'''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>
==Subgenres==
It should be noted that cited examples are not necessarily exclusive to one particular style. Many bands can easily be placed in two or more of the following categories, and a band's specific categorization is often a source of contention due to personal opinion and interpretation.
*'''[[Melodic death metal]]''': Scandinavian death metal could be considered the forerunner of "melodic death metal". Melodic death metal, sometimes referred to as "melodeath", is [[traditional heavy metal]] mixed with some death metal elements. Unlike most other death metal, melodeath usually features screams instead of growls, slower tempos, much more melody and even clean vocals are heard at rare times. [[Carcass]] is sometimes credited with releasing the first melodic death metal album with 1993's ''[[Heartwork]]'', although Swedish bands [[In Flames]], [[Dark Tranquillity]], and [[At the Gates]] are usually mentioned as the main pioneers of the genre and of the [[Melodic death metal#Background|Gothenburg metal]] sound.
*'''[[Technical death metal]]''': Technical death metal and "'''progressive death metal'''" are related terms that refer to bands distinguished by the complexity of their music. Common traits are dynamic song structures, uncommon time signatures, atypical rhythms and unusual harmonies and melodies. Bands described as technical death metal or progressive death metal usually fuse common death metal aesthetics with elements of progressive rock, jazz or classical music. While the term technical death metal is sometimes used to describe bands that focus on speed and extremity as well as complexity, the line between progressive and technical death metal is thin. "Tech death" and "prog death", for short, are terms commonly applied to such bands as [[Nile]], [[Edge of Sanity]], and [[Opeth]]. [[Necrophagist]] and [[Spawn of Possession]] are known for a classical music-influenced death metal style. Death metal pioneers [[Death]] also refined their style in a more progressive direction in their final years. The Polish band [[Decapitated]] gained recognition as one of Europe's primary modern technical death metal acts.<ref>{{cite web|url = {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p420031|pure_url=yes}}|publisher = Allmusic|title = Decapitated Biography|author = Eduardo Rivadavia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134476|publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]]|title = Decapitated's New Lineup Performs Live For First Time; Photos Available – Feb. 3, 2010|author = }}</ref>
*'''[[Death/doom]]''': Death/doom is a style that combines the slow tempos and melancholic atmosphere of [[doom metal]] with the deep [[death growl|growling vocals]] and double-kick drumming of death metal.<ref name="Doom Metal Special:Doom/Death Terrorizer #142">'Doom Metal Special:Doom/Death' ''Terrorizer #142''</ref> The style emerged during the late 1980s and gained a certain amount of popularity during the 1990s.<ref name="Doom Metal Special:Doom/Death Terrorizer #142"/> It was pioneered by bands such as [[Autopsy]], [[Winter]],<ref name = "Death Metal Music">{{cite book | last = Purcell | first = Nathalie J. | title = Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture | publisher = McFarland & Company | year = 2003 | pages = 23 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=6ZErQs5hCUQC | isbn = 0-7864-1585-1 }}</ref> [[Asphyx]],<ref name="Death Metal Music"/> [[Disembowelment]],<ref name="Death Metal Music"/> [[Paradise Lost]],<ref name="Death Metal Music"/> and [[My Dying Bride]].<ref name="Death Metal Music"/> This style spawned the more extreme subgenre of [[Doom Metal#Funeral doom|funeral doom metal]], which is even slower and more atmospheric.
*'''[[Goregrind]], [[deathgrind]] and [[pornogrind]]<ref name=independent>{{cite news |author=Brown, Jonathon |title=Everything you ever wanted to know about pop (but were too old to ask) |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-pop-but-were-too-old-to-ask-463915.html |work=The Independent | location=London | date=2007-09-06}}</ref><ref name="passion book">{{cite book
| last = Purcell
| first = Natalie J.
| title = Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture
| publisher = McFarland
| year = 2003
| pages = 24
| isbn = 0-7864-1585-1
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=6ZErQs5hCUQC&pg=PA24&dq=%22gore+grind%22&sig=oCv_Tn0ZvXBHf7Yq3NdRfs6lqxA#PPA24,M1
}}</ref>''' are styles that mix the intensity, speed, and brevity of [[grindcore]] with the complexity of death metal. They differ from death metal in that guitar solos are often a rarity, shrieked vocals are more prominent as the main vocal style (though death growls are still utilized and some deathgrind bands make more use of the latter vocal style), and songs are generally shorter in length, usually between one and three minutes that keep with grindcore's tradition of short time lengths in songs. All three of these styles differs from grindcore in the more technical approach and less evident hardcore punk influence and aesthetics. Some notable examples of deathgrind are [[Brujeria]], [[Cattle Decapitation]],<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/arts/music/13pop.html?pagewanted=3 "The Locust, Cattle Decapitation, Daughters"], Pop and Rock Listings, ''The New York Times'', April 13, 2007. Access date: August 6, 2008.</ref> [[Cephalic Carnage]], [[Pig Destroyer]],<ref>Bryan Reed, ''The Daily Tar Heel'', July 19, 2007. [http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/07/19/Arts/phantom.Limb.Exorcises.Its.Emotions-2925041.shtml] Access date: August 6, 2008.</ref> [[Circle of Dead Children]], [[Rotten Sound]], [[GUT]]<ref name=washingtoncity>{{cite web |author=Hess, Amanda |title=Brick and Mordor: A record store heavy on the metal spins its last gloom and doom. |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=34450 |work=Washington City Paper}}</ref> and [[Cock and Ball Torture]].<ref name=terrorizergore>Mincemoyer, John. "Gore International" (2002). ''[[Terrorizer (magazine)|Terrorizer]]'' No. 98, pp. 19–20.</ref><ref name=deaden>{{cite web |author=Sharpe-Young, Garry |title=Deaden biography |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/deaden |publisher=MusicMight}}</ref>
*'''[[Deathcore]]''': With the rise in popularity of [[metalcore]], some of its traits have been incorporated into death metal. Bands such as [[Suicide Silence]], [[Carnifex]] and [[Salt the Wound]] combine death metal with a variance of metalcore influence.<ref name=musicmight>{{cite web |author=Sharpe-Young, Garry |title=Salt the Wound |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/ohio/cleveland/salt+the+wound1 |publisher=MusicMight}}</ref><ref>http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=407731</ref> Characteristics of death metal, such as fast drumming (including [[blast beats]]), down-tuned guitars,tremolo picking and [[death growl|growled vocals]], are combined with the screamed vocals, melodic riffs and breakdowns of metalcore.<ref name="breakdown">[http://www.lambgoat.com/albums/view.aspx?id=2517 lambgoat.com]</ref> ''[[Decibel]]'' magazine stated that "One of [[Suffocation]]'s trademarks, breakdowns, has spawned an entire metal subgenre: deathcore."<ref name="Decibel #059">{{Cite journal|last=Lee |first=Cosmo |year=2009 |month=#059 September |title=Suffocation reclaim their rightful place as kings of death metal |quote=One of Suffocation's trademarks, breakdowns, has spawned an entire metal subgenre: deathcore |journal=Decibel Magazine}}</ref>
*'''[[Death 'n' roll]]''': is a style that combines death metal's growled vocals and highly distorted detuned guitar riffs along with elements of classic rock and roll and 1970s hard rock and [[heavy metal]].<ref name="Emtombed">{{cite web|url= http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/phazm/antebellum-death-n-roll.htm|title=Stylus magazine review|author=Cosmo Lee |publisher= stylusmagazine.com|quote=“Death ’n’ roll” arose with Entombed’s 1993 album Wolverine Blues ... Wolverine Blues was like ’70s hard rock tuned down and run through massive distortion and death growls.}}</ref><ref name="Gorefest">{{cite web|url= {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p39113/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title= ((( Gorefest > Biography )))|author= Huey, Steve|publisher= allmusic.com|quote=Erase, was released in 1994 and found the band moving subtly toward more traditional forms of metal, partly through its sure sense of groove. That approach crystallized on 1996's Soul Survivor, which combined death metal with the elegant power and accessibility of '70s British metal.}}</ref> Notable examples include [[Entombed]],<ref name="Emtombed"/> [[Gorefest]]<ref name="Gorefest"/> and [[Six Feet Under]] .
*'''Blackened death metal''': is a style that combines death metal and [[black metal]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Henderson, Alex |title=''Ninewinged Serpent'' review |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1241205|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Bowar, Chad |title=''Venganza'' review |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/hacavitz.htm |publisher=About.com}}</ref> Examples of blackened death metal bands are [[Belphegor]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Tom |title=''Belphegor suspend all activities'' |url=http://truecultheavymetal.com/blog1.php/2011/10/21/belphegor-suspend-all-activities |publisher=[[Terrorizer (magazine)#Terrorizer Online|Terrorizer Online]]}}</ref> [[Behemoth]],<ref>{{cite web | title = allmusic ((( Behemoth > Biography ))) | url = http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:anfexqegldhe~T1 }}</ref> [[Akercocke]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+kingdom/london/akercocke |title=AKERCOCKE |publisher=Musicmight.com |date= }}</ref> and [[Sacramentum]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Sacramentum's Official homepage | url = http://biphome.spray.se/anders.brolycke/sacramentummain.htm}}</ref>
*'''Brutal death metal''': is a style developed by combining certain aspects of the song structures of [[grindcore]] / [[goregrind]] with death metal but it should not be confused with [[deathgrind]] (grindcore that is very close in form to, and maintains the complexity of, death metal) because it has nothing to do with hardcore punk. The bands in this genre are often categorized as technical death metal, and as of now there is a sizable overlap between the two genres, with the boundary in many cases being negligible. Brutal death metal is associated with bands like [[Deeds of Flesh]], [[Disgorge]], [[Nile]], [[Sect of Execration]], [[Sarcolytic]], [[Benighted]] [[Images of Violence]], [[Aborted]] and [[Suffocation]]. The death grunts are very low-pitched and the lyrics are often, but not always gore related. In addition, the guitar riffs are usually slow chunky grooves or hyper fast and down-tuned, often with pinched harmonics. Typically, if guitar solos are played, they usually make large use of tremolo picking, varied arpeggios, and wailing harmonics. The drumlines are usually highly varied in style, ranging from slow rhythms to churning [[blast beats]].
*'''Slam death metal''' is similar to standard brutal death metal, slam death metal differs in the focus shifting away from speed and [[blast beat]]s and more toward groovy "slamming" mid - paced riffs although blast beats are used sporadically. Vocals, generally, register no higher than the standard [[death growl]] and are usually much lower, often with a "gurgle"-type sound. Guitar tuning is usually dropped B or lower with frequent pinch harmonics and the prevalence of guitar solos many times sacrificed in favor of crunching riffs. Technicality is often used but is not mandatory, while melody, if present at all, is kept to an absolute minimum. Regionally, slam death metal has been predominately associated with the United States, and more specifically, New York and Texas. However, recently, the genre has spread world-wide. Slam death is considered a style of brutal death metal, meaning that it shares many characteristics with the former. This means that every slam band is brutal, but not all brutal bands are slam. Bands usually associated with slam death metal are [[Devourment]], [[Ingested]], [[Abominable Putridity]] and [[Acrania]]
===Other fusions and subgenres===
There are other heavy metal music subgenres that have come from fusions between death metal and other non-metal genres, such as the fusion of death metal and jazz. [[Atheist]] and [[Cynic]] are two examples; the former went so far as to include jazz-style drum solos on albums, while the latter incorporated elements of jazz fusion. [[Nile]] have also incorporated with Egyptian music and Middle Eastern themes into their work, while [[Alchemist]] have incorporated psychedelia along with Aboriginal music. Some groups, such as [[Nightfall]], [[Septic Flesh]], [[Fleshgod Apocalypse]], and [[Eternal Tears of Sorrow]], have incorporated keyboards and symphonic elements, creating a fusion of [[symphonic metal]] and death metal, sometimes referred to as symphonic death metal.
==See also==