Death metal is an extreme heavy metal subgenre. The genre is typically characterized by the use of heavily-distorted guitars, harsh vocals that are low-pitched and/or growled, morbid lyrics, exceptionally fast-paced rhythms and melodies, frequent blast beats on drums, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes. Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... Death Metal is the first demo released by Possessed in 1984. ... This article is about the power metal band. ... Hellhammer was an early-1980s extreme metal band, hailing from Switzerland and popular briefly in Europe in the mid-1980s. ... Running Wild is one of a few German heavy metal bands to emerge in the early/mid 1980s (along with Helloween, Gamma Ray, Rage, Blind Guardian, Grave Digger, etc). ... Death Metal is a split album by groups Helloween, Hellhammer, Running Wild and Dark Avenger. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... Two different electric guitars. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. ... Technical death metal, or tech death for short, is a term used to describe bands in the subgenre death metal. ... ... Blackened death metal also called death/black metal or black/death metal (depending on which styles is dominant) is a fusion genre of extreme metal utilising elements of death metal and black metal with bands usually hailing from Europe. ... Deathcore is an amalgamation of two musical styles: metalcore and death metal. ... Death/Doom is a fusion genre, combines the slow tempos and pessimistic mood of doom metal with the guttral vocals and guitar style of death metal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Floridas ethnic diversity has led to a myriad of musical styles from punk rock to salsa and heavy metal being popular in various parts of the state. ... Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... Death growl, also known as growled vocals, harsh vocals, death vocals, pig vocals, throating, death grunts, unclean vocals, Cookie Monster vocals[1], or simply growling, is a vocalization style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal music genre, but also used in a variety of other heavy metal subgenres. ... Extreme metal is an umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined, for a variety of heavy metal subgenres developed since the 1980s. ... Blast beats are the torrents of alternating snare and bass drums which increase the speed, density, and percussiveness of death metal, black metal and grindcore. ... This is a list of death metal bands with articles on Wikipedia. ... Extreme metal is an umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined, for a variety of heavy metal subgenres developed since the 1980s. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Blast beats are drum beats consisting of torrents of alternating snare and bass drums which increase the speed, density, and percussiveness of death metal, black metal and grindcore. ...

Building off the speed and complexity of thrash metal, death metal came to true prominence by the mid 1980s.^[1] Bands like Slayer, Possessed^[2] and pioneer death metal bands such as Death and Morbid Angel are considered prime influences in the genre.^[3] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, death metal gained more media attention as popular record labels like Earache Records and Roadrunner Records began to sign death metal bands at a rapid rate.^[4] Since then, death metal has diversified, spawning a rich variety of subgenres.^[5][6] Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ... Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Morbid Angel is a Florida-based death metal band assembled in 1983. ... Earache Records is a heavy metal-orientated record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme music by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records, in the period 1988-1992. ... Roadrunner Records is a major record label that concentrates on metal bands. ...

Death metal has been met with considerable hostility from mainstream culture, mainly because of the socially unattractive themes, imagery and stage personae surrounding many bands.^[7] It is typically seen as an underground form of music, in part because it does not appeal to mainstream tastes and because its musicians often choose to remain obscure. Underground music is music which has developed a cult following, independent of commercial success. ...

Characteristics

The genre is often identified by fast, highly distorted and downtuned guitars, combined with guitar playing techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking. The percussion is usually fast and dynamic. Blast beats, double bass and exceedingly fast drum patterns are frequently used to add to the ferocity of the genre.^[8] The vocals are often guttural roars, grunts, snarls, and low gurgles colloquially called death grunts or death growls. This vocal style is sometimes referred to in tongue-in-cheek as Cookie Monster vocals because of the similarity with the popular Sesame Street character of the same name.^[9][10] In the world of guitar music and guitar amplification, distortion is actively sought, evaluated, and appreciatively discussed in its endless flavors. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... The palm mute, also known as palm muting, is a playing technique for the guitar. ... Tremolo picking or double picking describes the musical technique of picking on a guitar or other string instrument in which a single note is played repeatedly in quick succession. ... Blast beats are the torrents of alternating snare and bass drums which increase the speed, density, and percussiveness of death metal, black metal and grindcore. ... A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. ... Death growl, also known as growled vocals, harsh vocals, death vocals, pig vocals, throating, death grunts, unclean vocals, Cookie Monster vocals[1], or simply growling, is a vocalization style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal music genre, but also used in a variety of other heavy metal subgenres. ... This article is about the Sesame Street character. ... Sesame Street is an American educational childrens television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. ...

Death metal is known for its abrupt tempo, key, and time signature changes, as well as extremely fast and complex guitar and drumwork.^[11][12] Death metal may include chromatic chord progressions and a varied song structure, rarely employing the standard verse-chorus arrangement. These compositions tend to emphasize an ongoing development of themes and motifs.^[13] The setup most frequently used in death metal is two guitars, a bass guitar, a vocalist and a drum kit almost universally using two bass drums or a double bass drum pedal. Although this is the standard setup, bands have been known to incorporate other instruments such as electronic keyboards. For other uses, see Tempo (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see key. ... The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and what note value constitutes one beat. ... For other uses, see Drum (disambiguation). ... In music, chromatic indicates the inclusion of notes not in the prevailing scale and is also used for those notes themselves (Shir-Cliff et al 1965, p. ... Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. ... Two different electric guitars. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. ... A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. ... An electronic keyboard. ...

Death metal's lyrical themes typically invoke Z-grade slasher and splatter movie violence,^[14] but may also extend to contain themes of Satanism, Occultism, mysticism, and/or social commentary.^[15][16] Although violence may be explored in various other genres as well, death metal elaborates on the details of extreme acts, including mutilation, dissection, rape and necrophilia. Sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris (author of Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge) commented that this may be attributed to a "fascination" with the human body that all people share to some degree, a "primal desire", and that although the genre often glamorizes violence and obscurities, there is equally as much fear and disgust amid the exploration.^[17] Heavy metal author Gavin Baddeley also stated that 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.^[18] 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.^[19] Needless to say, this has brought such musicians under fire from activists internationally, who claim that fact is often lost on a large number of adolescents, who are left with the glamorization of such violence without social context or awareness of why such imagery is stimulating.^[1] Z-movie (or Grade-Z movie) is a term applied to films with an extremely low budget and a miserable quality. ... The original 1974 Black Christmas is considered the first authentic slasher. ... Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan. ... For other uses of this term, see occult (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Social commentary is the act of expressing an opinion on the nature of society. ... Mutilation or maiming is an act or physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of the (human) body, usually causing death. ... Dissected rat showing major organs. ... Look up Necrophilia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups and societies. ... For other uses, see Author (disambiguation). ... Gavin Baddeley is a Renowned member and Reverand at the Church of Satan. ... DVD cover showing horror characters as depicted by Universal Studios. ...

According to Alex Wester, bassist of Cannibal Corpse, "The gory lyrics are probably not, as much as people say that's what would keep us 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".^[20] Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band founded in 1988. ...

Origin of the term

There are multiple theories on how the term "death metal" originated. One theory is that the name originates from an early pioneer of the genre, Death. A Florida journalist explained to his readers that Death play their own kind of metal: "Death's Metal".^[21] Others contest that Death is not the origin, but that the harsh vocals and morbid lyrical content generally inspired the genre.^[22] Another possible origin is a fanzine called "Death Metal", started by Thomas Fischer and Martin Ain of the band Hellhammer (later Celtic Frost). The name was later given to the 1984 compilation Death Metal released by Hellhammer's label Noise Records.^[23][24] The term might also have originated from other recordings. Possessed's 1984 demo is called Death Metal, and a song with the same name is featured on their 1985 debut album Seven Churches.^[25] A demo released by Death in 1983 is called Death by Metal.^[26] Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Thomas Gabriel Fischer (born July 19, 1960), earlier known by his stage name of Tom Gabriel Warrior, is a Swiss singer and guitarist. ... Martin Eric Ain is the left-handed bassist of Swiss thrash metal band Celtic Frost. ... Hellhammer was an early-1980s extreme metal band, hailing from Switzerland and popular briefly in Europe in the mid-1980s. ... Celtic Frost are a black metalthrash metal band from Zürich, Switzerland, known for their influence on the extreme metal and gothic metal genres. ... Death Metal is a split album by groups Helloween, Hellhammer, Running Wild and Dark Avenger. ... Hellhammer was an early-1980s extreme metal band, hailing from Switzerland and popular briefly in Europe in the mid-1980s. ... Noise Records is a German record label founded by infamous German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1984 as an expansion of the concept of his label Aggressive Rock Produktionen. ... Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... Death Metal is the first demo released by Possessed in 1984. ... Seven Churches was Possesseds debut album, released in 1985 through Combat. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Death By Metal is the first Demo released by Death in 1983. ...

Early history (up to 1991)

The history of death metal begins in the early 1980s. A style emerged that was between death metal, black metal and thrash metal. European bands like Venom, Bathory, and Hellhammer, and bands from the US like Possessed and Slayer formed the basis of this extreme heavy metal music style. From these founding acts styles diversified into death and black metal.^[27] This article is about the musical genre. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ... Venom are an English heavy metal band, formed in late 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. ... Bathory was a highly influential Swedish thrash metal/black metal/viking metal band, and were regarded as one of the forefathers of black metal and founder of viking metal. ... Hellhammer was an early-1980s extreme metal band, hailing from Switzerland and popular briefly in Europe in the mid-1980s. ... Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ...

Music sample:

"Death Metal"

Music sample of Possessed's "Death Metal" from the album Seven Churches (1985).

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

The British band Venom crystallized the elements of what later became known as thrash metal, death metal and black metal with their 1981 album Welcome to Hell.^[28] Their dark, blistering sound, harsh vocals and macabre, proudly satanic image proved a major inspiration for extreme metal bands.^[29] Another highly influential band, Slayer, formed in 1981. Although the band is a thrash metal act, Slayer's music is more violent than thrash metal contemporaries Metallica, Megadeth or Exodus.^[30] Slayer is regarded as one of the most sinister thrash metal bands from the early 1980s^[31] and are considered the ancestors of and directly responsible for the rise of death metal.^[32][33] Their breakneck speed and instrumental prowess combined with lyrics about death, war and Satanism won Slayer a rabid cult following.^[34] According to All Music Guide, their third album, Reign in Blood, inspired the entire death metal genre^[35] and had a big impact on the genre leaders: Death, Obituary and Morbid Angel.^[30] Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... Seven Churches is Possesseds debut album, released in 1985. ... Venom are an English heavy metal band, formed in late 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. ... Welcome to Hell is the 1981 debut album by the British Heavy/Black Metal band Venom. ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by founder, frontman, guitarist, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in San Francisco, California by singer/drummer Tom Hunting, guitarists Tim Agnello and Kirk Hammett, and bassist Carlton Melson. ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Reign in Blood is the third studio album and major label debut by the American thrash metal band Slayer. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Obituary are one of the pioneering bands of the death metal genre. ... Morbid Angel is a Florida-based death metal band assembled in 1983. ...

Death's Chuck Schuldiner, "widely recognized as the father of death metal"^[36]

Possessed, a band that formed in 1983, was heavily influenced by early Slayer.^[37] Although Possessed's brand of metal resembled Slayer's fast and Satanic thrash metal they're often cited as the first death metal band.^[38][39][40] This is largely because of the grunted vocals which set the stage for death metal's breakaway from thrash metal.^[37] The 1984 demo Death Metal and 1985 album Seven Churches are regarded as their most influential material. Not long after the dawn of Possessed, a second monumental death metal band was formed in Florida. The band Mantas, composed of Chuck Schuldiner, Kam Lee, and Rick Rozz released a demo entitled Death by Metal in 1983. In 1984, under their new name Death, more demos were released. The tapes circulated through the tape trader world, quickly establishing the band's name. With Death guitarist Schuldiner adopting vocal duties, creating a guttural and non-melodic growl, the band made a major impact on the scene. Fast, dark minor-key riffs and fierce solos were complimented with fast drumming, creating a style that would catch on in tape trading circles.^[41][42] Subsequently, Schuldiner has been "widely recognized as the father of death metal".^[43] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 474 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (596 × 753 pixels, file size: 199 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 474 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (596 × 753 pixels, file size: 199 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Charles Michael Chuck Schuldiner (May 13, 1967, Long Island, New York – December 13, 2001) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and genre innovator. ... Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation). ... Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... Seven Churches was Possesseds debut album, released in 1985 through Combat. ... Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Charles Michael Chuck Schuldiner (May 13, 1967, Long Island, New York – December 13, 2001) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and genre innovator. ... Kam Lee (born Barney Kam Lee) is an American singer. ... Rick Rozz (born Frederick DeLillo, January 9, 1967) is an American guitarist. ... Death By Metal is the first Demo released by Death in 1983. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ...

Along with Possessed and Death there were other influential bands who introduced an early raw extreme metal style, guttural vocals and lyrics concerning death and/or Satanism. In 1984, Bathory released the influential early black metal album Bathory.^[44] Hellhammer have released demos as early as 1982. In 1984 they were featured on the split album Death Metal.^[45] Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Bathory was a highly influential Swedish thrash metal/black metal/viking metal band, and were regarded as one of the forefathers of black metal and founder of viking metal. ... Bathory is the debut album of the Swedish black metal band Bathory. ... Hellhammer was an early-1980s extreme metal band, hailing from Switzerland and popular briefly in Europe in the mid-1980s. ... Death Metal is a split album by groups Helloween, Hellhammer, Running Wild and Dark Avenger. ...

As heavy bands like Slayer, Death and Possessed paved the road for death metal in America, heavy European and South American bands were creating a buzz in the metal underground. By the mid 1980s, German thrash metal bands like Kreator, Sodom and Destruction were becoming underground majors.^[46][47][48] These band's releases all featured uptempo rhythms, fast guitar solos, raspy screamed vocals and dark lyrical themes; an influence on later death metal bands. At the same time a small South American scene would emerge. Bands like Holocausto, Sarcófago and Sepultura would release death metal records around 1986, most notably Sepultura's first LP, Morbid Visions. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany. ... Sodom is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. ... Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in Lörrach, in southern Germany in 1982. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Sarcófago are a Deathrash band from Brazil. ... Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band, formed in 1984. ... Morbid Visions is the first LP released by Sepultura in 1986. ...

An early death metal album, Season of the Dead, was released by Necrophagia in 1987. That same year saw the release of Death's Scream Bloody Gore, which some writers consider the subgenre's first "proper" release.^[49] Necrophagia was one of the first death metal bands, assembled in 1983. ... Scream Bloody Gore is the first album released by Death in 1987. ...

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". 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, thrash metal. Obituary are one of the pioneering bands of the death metal genre. ... Morbid Angel is a Florida-based death metal band assembled in 1983. ... Deicide is an American death metal band. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ...

The late 1980s also saw the rise of death metal in Scandinavia (particularly in Sweden, i.e. "Gothenburg metal"), with bands such as Nihilist (which disbanded and bifurcated into Entombed and Unleashed), Grotesque (also disbanded, resulting in At the Gates and Liers in Wait), Carnage (later Dismember), Tiamat, Grave and Amorphis from Finland. For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... Entombed is a Swedish metal band which formed in 1987 (see 1987 in music) under the name of Nihilist. ... Entombed is a Swedish metal band which formed in 1987 (see 1987 in music) under the name of Nihilist. ... Unleashed is a death metal band. ... Grotesque is a Swedish death metal band formed in Gothenburg in September 1988 from the remains of Conquest by WÃ¥hlin (Necrolord). ... At the Gates was a Swedish melodic death metal band. ... Liers in Wait were a Gothenburg, Sweden-based death metal band active between 1990 and 1995. ... Carnage was a Swedish death metal band and a precursor to Dismember. ... Dismember is a Swedish death metal band. ... Tiamat is a band that formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1988. ... Grave is a Swedish (Visby) death metal band. ... Amorphis is a Finnish metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen in 1990. ...

Music sample:

"Blessed Are the Sick"

Music sample of Morbid Angel's "Blessed Are the Sick" from the live album Entangled in Chaos (1991).

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Following the original death metal innovators, a new hybrid began by the end of the decade. Just as the creation of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) lead by Iron Maiden and other bands was sparked by the youthful energy of punk rock in the late 1970s, so did cross-fertilization between metal and punk once more create something new in the late 1980s. The chaotic and often confusing development that took place around this time is well illustrated by the British band Napalm Death, often characterized as a "grindcore" band, although simultaneously a part of the hardcore punk scene. However, Napalm Death themselves changed drastically around or before 1990, leaving grindcore behind. In particular, on 1990's Harmony Corruption, 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 Mark "Barney" Greenway, and thoughtful lyrics. Other bands contributing significantly to this early movement include Britain's Bolt Thrower and Carcass, and New York's Suffocation. Morbid Angel is a Florida-based death metal band assembled in 1983. ... Entangled in Chaos: Live is the first official live recording album by the death metal band Morbid Angel. ... The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) emerged in the late 70s, in part a reaction to the contemporary decline of traditional heavy metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, all three of which had been submerged by a mixture of personal problems, tiredness and... Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in the East End of London. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Napalm Death are a grindcore/death metal band from Birmingham, England. ... Grindcore, often shortened to grind, is an evolution of crust punk, most commonly associated with death metal, a very different though similarly extreme style of music. ... Hardcore Punk is a subgenre of Punk Rock that originated in North America in the late 1970s. ... Grindcore, often shortened to grind, is an evolution of crust punk, most commonly associated with death metal, a very different though similarly extreme style of music. ... Harmony Corruption is an album by Napalm Death. ... Mark Barney Greenway is a British Death Metal vocalist, who has been a member of Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror and Benediction. ... This article is about the death metal band. ... Carcass were a British band formed by Napalm Death guitarist Bill Steer together with drummer Ken Owen in 1985. ... This article is about the state. ... Suffocation is a American brutal technical death metal band. ...

To close the circle, the band Death released Human in 1991, an example of modern death metal. Death's founder Schuldiner 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.^[50] Other examples of this are Carcass's Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious, Suffocation's Effigy of the Forgotten and Entombed's Clandestine from 1991. At this point, all the above characteristics are clearly present: abrupt tempo and count changes, on occasion extremely fast drumming, morbid lyrics and growling vocal delivery. Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ... Human is the fourth album released by Death in 1991. ... Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious is a Carcass album, released in 1991 through Earache Records. ... Effigy of the Forgotten is the debut full-length album by New York Death Metal act Suffocation, released in 1991. ... Clandestine is an album by Scandinavian death metal band Entombed, released in 1991 (see 1991 in music). ... For other uses, see Tempo (disambiguation). ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ...

As mentioned above, by the end of the 1980s, various record labels internationally began to sign death metal bands at a rapid rate. Earache Records, Relativity Records and Roadrunner Records became the genre's most important labels,^[51] with Earache releasing albums by Carcass, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, and Entombed, and Roadrunner releasing albums by Obituary, Sepultura, and Pestilence. Although these labels had not been death metal labels to start with (Earache was founded for grindcore and Roadrunner for thrash), they became the genre's flagship labels in the beginning of the 1990s. In addition to these, other labels formed as well, such as Nuclear Blast, Century Media Records, and Peaceville; many of these labels would go on to achieve successes in other genres of metal throughout the 1990s. Earache Records is a heavy metal-orientated record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme music by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records, in the period 1988-1992. ... Relativity Records was a record label. ... Roadrunner Records is a major record label that concentrates on metal bands. ... Carcass were a British band formed by Napalm Death guitarist Bill Steer together with drummer Ken Owen in 1985. ... Napalm Death are a grindcore/death metal band from Birmingham, England. ... Morbid Angel is a Florida-based death metal band assembled in 1983. ... Entombed is a Swedish metal band which formed in 1987 (see 1987 in music) under the name of Nihilist. ... Obituary are one of the pioneering bands of the death metal genre. ... Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band, formed in 1984. ... Pestilence were a death/thrash metal band from the Netherlands founded in 1986. ... For nuclear detonations, see nuclear explosion. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Peaceville Records is a British heavy metal-oriented record label. ...

Later history (1991–present)

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (February 2008)

Death metal's popularity achieved its peak between the 1992-93 era, with some bands such as Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse enjoying mild commercial successes; however, the genre as a whole never broke in to the mainstream owing to its extreme nature. Nevertheless, rather than fading away, death metal diversified in the 1990s, spawning a rich variety of subgenres, including the following. It should be noted that 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. Morbid Angel is a Florida-based death metal band assembled in 1983. ... Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band founded in 1988. ...

Melodic death metal

Main article: Melodic death metal

Scandinavian death metal could be considered the forerunner of "melodic death metal". Melodic death metal, sometimes referred to as "melodeath", is heavy metal music mixed with some death metal elements, such as growled vocals and the liberal use of blastbeats. Songs are typically based around Iron Maiden-esque guitar harmonies and melodies with typically higher-pitched growls, as opposed to traditional death metal's brutal riffs and much lower death grunts. 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. Additionally, Afflicted, Entombed, Amon Amarth, Unleashed and Tiamat helped to define the sound that would evolve into common melodic death metal. Entombed (ex-Nihilist) was the band which started to combine punk and death/thrash riffs and set a trademark "Sunlight studios" guitar sound. This was mainly created by the use of the Boss Heavy Metal distortion pedal, creating a raw, mechanical, electric buzz, which many bands of this genre later tried to reproduce. Nevertheless, this sound was inspired by British deathgrind band Unseen Terror on their debut album Human Error. Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. ... Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... Iron Maiden are a British heavy metal band from east London. ... Carcass were a British band formed by Napalm Death guitarist Bill Steer together with drummer Ken Owen in 1985. ... Heartwork is an album by Carcass, released through Earache Records in 1994. ... In Flames is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden founded in 1990. ... Dark Tranquillity is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. ... At the Gates was a Swedish melodic death metal band. ... Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. ... Afflicted was a death metal band that formed in Sweden in the early 90s. ... Entombed is a Swedish metal band which formed in 1987 (see 1987 in music) under the name of Nihilist. ... Amon Amarth is a viking-themed melodic death metal band from Sweden founded in 1990 in Tumba, named after a location in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth. ... Unleashed is a death metal band. ... Tiamat is a band that formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1988. ... Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. ... Entombed is a Swedish metal band which formed in 1987 (see 1987 in music) under the name of Nihilist. ... Sunlight studios is a recording studio in Stockholm, Sweden. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Unseen Terror Unseen Terror was a band project formed by Shane Embury (later of Napalm Death) and Mitch Dickinson (Heresy), with the idea of sound more technical than Napalm Death at that time. ... Human Error is an album by British band Unseen Terror. ...

Technical/Progressive death metal

Main article: Technical death metal

Technical death metal and progressive death metal are related terms that refer to bands particularly distinguished by the complexity of their music. Common traits are abruptly changing, sometimes chaotic 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 and/or classical music. While the term technical death metal is sometimes used to describe bands that not only focus on complexity but also on speed and extremity, 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 Cryptopsy, Edge of Sanity, Opeth, Origin and Sadist. Cynic, Atheist, Pestilence and Gorguts are examples of bands noted for creating jazz-influenced death metal. 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. Technical death metal, or tech death for short, is a term used to describe bands in the subgenre death metal. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... This article is about Western art music from 1000 AD to the present. ... Cryptopsy is a technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada and was formed in 1992. ... Edge of Sanity are a Swedish melodic death metal band whose work often delves into experimental, even progressive, territory. ... Opeth are a heavy metal band from Stockholm, Sweden. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sadist is a progressive death metal band from Genoa, Italy founded in 1991. ... Cynic is a technical death metal/progressive metal band from Miami, Florida, United States. ... Atheist are a Technical death metal band from Florida, USA, founded in 1984, whose music combined brutal riffs with subtle latin music arrangements and elements of jazz. ... Pestilence were a death/thrash metal band from the Netherlands founded in 1986. ... Gorguts was a technical death metal/avant-garde metal band from Quebec, Canada. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Necrophagist are a technical death metal group from Germany, founded and fronted by lead guitarist/vocalist Muhammed Suiçmez. ... Spawn of Possession is a brutal technical death metal band from Kalmar, Sweden, which was founded in 1997. ... This article is about Western art music from 1000 AD to the present. ... Death was an influential American death metal band founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, and dissolved in 2001. ...

Brutal death metal

Main article: Brutal death metal

Brutal death metal developed by combining death metal with aspects of grindcore, and took death metal to greater extremes in terms of speed and aggression. Brutal death metal tends to be drum-heavy and rhythm oriented leaving little room for melody and harmony. Typically, guitar riffs make use of fast tremolo picking, and heavy palm muting for a percussive effect. The drum lines are fast and blast beats are predominant. Brutal death metal vocalists employ low-pitched death grunts and the lyrics are often, but not always gore related. Some bands occasionally alternate fast and aggressive parts with slower grooves and breakdowns. Bands who focus more on these slower groovy parts and breakdowns are sometimes referred to as slam death metal.^[52] ... Grindcore, often shortened to grind, is an evolution of crust punk, most commonly associated with death metal, a very different though similarly extreme style of music. ... Tremolo picking or double picking describes the musical technique of picking on a guitar or other string instrument in which a single note is played repeatedly in quick succession. ... The palm mute, also known as palm muting, is a playing technique for the guitar. ... Blast beats are drum beats consisting of torrents of alternating snare and bass drums which increase the speed, density, and percussiveness of death metal, black metal and grindcore. ... The death grunt (also called death growl or death vocals) is a vocal style typically employed by death metal and grindcore singers. ... Graphic violence is the depiction of violence in media such as film, television, and video games. ... For other uses, see Break. ...

Certain bands in this genre, for example Nile and Suffocation, have also been categorized as technical death metal. There is a sizable overlap between the two genres, as some bands not only focus on speed and aggression but also incorporate technical and progressive elements. Brutal death metal is also associated with bands like Dethklok, Cannibal Corpse, Devourment, Disgorge and Hate Eternal. Nile is a brutal / technical death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, USA assembled in 1993. ... Suffocation is a American brutal technical death metal band. ... Dethklok is a virtual melodic death metal[1] band created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha for the television show Metalocalypse. ... Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band founded in 1988. ... Devourment is a brutal death metal band formed in 1995 in Dallas, Texas. ... Disgorge is a brutal death metal band from San Diego, California, USA, formed in 1992. ... Hate Eternal is an extreme death metal band from Florida, United States. ...

Death/Doom

Main article: Death/doom

Death/doom is a slow and melancholic subgenre inspired by and mixed with classic doom metal. The genre was created by the likes of Autopsy, Incantation, Asphyx, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost and Disembowelment. Whereas traditional doom metal relies heavily on slow tempo to create a melancholic atmosphere, death/doom is slightly faster and emphasizes minor-key melodies to create a similar atmosphere, and commonly utilizes death growls. Death/Doom is a fusion genre, combines the slow tempos and pessimistic mood of doom metal with the guttral vocals and guitar style of death metal. ... Death/Doom is a fusion genre, combines the slow tempos and pessimistic mood of doom metal with the guttral vocals and guitar style of death metal. ... Doom metal is a form of extreme metal music that emerged as a recognized sub-genre during the first half of the 1980s. ... Autopsy were an influential death metal band founded in 1987 in the United States of America by Chris Reifert after he left Death. ... Incantation is a US death metal band that was formed by John McEntee and Paul Ledney in 1989. ... Asphyx is a Dutch death metal band that incorporates doom metal and thrash metal elements into their music. ... My Dying Bride is a British doom/death metal band formed in 1990. ... Paradise Lost are a death/doom and later gothic metal band formed in 1987 in Halifax, England. ... Disembowelment (mostly written diSEMBOWELMENT) was an Australian death/doom metal band from Melbourne that was formed in 1989 after the two piece grind band Bacteria featuring drummer Paul Mazziotta and guitarist/vocalist Renato Gallina changed its name and musical style. ...

Zyklon are prominent members in the black/death metal scene^{[citation needed]}

Zyklon is a Norwegian blackened death metal band formed in 1998 by Samoth and Trym of Norwegian black metal band Emperor, along with former members of Myrkskog, in order to make up for the fact that Emperor were no longer playing live. ...

Blackened death metal

Main article: Blackened death metal

Blackened death metal is a subgenre of death metal fused with the more fluid and melodic elements of black metal. These bands also tend to adopt some of the thematic characteristics of that genre as well; evil, Satanism, and occultism are all common topics and images. Early influences for blackened death metal included death metal bands such as Deicide, Acheron, and Immolation as well as black metal bands like Mayhem. Some good examples of the blackened death metal style would be God Dethroned (Early), Behemoth, Akercocke, Belphegor, Angelcorpse, Zyklon, and Sacramentum. Blackened death metal also called death/black metal or black/death metal (depending on which styles is dominant) is a fusion genre of extreme metal utilising elements of death metal and black metal with bands usually hailing from Europe. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan. ... Deicide is an American death metal band. ... Acheron is an American death metal band, originally based in Florida. ... Immolation means a sacrificial killing by burning, such as: Animal sacrifice Human sacrifice Sati is a Hindu funeral custom involving immolation. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Statistics Genre: Death metal Country: Holland Status: Active Time: 1990- Background God Dethroned is a death metal band from the Netherlands. ... Behemoth ( ) is a Polish death metal band. ... Akercocke is a British progressive blackened death metal band. ... Belphegor is an Austrian blackened death metal band named after the demon Belphegor (originally Baal-Peor) and formed in 1993. ... Angelcorpse is a blackened death metal band formed in 1995 in Kansas City, Missouri. ... Zyklon is a Norwegian blackened death metal band formed in 1998 by Samoth and Trym of Norwegian black metal band Emperor, along with former members of Myrkskog, in order to make up for the fact that Emperor were no longer playing live. ... Sacramentum were a black metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed by Nisse Karlén (vocals/guitar) in the summer of 1990 under the name of Tumulus. ...

Deathgrind

Main article: Deathgrind

Deathgrind is a fusion of death metal mixing the intensity, speed, and brevity of grindcore with the complexity of death metal. It differs from death metal in that guitar solos are often a rarity, shrieked vocals are more prominent as the main vocal style (though death growls are still utilized and some deathgrind bands make more use of the latter vocal style), and songs are generally shorter in length, usually between one and three minutes. It is usually the band's aim to play high tempo and atonal music with little to no slower passages. But this style differs from grindcore in the far more technical approach and less evident hardcore punk influence and aesthetics. Some notable examples of deathgrind are Brujeria, Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Soilent Green, Pig Destroyer, Circle of Dead Children, and Rotten Sound. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...