What is Death Metal?
Death metal is an extreme sub-genre of heavy metal that emerged in the 1980s from the underground music scene. It is characterized by its aggressive and intense sound, fast tempos, and heavy guitar riffs, along with its distinctive vocal style of guttural growls or shrieks. Death metal has been highly influential in the world of heavy metal, inspiring countless musicians and bands over the years. Here is a brief history of death metal:
Origins
Death metal emerged in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of thrash metal, with bands like Possessed, Death, and Entombed pioneering the genre. These bands incorporated elements of thrash metal, punk rock, and hardcore into their music, creating a new sound that was faster, heavier, and more aggressive than anything that had come before.
Evolution
Throughout the 1990s, death metal continued to evolve and diversify, with bands like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, and Obituary pushing the boundaries of the genre. Melodic death metal also emerged during this time, with bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At the Gates incorporating elements of melody and harmony into their music.
Sub-genres
Since then, death metal has diversified, spawning several sub-genres. Melodic death metal combines death metal elements with those of the new wave of British heavy metal. Technical death metal is complex, 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.
Notable Bands
Some of the most notable death metal bands include Death, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Deicide, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At the Gates. These bands have had a significant impact on the genre, inspiring countless musicians and fans over the years.
The history of death metal is a complex and multifaceted one that has evolved over the years to become one of the most important sub-genres in the world of heavy metal. From its origins in the 1980s to the present day, death metal continues to inspire and influence musicians and fans around the world. If you're interested in learning more about death metal, check out some of the links below:
- Metalhead Community: History of Death Metal: Pioneers, Influences, and Evolution of the Genre[1]
- Breathing The Core: Genres & Subgenres - Death Metal[2]
- Masterclass: All About Death Metal: 5 Notable Death Metal Bands[3]
- Guitar Wiki: Death Metal[4]
- Metal Wiki: Death Metal[5]
- Wikipedia: Death Metal[6]
Citations:
[1] https://metalheadcommunity.com/history-of-death-metal/
[2] https://www.breathingthecore.com/p/genres-subgenres.html?m=1
[3] https://www.masterclass.com/articles/death-metal-guide
[4] https://guitar.fandom.com/wiki/Death_metal
[5] https://metal.fandom.com/wiki/Death_metal
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_metal
