Death metal

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Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, aggressive, powerful drumming featuring double bass drumming and blast beat techniques, minor keys or atonality, and abrupt tempo, key, and time signature changes.

History[edit | edit source]

Death metal evolved from the early 1980s thrash metal scene. Bands such as Venom, Celtic Frost, and Slayer were instrumental in pioneering the genre. The term "death metal" was first used in the mid-1980s, with the release of the demo tape Death by Metal by the band Death. The genre gained more recognition with the release of Death's debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, in 1987.

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

Death metal is known for its complex song structures, fast tempos, and technical proficiency. The genre often features:

**Vocals**: Growling, grunting, and screaming, often referred to as "death growls."
**Guitars**: Heavily distorted, low-tuned guitars with fast, intricate riffs and solos.
**Bass**: Prominent and often played with a pick to match the guitar's speed and aggression.
**Drums**: Fast, aggressive drumming with frequent use of double bass pedals and blast beats.
**Lyrics**: Themes often include death, violence, horror, and the occult.

Subgenres[edit | edit source]

Death metal has spawned numerous subgenres, including:

**Melodic death metal**: Combines elements of death metal with melodic guitar riffs.
**Technical death metal**: Focuses on complex rhythms and intricate guitar work.
**Brutal death metal**: Emphasizes speed, aggression, and guttural vocals.
**Death-doom**: Combines the slow tempos and melancholic atmosphere of doom metal with death metal's growls and guitar work.

Notable Bands[edit | edit source]

Some of the most influential and well-known death metal bands include:

Influence and Legacy[edit | edit source]

Death metal has had a significant impact on the broader heavy metal genre and has influenced numerous other subgenres. It has also inspired a dedicated global fanbase and a thriving underground music scene.