Music videos can add depth, emotion and context to the message behind an album – but they don’t always involve rainbows and butterflies!
Death metal bands typically feature explicit lyrics depicting themes such as rape, murder and decapitation – yet many fans remain unfazed by the offensive content of such lyrics. A study conducted at Macquarie University discovered that death metal music may elicit feelings of power and joy within listeners.
Disturbed – “Voices”
Music videos can be an excellent way for musicians to enhance the meaning and appeal of their composition, and make it more attractive to audiences. Music videos can range from being funny, touching or even disturbing – one genre in particular takes this to extreme levels: death metal. Death metal music features harsh vocals known as death growls along with chromatic chord progressions; additionally it often incorporates sudden key and tempo changes as well as melodic or chaotic riffing that often features sudden tempo changes and key changes as well.
Heavy Metal music was one of the premier subgenres of heavy metal that emerged during the early 1990s, becoming immensely popular when several non-heavy metal record labels joined in and released albums by bands playing death metal, most notably Earache Records and Roadrunner Records (Earache released albums by Napalm Death, Carcass, Morbid Angel and Morbid Angel on Earache), while Roadrunner released records by Obituary Pestilence Entombed etc.
Death metal’s primary themes include dismemberment, gore and decay; its fast tempo usually includes keyboards in the background for added effect.
Death metal bands frequently utilize their music videos to explore themes of insanity. One such Death Metal song by Disturbed that explores this theme is “Voices.” In its music video, lead singer David Draiman seems possessed; in this rendition he wears a straight jacket and muzzle much like Hannibal Lecter from Hannibal Lecter before screaming using an unusual technique known as “true death growling.”
While death metal music videos tend to contain disturbing imagery, few can match Alice in Chain’s “Rooster.” This video uses real footage from Vietnam alongside dramatized scenes to give anyone goose bumps.
Testament – “Practice What You Preach”
Death metal bands usually consist of two guitarists, a bass player, and a vocalist. Death growls – which involve raspy growls or grunts with coarse-throated sounds – are an integral component of death metal music; others use melodic styles or higher pitched screaming techniques instead – creating an extremely aggressive sound that matches up perfectly with songs’ lyrics.
Testament’s third album was released in 1989 and marked their breakthrough into mainstream audiences. Featuring several hit singles like its catchy title track which received significant MTV airplay, Testament’s third album provided more politically focused lyrics compared to their earlier efforts that focused more on occult themes.
Testament has long been recognized as one of the premier thrash metal bands ever, yet they remain unknown to most audiences. While not as well-known as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer or Anthrax, Testament is equally talented; lead guitarist Alex Skolnick in particular excels at shredding out fiery guitar solos.
Slayer are highly adept at crafting music videos, but this one was truly terrible. Their video for “Holy Diver” featured church imagery with rats and lava pits; frontman Ronnie James Dio even appeared like he had come straight off of Conan the Barbarian! As Ronnie stalks through his surroundings wielding his sword.
Satyricon – “Mother North”
Goatwhore kicked off an excellent but brief set, before Black Metal legends Satyricon took to the stage for their first American performance since 1998. Fans old and new eagerly anticipated seeing them perform their legendary material live. Following songs from Highland, Satyricon debuted Mother North.
This song has become a classic of black metal music. The riffs are uncompromising and Frost’s drumming one of the most intense I have ever experienced.
This song also features a guitar solo that leads into a breakdown section and vocal chorals for added effect – perhaps one of the earliest examples of melodic death metal?
Mother North stands out as one of the more melodic tracks on the album while still remaining an engaging thrasher, thanks to its rapid-fire tempo changes that keep it fresh and engaging. Furthermore, there are some delightful surprises in Mother North such as grand piano at the end of Du Som Hater Gud or an acoustic guitar beginning Transcendental Requiem of Slaves that add dimension to this track.
Rebel Extravaganza is a must-listen for all black metal fans and an instant classic. While some might mock its more intricate songs, Rebel Extravaganza works in its own unique way and remains completely captivating. While some listeners may need multiple listens before fully understanding its message and beauty, Rebel Extravaganza should always be treasured and honored as it stands alone as an artful work of music.
Akercocke – “Leviathan”
Akercocke burst onto the UK metal scene in the late ’90s with their creative blend of death, black, and progressive metal music. Their individualistic sound combined death, black, progressive metal styles with Satanism – marking them out both as unique artists as well as knowledgeable practitioners of its codes.
Akercocke’s album opens with a sample from an episode of Hammer House of Horror television serial. While this may initially seem like typical death metal cliche, there’s actually more behind this track than meets the eye: Akercocke have named their record Choronzon after Aleister Crowley’s depiction of evil as manifested through chaos demons like Choronzon in The Book of Beast – so the idea behind it all is that evil comes in many forms and will ultimately prevail over all others.
As they demonstrated with their previous release Renaissance In Extremis, Akercocke have once more demonstrated their adeptness at seamlessly fusing various musical influences without falling prey to incongruities common among lesser bands. Opening track “Disappear” showcases some frilly guitar licks and hyperspeed riffing before quickly progressing into a progressive blackened death metal piece operating mostly within its triumphant major key structure.
“Son Of The Morning”, Akercocke’s final track, features a melancholic atmosphere elevated by an electric soundscape that provides a buzzing electronic backdrop, perfectly complementing their dextrous guitar playing and emotive vocal melodies. While overall dark in tone, this piece exudes beauty and majesty that never descends into despair; thanks to their meticulous approach to contemporary music making Akercocke have once more proven themselves one of the most authentic death metal bands around today.
Pantera – “Revolution”
Pantera remains one of the greatest Texas thrash/groove metal giants despite Dimebag Darrell’s tragic passing, as their sound remains instantly identifiable – whether that means double bass drumming or screeching harmonics on guitar. Their final album The Great Southern Trendkill may have been slightly subpar when compared with their earlier albums but still packed a powerful punch and showed more fragile sides to Anselmo himself; perhaps an indicator that personal tragedy may have started taking hold for him as well as for the band as a whole.
At that point, they had already become global superstars with 1992’s A Vulgar Display of Power and 1994’s Far Beyond Driven albums; yet by the time they recorded this, however, the music establishment seemed to have turned against them and The Great Southern Trendkill captures that sense of hopelessness Anselmo must have experienced as they tried desperately to stay afloat within an industry that seemed hellbent on taking them down.
Passion can be rewarding, yet can also turn violent quickly – as seen in this sweaty, claustrophobic track about duality by Slipknot fans in their video for “Hypnotize”. A pack of Slipknot fans converges upon a house the band was playing at, quickly turning their excitement into chaos and destruction – so much so that Roadrunner Records had to pay damages of $50k per home in which this occurred! Watching it alone at home may not be safe!