or synthesizers are often used to create a dreamlike atmosphere. Vocals consist of mournful chants or growls and are often in the background. Funeral doom was pioneered by Mournful Congregation (Australia), Esoteric (United Kingdom), Evoken (United States), Funeral (Norway), Thergothon (Finland), and Skepticism (Finland).
Death 'n' roll
Main article: Death 'n' rollDeath 'n' roll is a style that combines death metal's growled vocals and highly distorted detuned guitar riffs along with elements of 1970s hard rock and heavy metal. Notable examples include Entombed, Gorefest, and Six Feet Under.
Deathcore
Main article: DeathcoreWith the rise in popularity of metalcore, some of its traits have been combined with death metal. Bands such as Suicide Silence, Carnifex and Salt the Wound combine death metal with a variance of metalcore elements. Characteristics of death metal, such as fast drumming (including blast beats), down-tuned guitars, tremolo picking, growled vocals, and high-pitched shrieks are combined with the breakdowns of metalcore. Decibel magazine stated that "one of Suffocation's trademarks, breakdowns, has spawned an entire metal subgenre: deathcore."
Deathgrind, goregrind and pornogrind
Main articles: Goregrind and PornogrindGoregrind, deathgrind and pornogrind are styles that mix grindcore with death metal, with goregrind focused on themes like gore and forensic pathology, and pornogrind dealing with sexual and pornographic themes. Some notable examples of these genres are Brujeria, Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Pig Destroyer, Circle of Dead Children, Rotten Sound, Gut, and Cock and Ball Torture.
Deathrash
Deathrash, also known as death-thrash, is a shorthand term to describe bands who play a fusion of death metal and thrash metal. The genre gained notoriety in Bali, Indonesia, where it attracted criticism of being related to the accelerated tourism development on the island and the superseding of its local culture, particularly by Jakartan one. Notable bands include Grave, Mortification, The Crown, Incapacity, Darkane, Deathchain, and Sepultura.
Industrial death metal
Industrial death metal is a genre of death metal that adds elements of industrial music. Some notable bands include Fear Factory, Anaal Nathrakh, Autokrator, and Meathook Seed.
Melodic death metal
Main article: Melodic death metalSwedish death metal could be considered the forerunner of "melodic death metal." Melodic death metal, occasionally shortened to "melodeath", is a fusion of heavy metal with elements of death metal. The subgenre is heavily influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal. Unlike most other death metal, melodeath usually features screams instead of growls, slower tempos, and much stronger emphasis on melody. Clean vocals may be used on occasion. Carcass is sometimes credited with releasing the first melodic death metal album with 1993's Heartwork, although Swedish bands In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At the Gates are usually mentioned as the main pioneers of the genre and of the Gothenburg metal sound.
Old school death metal
Old school death metal is a style of death metal characterized by its slower and simpler song structures, less focused on the technical aspects of its composition and employing less usage of blast beats. It gained notoriety in the late 1990s, with bands like Repugnant, Thanatos, Necrophagia, Abscess, Bloodbath and Mortem.
Symphonic death metal
Symphonic death metal is a genre of death metal that adds elements of classical music. Bands described as symphonic death metal include Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septicflesh, Necronomicon, and Children of Bodom. Haggard's 2000 album, Awaking the Centuries, has been described as death metal-styled symphonic metal.
Technical death metal
Main article: Technical death metalTechnical death metal (also known as tech-death, progressive death metal, or prog-death) is a subgenre of death metal that employs dynamic song structures, uncommon time signatures, atypical rhythms and unusual harmonies and melodies. Bands described as technical death metal or progressive death metal usually fuse common death metal aesthetics with elements of progressive rock, jazz or classical music. While the term technical death metal is sometimes used to describe bands that focus on speed and extremity as well as complexity, the line between progressive and technical death metal is thin. Tech death and prog death, for short, are terms commonly applied to such bands as Nile, Edge of Sanity, and Opeth. Necrophagist and Spawn of Possession are known for a classical music-influenced death metal style. Death metal pioneers Death also refined their style in a more progressive direction in their final years. Some albums for this subgenre are Hallucinations (1990) by the German band Atrocity and Death's Human (1991). This style has significantly influenced many bands, creating a stream that in Europe was carried out at first by bands such as Gory Blister and Electrocution. The Polish band Decapitated gained recognition as one of Europe's primary modern technical death metal acts.
See also
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Cannibal Corpse's first album, Eaten Back to Life, was deemed pure, brutal Death Metal
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Buffalo band Cannibal Corpse are perhaps the most devoted brutal death metal act in this book, rarely diverging from the path of the blastbeat and the throaty roar.
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Many New York style bands like Suffocation, Dying Fetus and Internal Bleeding are slam-orientated and bass-based; this sort of music promotes dancing with rapid shifts from low and slow to fast and blast.
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Slow 'slam' riffs helped bands like Internal Bleeding and Pyrexia, inspired by Suffocation, to become successful in the mid 1990s. Today, New York style bands like Skinless and Dying Fetus dominate the scene with 'crowd-pleasing mosh riffs'
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Most standard death metal, and particularly its more brutal offshoots, is just too damn serious. Not too many people can enthusiastically back slam metal shit like Devourment or Cephalotripsy.
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Erase, was released in 1994 and found the band moving subtly toward more traditional forms of metal, partly through its sure sense of groove. That approach crystallized on 1996's Soul Survivor, which combined death metal with the elegant power and accessibility of '70s British metal.
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One of Suffocation's trademarks, breakdowns, has spawned an entire metal subgenre: deathcore
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{{cite web}}
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Bibliography
- Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-380-81127-4.
- Ekeroth, Daniel (2008). Swedish Death Metal. Bazillion Points. ISBN 978-0-9796163-1-0.
- Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007). Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge. Berg Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84520-399-3.
- McIver, Joel (2000). Extreme Metal. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-88-7333-005-9.
- Mudrian, Albert (2004). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore. Feral House. ISBN 978-1-932595-04-8.
- Netherton, Jason (2014). Extremity Retained: Notes From the Death Metal Underground. Handshake, Inc. ISBN 978-1-631734-74-8.
- Purcell, Natalie J. (2003). Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-1585-4.
- Swinford, Dean (2013). Death Metal Epic (Book I: The Inverted Katabasis). Atlatl Press. ISBN 978-0-9883484-3-1.
External links
- Media related to Death metal at Wikimedia Commons
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