Death Metal

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Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes.

Building from the musical structure of thrash metal, death metal emerged during the mid 1980s. It was mainly inspired by thrash metal acts like Slayer, Kreator and Celtic Frost. Along with the band Death and its frontman Chuck Schuldiner (who is often referred to as "the father of death metal"), bands like Possessed and Morbid Angel are often considered pioneers of the genre. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, death metal gained more media attention as popular record labels like Earache and Roadrunner began to sign death metal bands at a rapid rate. Since then, death metal has diversified, spawning a rich variety of subgenres.

Inclusive death metal music subgenres:

  • Brutal death metal See: http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/brutal-death-metal
  • Melodic death metal See: http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/melodic-death-metal
  • Swedish death metal, also referred to as Scandinavian death metal, should not be confused with melodeath. This genre is characterized by its focus on raw energy and aggression. The guitars are typically extremely distorted and downtuned, and, in addition to traditional death metal elements, artists within this subgenre also draw on hardcore punk and early thrash metal. While not restricted to Sweden, the genre is called death metal because it was largely popularized by death metal artists from Sweden, such as Carnage, Nihilist, early Entombed, Dismember, Grave, and Unleashed. Seeing that many of the prominent artists within this genre were located in around Stockholm, it is sometimes referred to as the Stockholm sound in contrast with the Gothenburg sound. While big in the 1990s, the popularity of this genre waned in the 2000s, as melodeath became more popular, but recently a number of bands based in Eastern Europe, such as Brutally Deceased and Morbider, have taken up the Stockholm sound and are bringing it back onto the scene.
  • Death-grind combines elements from death metal with element of grindcore. From grindcore, the genre inherits song brevity (with the average length being 2:30), emphasis on fast picking and blastbeating as well as the lyrical content (which means that a lot of death-grind deals with gore, pornography or socio-politics). From death metal, it inherits song complexity and focus on performance and technique, although guitar solos are not as common as in other styles of death metal. When Napalm Death started to gravitate towards death metal from pure grindcore, they developed a death-grind sound, and they are probably the most influential band in the death-grind genre. Other death-grind acts are Lock Up, Terrorizer, and Pig Destroyer. On MMA, those death-grind artists and releases that lean more towards grindcore are included under grindcore, while those that lean more towards death metal are included under death metal.
  • Technical/progressive (or tech/prog) death metal See: http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/technical-death-metal
  • Blackened death metal combines death metal and black metal, of lyrically the focus is typically on Satanism, occultism and anti-religion. Behemoth is considered one of the most influential blackened death metal bands.
  • Death ‘n’ roll See: http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/death-n-roll


The following subgenres are NOT listed under death metal in the MMA:

  • Grindcore: has its own sugbenre section.
  • Death-thrash: included under thrash metal.
  • Deathcore: included under metalcore.
  • Doom-death: included under doom metal.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_metal

Written by Time Signature.

Sub-genre collaborators:
  • Nightfly (leader)
  • Vim Fuego
  • TheHeavyMetalCat

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death metal Music Reviews

HELLCHILD Maniac Psycho Abyss

Split · 1990 · Death Metal
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UMUR
"Maniac Psycho Abyss" is a split release between Japanese death metal act Hellchild and Japanese thrash metal act Gigantic Khmer. The Split was released through Strange Records in 1990. Gigantic Khmer has a relatively short career existing from 1988-1992 releasing the 1989 demo "A Fetus" and this split before disbanding. Hellchild existed a little longer with more releases under their belt and didn´t end their original run until 2001.

Hellchild is represented here with one track while Gigantic Khmer have two tracks featured on the split. The Hellchild track is a thrash infused old school death metal track. It´s actually only the raw growling vocals which point in a death metal direction as the riffs and rhythms of the track are clearly in thrash metal territory. Gigantic Khmer is a more straight thrash metal act, influenced by the US scene. They have slightly better production values than Hellchild, and their material is generally a bit more powerful and intense, although I do enjoy the odd melodic moments on the Hellchild track.

So upon conclusion "Maniac Psycho Abyss" is a nice little split release from the late 80s/early 90s Japanese underground. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

MOLOCH (MN) Upon the Anvil

Album · 2023 · Technical Death Metal
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UMUR
"Upon The Anvil" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Minnesota based death metal act Moloch. The album was independently released in January 2023. Moloch formed in 2012 and released the "Cleansed by Fire" EP in 2015. Other than a very early change on the drummer position Moloch have had a steady permanent trio lineup since 2012.

Stylistically this is technical and relatively brutal death metal. The material is played at an extremely high pace throughout the album, and you´ll hear very few slower parts on "Upon The Anvil". While the tracks are arguably well composed and very well performed (these guys are incredibly skilled musicians), it doesn´t take more than a few tracks before a lack of variation within the songs and between the songs sets in. 9 tracks and a total playing time of 37:24 unfortunately feels much longer, because the album is one-dimensional in nature. A few surprises and more variation wouldn´t have hurt.

But while I may sound a little negative, lack of variation isn´t the worst crime on a technical death metal release, and if you want your death metal delivered at a frantic pace, great intensity, skill, and brutality, this album certainly applies. There´s also a couple of more abstract moments, which remind me a bit of Morbid Angel´s abtracts ideas (twisted riffs and solos), and the demonic double growling/high pitched screaming sections provide a whiff of Deicide, so Moloch certainly know the classics and how to imitate them (be influenced by them).

The sound production is professional and overall well sounding, although I could have wished for a more distinct snare tone, because often the snare and the bass drums sound the same, which means the drums become a slightly chaotic listen. I still enjoy it, but it´s a feature I would look into changing on future releases. Upon conclusion "Upon The Anvil" is a good quality death metal release by Moloch, and although it´s not without a flaws here and there, it´s still an album loaded with great assets and qualities. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

MASSACRE Submergence: Live Beyond 2019

Live album · 2023 · Death Metal
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UMUR
"Submergence Live Beyond 2019" is a live album release by US, Florida based death metal act Massacre. The album was independently released in April 2023, although the band made it available for a short time in 2019 as a free download on their Bandcamp page. It´s a recording of Massacre´s first show after they reunited in 2017 (recorded on May 25th, 2019, at Wills Pub, Orlando, Florida) and features Kam Lee on vocals, Rick Rozz on guitars, Mike Borders on bass, and Mike Mazzonetto on drums. So half of the original lineup are present here.

The tracklist is a full playthrough of Massacre´s legendary July 1991 debut full-length studio album "From Beyond". Same tracklist order and all. The show features a well sounding production job, which the right massive guitar tone, triggered drums, and Kam Lee in vocal top form. He is such a powerful growling vocalist even after all these years (and performs some high pitched screams too). He has lost none of his power or his unique voice. It´s not the most "live" sounding release although there are both audience noises and a good amount of audience interaction from Lee, but it´s almost too well produced and it´s almost impossible to imagine that a Massacre show sounds like this when you stand in the audience.

So a little more rawness and live authenticity wouldn´t have hurt "Submergence Live Beyond 2019", but overall it´s still a good quality death metal live release and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

GHOUL Dungeon Bastards

Album · 2016 · Death Metal
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UMUR
"Dungeon Bastards" is the 5th full-length studio album by US, California based death/thrash/grindcore act Ghoul. The album was released through Tankcrimes Records in July 2016. It´s the successor to "Transmission Zero" from 2011. Ghoul were formed in 2001 by among others members of Impaled and have worked as a side-project for the members for many years. As the members work under pseudonyms like Fermentor and Cremator, and the stage names seem to be passed on when a lineup change occurs, I´m not sure if there have been any lineup changes since "Transmission Zero (2011)".

After a spoken word sample intro from the exploitation styled movie "Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1981)", the opening track "Ghetto Blasters" kick off with a great mid-paced groove laden heavy riff and rhythm. It sounds like it´s straight out of the mid-80s Anthrax/S.O.D. playbook, but as soon as the track seques into "Bringer of War", Ghoul´s affection for early Carcass is clearly heard. And that pretty much sums up the sound of "Dungeon Bastards". A bastard mix of mid-80s crossover thrash and late-80s/early 90s goregrind/death metal. The vocals are more or less an imitation of the early Carcass vocal style with one raw snarling vocalist and one deep juicy growling vocalist complimented by the occasionally more thrash influenced vocal moment and riot gang choirs.

Ghoul can´t be accused of producing anything original, but on the other hand what they deliver is so energetic, raw, and full of horror/gore B-movie charm/humour, that it´s almost impossible not to find yourself greatly entertained. The material are well written, catchy, and effective, the musicianship is on a high level on all posts, and the sound production is raw, organic, and powerful, suiting the material perfectly. So upon conclusion "Dungeon Bastards" is through and through another strong release by Ghoul and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.

UNLEASHED Across the Open Sea

Album · 1993 · Death Metal
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UMUR
"Across the Open Sea" is the third full-length studio album by Swedish death metal act Unleashed. The album was released through Century Media Records in October 1993. It´s the band´s third album in as many years and the successor to "Shadows in the Deep" from May 1992. Unleashed were riding on a wave of success in those years and took full advantage of the situation by not resting on their laurels.

The music on "Across the Open Sea" pretty much continues where "Shadows in the Deep" left off. Relatively imple, effective, and memorable old school Swedish death metal. The viking/Norse mythology themes that the band had dipped their toes into on the previous releases are even more dominant on "Across the Open Sea", which songtitles like "To Asgaard We Fly" and "In the Northern Lands" also bear witness too (the cover artwork should also reveal this). In addition to the ten originals on the album the band also play a cover version of "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest. I´m not sure I agree with that choice, but Unleashed are old school in so many ways, and including a heavy metal cover, was something many of their thrash/speed metal influences also did on their albums in the 80s.

Although the band don´t exactly excel in playing anything challenging, the musicianship is on a decent level. The sound production is relatively well sounding too but as the case were on the two predecessors Unleashed don´t favor raw brutality in their sound productions. Therefore everything is fully audible in the mix but as a consequence the production also lacks a bit of bite and power. It´s nothing serious and the album still sounds great, but I just wonder what the early Unleashed releases would have sounded like had they featured more brutal and gritty sound productions. Of course the more polished and clear sounding productions on the early Unleashed releases are one of the things which set them apart from their contemporaries.

If you are a fan of the band´s first two albums "Across the Open Sea" belongs in your collection along with those albums. Don´t expect anything that is much different from what you heard on those two albums though. In the early days Unleashed were about tradition and not innovation (that would change slightly already on the next album though). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is warranted.

death metal movie reviews

NAPALM DEATH Punishment in Capitals

Movie · 2003 · Death Metal
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Kingcrimsonprog
Punishment In Capitals is a 2002 live DVD (also available on CD) by British extreme metal icons Napalm Death, released after their triumphant Enemy Of The Music Business album won back the praise of fans and critics after their experimental string of records in the nineties.

The band play a mixture of every era in their career up to that point, the catchy nineties singles ‘Breed To Breathe,’ and ‘Greed Killing,’ sit side by side with mid era death inspired fare such as ‘Suffer The Children,’ and ‘World Keeps Turning,’ which blends against the band’s early grindcore material era like ‘Scum,’ ‘Lucid Fairy Tale,’ and the famous ‘You Suffer,’ in a set list which also leans heavily on the band’s then newest, and still arguably best album Enemy Of The Music Business.

Standout tracks include an energetic version of ‘Hung,’ as well as ‘Can’t Play Won’t Play,’ and ‘Narcoleptic,’ which was as yet unreleased at the time of recording. With a set-list of this caliber, Punishment In Capitals should be a rewarding viewing experience for most Napalm Death fans and would serve well as an introduction to the band for potential fans as well.

Interestingly, the DVD recording retains all the dead air, waiting out-of-breathe and other non-musical moments in between tracks, presenting you the gig as it actually happened and not inter-cutting the show with outside material to create some false sense of professionalism or excitement. This is a double edged sword as it is commendable but may still irritate viewers raised on slicker, fast paced major label DVD releases.

The production is fairly good in terms of audio recording quality and mix, with simple camera work and editing covering the visual side of things. Although not the most impressive looking DVD ever released, it serves well for Napalm Death to deliver an energetic a sweaty performance. My only major gripe is that for the first half of the show shots of drummer Danny Herrera are very few and far between, but this is remedied later on.

There are a fair amount of extras too, including two bootleg quality recordings in Tokyo from 1996, a six track selection from a Chilean gig in 1997 as well as a hidden Easter Egg (a live-in-a-TV-studio version of ‘If The Truth Be Known,’ accessible by making the image’s eyes glow red my navigating the menu.) In addition to the musical extras there is also a documentary, which while not masterfully crafted is worth at least one watch, covering topics such as Barney’s haircut, the effect of foreign food on the bowels and the charity for which this gig was in aide of.

Overall, Punishment In Capitals is a worthwhile DVD purchase that will give you a good selection of Napalm Death material, both in the concert itself and with a nice selection of extras. Definitely recommended viewing for fans of the band.

ZYKLON Storm Detonation Live

Movie · 2006 · Death Metal
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Kingcrimsonprog
This DVD captures Norwegian death metal band Zyklon on their 'Aeon,' era tour Live; the tracklisting on the wonderful but slightly short DVD is made up of tracks from the bands excellent first two albums.

The band are on top form and deliver the material fantastically live, They never miss a step, and are ruthlessly professional.

Song's from the band's debut album are much better here with new singer Tony 'SecthDamon,' Ingebrigtsen. Who has a better voice to match the material than Daemon did.

Furthermore the audio and visual quality is great, and apart from a little intro interrupting the first 20 seconds of fan favorite 'Core Solution,' there's very little to complain about whatsoever.

Indeed, with such a brilliant performance, a good production and an excellent track listing, this DVD is a real must-have for any Zyklon fan.

AMON AMARTH Wrath of the Norsemen

Movie · 2006 · Melodic Death Metal
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Kingcrimsonprog
Talk about value for money, from a band like Amon Amarth you wouldn’t expect them to be able to afford such a crazily generous and in depth DVD package when some of the bigger bands can’t afford anything even half this good.

The Set comes in a glorious 3 DVD digipak with detailed artwork, a full booklet and an awesome little viking crown that keeps it closed. Then you get Five full concerts (with 22, 16,13, 11 and 9 tracks respectively) and a documentary.

The main feature; a 22 track concert from Cologne in 2005 is an incredible affair with crystal clear sound, Huge guitar tones, amazingly heavy drums and nice clunky bass. The camera work is of a higher quality than even some of the biggest metal bands’ DVDs and again the sound is immense.

Then theres the performance, the band are absolutely electric delivering furious renditions of material from all eras a their career from the massive ‘Amon Amarth,’ and ‘Fate of Norns,’ to catchy closer ‘Death In Fire,’ and the crowd just lap it up.

Vocalist Johan Hegg absolutely commands the stage, engaging the crowd at every opportunity and singing his heart out while the band hammer through their classics like ‘heavy,’ is going out of style.

On top of all that you have a great light show, huge Amon Amath banners, more pyro than a kiss concert and an interlude with about thirty Viking reenactors sword fighting on stage! That feature is worth the money alone, the show is probably one of the best metal concerts on the market and I can’t stress how good the sound and picture are; then on top of all that you get the rest of the set, featuring virtually ever Amon Amarth song ever written, and performances from ‘Waken Open Air festival,’ ‘Summer Breeze Festival,’ and two more indoor concerts in Europe.

If you like Amon Amarth Buy this right now. If you don’t, you will within thirty seconds of watching this.

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