'''Death metal''' is an [[extreme metal|extreme]] subgenre of [[heavy metal]] music. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep [[death growl|growling]] vocals, double kick and/or [[blast beat]] drumming, minor keys or atonality, and multiple tempo changes.
Building from the musical structure of [[thrash metal]] and [[Black metal#First wave|early black metal]], death metal emerged during the mid-1980s.<ref name="hbj">{{cite video | people = Dunn, Sam (Director) | date = August 5, 2005 | url = http://imdb.com/title/tt0478209/ | title = Metal: A Headbanger's Journey | medium = motion picture | location = Canada | publisher = Dunn, Sam}}</ref> Metal bands such as [[Slayer]],<ref>Joel McIver ''Extreme Metal'', 2000, Omnibus Press pg.14 ISBN 88-7333-005-3</ref><ref>[http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal/greatest_metal_bands/071406/index7.jhtml The greatest metal band for Mtv]</ref> [[Kreator]],<ref>Joel McIver ''Extreme Metal'', 2000, Omnibus Press pg.100 ISBN 88-7333-005-3</ref> [[Celtic Frost]],<ref>Joel McIver ''Extreme Metal'', 2000, Omnibus Press pg.55 ISBN 88-7333-005-3</ref> and [[Venom]] were very important influences to the crafting of the genre.<ref name = "hbj"/> [[Possessed]]<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5171|pure_url=yes}} Rivadavia, E. ''Possessed: Biography'', allmusic], (Retrieved August 13, 2008)</ref> and [[Death]],<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4050|pure_url=yes}} allmusic ((( Death > Biography )))<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="metal-rules">[http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/chuck.htm Metal Rules Interview with Chuck Schuldiner]</ref><ref>[http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/industry_news/the_best_of_namm_2008_jimmy_page_satriani_models_among_the_highlights.html The Best Of NAMM 2008: Jimmy Page, Satriani Models Among The Highlights | News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> along with bands such as [[Obituary]], [[Carcass]], [[Deicide]], [[Sepultura]], [[Cannibal Corpse]] and [[Morbid Angel]] are often considered pioneers of the genre.<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4953|pure_url=yes}} Morbid Angel page @ Allmusic] "Formed in 1984 in Florida, Morbid Angel (along with Death) would also help spearhead an eventual death metal movement in their home state"</ref> In the late 1980s and early 1990s, death metal gained more media attention as popular genre niche record labels like [[Combat Records|Combat]], [[Earache Records|Earache]] and [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]] began to sign death metal bands at a rapid rate.<ref>[http://www.emptywords.org/Watt4-93ismetalstillalive.htm Is Metal Still Alive?] WATT Magazine, Written by: Robert Heeg, Published: April 1993</ref> Since then, death metal has diversified, spawning a [[death metal#Subgenres|variety of subgenres]].<ref>[http://www.silver-dragon-records.com/death_metal.htm Silver Dragon Records] "During the 1990s death metal diversified influencing many subgenres"</ref>
==See also==