Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. Originally the genre combined the harmony style and groove melodies of heavy metal with the thrashing, harsh sound of death metal and thrash metal. Later the genre evolved due to many different influences, a notable evolution in the genre being the addition of keyboards.^{[citation needed]} Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Location of Gothenburg in northern Europe Coordinates: Country Sweden County Västra Götaland County Province Västergötland Charter 1621 Government  - Mayor Göran Johansson Area  - City 450 km²  (174 sq mi)  - Water 14. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe which includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... A genre is any of the traditional divisions of art forms from a single field of activity into various kinds according to criteria particular to that form. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Background

Melodic death metal contains more melodic guitar riffs, melodic solos, and acoustic guitar work than death metal. It also contains more comprehensible lyrics as well as coherent singing along with traditional death growl vocals. The pioneers of melodic death metal include Carcass, Dark Tranquillity, At the Gates and In Flames. Sentenced is also sometimes credited as the first melodeath band with the release of North from Here. Some credit In Flames as the band which popularized the sub-genre.^{[citation needed]} Death growl, also known as growled vocals, harsh vocals, death vocals, death grunts, and also derogatorily or humorously — Cookie Monster vocals[1] 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. ... Carcass of a chicken after cooking Carcass may refer to: A carcass (or carcase) is a term for a dead body, typically that of an animal. ... Dark Tranquillity is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. ... At the Gates was a Swedish melodic death metal band. ... First off, If you listen to In Flames you kick ass In Flames is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden founded in 1990. ... Sentenced was a heavy metal band formed in 1989, in the town of Muhos, Finland. ... North from Here is the second album by the Finnish death metal band Sentenced. ...

Some melodic death metal bands from the Scandinavian region combine the genre with other metal genres such as viking metal, folk metal, power metal, and symphonic metal. Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe which includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ... Viking metal is a cross-genre reference usually used to describe the lyrical and thematic elements of bands rather than the music itself. ... Folk metal is a diverse collection of music, encompassing a wide variety of different styles and approaches. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ... Symphonic metal is a term used to describe metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. ...

Evolution of melodic death metal

In the late 1990s, many melodic death metal bands changed their style of playing by adding more melodic elements; more groovy choruses and riffs, more clean vocals (singing), and making more prominent use of keyboards. Alongside the traditional melodic death metal riffs began appearing other musical elements such as alternative metal melodies and singing as well as a higher production quality.^{[citation needed]} This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Alternative metal is an eclectic form of music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. ...

The Gothenburg sound

One notable contribution to melodic death metal is the Gothenburg style, named after the city from which it originated. It is not certain what band originally started the Gothenburg sound. However, it is widely accepted that In Flames, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquillity are the three major pioneers of the style. They are also some of the only widely known bands to practice it, with newer bands such as Arch Enemy and The Haunted being offshoots of Carcass and At the Gates respectively. Location of Gothenburg in northern Europe Coordinates: Country Sweden County Västra Götaland County Province Västergötland Charter 1621 Government  - Mayor Göran Johansson Area  - City 450 km²  (174 sq mi)  - Water 14. ... First off, If you listen to In Flames you kick ass In Flames is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden founded in 1990. ... At the Gates was a Swedish melodic death metal band. ... Dark Tranquillity is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. ... Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, formed in 1995 by ex-Carcass guitarist Michael Amott. ... The Haunted is a Swedish thrash metal band with melodic death metal influences, formed in 1996. ... Carcass were a British goregrind/death metal band formed by Napalm Death guitarist Bill Steer together with drummer Ken Owen in 1985. ...

Regional scenes

Most melodic death metal bands are from the Scandinavian and Northern European regions, especially from Sweden and Finland.

In recent years, the genre has gained somewhat of a popularity boost, acquiring an increasing following in North America, especially among North American fans of the Scandinavian bands which still pioneer the genre to this day. Melodic death metal also has a following in Japan, which has produced its own melodic death metal bands such as Blood Stain Child. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Blood Stain Child are a Japanese Metal band from the city of Osaka Their unique style of music combines a variety of heavy metal elements such as melodic death metal, melodic black metal and power metal. ...

See also

• Scandinavian death metal
• Symphonic death metal
• List of melodic death metal musical groups
• Death metal
• Heavy metal

Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... Symphonic Death Metal incorporates Complex orchestral and symphonic arrangements into death metal, many times played by keyboardist but sometime an actual orchestra. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ...

External links

• Melodic Central - Site about melodic death metal