Death Metal

From Wikimetal

Death metal is a genre derived from Thrash Metal, based on the exploitation of fantastic and horror movies clichés, and defined by low-pitched growls, low-tuned and heavily distorted guitar sound, and fast-paced tempos (with great use of blast-beats).

Origins

Death metal is a genre that appeared during the thrash metal wave in the 80s, in the United States. The first grounds of death metal are coined in Florida by Death (still named Mantas at the time) and in California by Possessed in 1983 (the name of the genre comes in fact from a Possessed song called "Death Metal", and probably not from the band Death - although it may have contributed to its expansion), with the release of their first demos. Possessed will be the first band to release a death metal album with "Seven Churches" in 1985. Back then, death metal is heavy, agressive with basic structures. Fast-paced tempo is not the main characteristic of this first wave of death metal though. In 1987, Death released its first album "Scream Bloody Gore", proposing a more technical approach to the genre as well as the gore themes that will become specific to it.

The other revolution in death metal came in 1989 with Morbid Angel and its album "Altars Of Madness": it is the first time that blast-beat drumming technique is used in death metal (it was previously used only in Grindcore), bringing a new breath to the genre. Blast-beat and technics will be two important elements in death metal from then on. This is what can be called the second wave, from the early 90s to nowadays. These two waves are sometimes called "old school death metal" today.

Another great reference for the genre came in 1991 when the album "Human" from Death was released. Its complex compositions and interpretation (for the time being) are still influencing countless bands today.

Subgenres

Starting from these two first waves, some subgenres emerged:

Brutal death metal, with the main bands being Suffocation (creators of the subgenre, they the sound more aggressive, removed almost all thrash metal influence and added a hardcore feeling to death metal) and Devourment (creators of an even more extreme subgenre - sometimes called TXDM for "Texas Death Metal" - based on very heavy rythms mixed with very fast-paced blast-beats). The gore thematic is very used in brutal death metal, as can be seen from the typical band of the genre (but didn't invent it - their first albums being second wave death metal') : Cannibal Corpse. It will be also expanded by Hate Eternal.

Evil death, initiated by Possessed and Deicide. Evil death distincts itself from other subgenres by its satanic imagery used also in the music, creating evil and insane ambiances. Evil death will be expanded in Sweden in the early 90s with bands like Obscurity and Grotesque (soon known as At The Gates).

Swedish death metal (or NWOSDM - New Wave of Swedish Death Metal), quite similar to the first wave of death metal, but with a more cavernous sound (produced by more guitar distorsion) and heaviness more present than in the American precursors. The subgenre leaders are very influenced by American bands like Autopsy: they are Entombed (one of the very first pioneers), Dismember, Unleashed and Grave. This scene was very concentrated around Stockholm with some other local places like Gotebörg.

Melodic death metal, also a Swedish specialty, taking off the heaviness and brutality from basic death metal and adding melodic riffs from heavy metal and thrash. Pioneers from this subgenre can be seen in At The Gates, and Carcass in England (on their album "Heartwork" in 1994). In Flames and Dark Tranquillity were then often named as representative of this subgenre.

Progressive death metal, created by Atheist and Cynic in the early 90s. Progressive death metal has no particular musical characteristic, except a big difference in the imagery, techniques and influences compared to other death metal subgenres. Cynic for instance includes jazz and fusion influences to its sound, and Opeth mixes it to 70s progressive rock.

Technical death metal (or "techno-death"), defined (as its name stsates) as a very highly-skilled instrumental technique, and sometimes deconstructed structures in the compositions. Main bands are Necrophagist, Demilich or Martyr. Technical death metal is often associated with brutal death metal.