Name the hardest, gnarliest and amp-smashing metal song you can think of – not necessarily death metal but still heavy!
Gloomy black metal band Mayhem are known for their intense and violent soundscapes, and this dark crusher is no different. Blazing extremity and rapid gunfire vocals combine to make this track an unnerving listen.
1. Cannibal Corpse – Hammer Smashed Face
Brutal death metal can be difficult for those of delicate disposition to listen to without becoming intensely uncomfortable, particularly its instrumentals and lyrics, which often depict graphic and gory images and themes that would put most listeners off-balance. Cannibal Corpse were famously banned from performing in certain countries because their lyrics contained explicit imagery such as Cannibal Corpse’s song “Hammer Smashed Face,” however, regardless of any controversy that may ensue from them being featured as one of their best tracks (it was even featured prominently) when featured prominently in Jim Carrey’s film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994).
Cannibal Corpse stands alone when it comes to brutal death metal. Their macabre album artwork and macabre lyrics have cemented them as one of the most successful death metal bands ever, even during some line-up changes, remaining one of the top death metal bands for decades.
Cannibal Corpse are known for creating challenging songs, but nothing surpasses Hammer Smashed Face when it comes to extreme death metal music. The song displays some of the harshest vocals ever heard in metal music and violent lyrical content about murder – this song may not be something most listeners enjoy hearing but it plays a significant part of death metal history.
No stranger to brutal death metal, it may be difficult for non-fans of this genre to appreciate a song that involves cutting someone in half. Yet those familiar with death metal will undoubtedly love this track, which showcases just how intense and bleak death metal can be; its fast tempo, vicious chorus and top-of-the-line guitar riff make this track one of its finest examples of death metal music.
2. Whitechapel – The Devil’s Requiem
Whitechapel’s first death metal album, Our Endless War, established them as one of the genre’s premier acts; later releases included more metalcore-oriented sounds; this track from their album Our Endless War illustrates this perfectly with clean melodic vocals from lead singer Phil Bozeman and low screams combined with powerful instrumentation creating their most emotionally raw project to date.
This track begins with a piano intro which transitions into a massive rhythm guitar riff assault from Tennessee band. Here, they break down any separation between metalcore and death metal by offering up an unconventional mix of grunts, breakdowns and axe solos that fly like ghostly spirits across the night sky – something not sure all fans may take well to. But nonetheless it represents progress towards musical innovation for them.
Metalcore beats are combined with an infectious bass line to form an infectiously catchy track. Bozeman stands out among his colleagues as he sings an almost melodic tune over this catchy bass riff; her distinctive singing voice stands out compared to their more often aggressive and brutally violent lyrics that many are used to hearing from this band.
But the song also proves that they haven’t abandoned their roots in deathcore. The bridge features an ominous riff before Bozeman delivers melodic vocals displaying his range as a singer. Finally, in the chorus they return to more intense and brutal vocals they were known for, showing that switching over to metalcore hasn’t compromised their ability to craft deathly hard hitting tracks.
The Devil’s Requiem, as its title indicates, refers to loss as inevitable and heartbreaking experience for everyone, regardless of strength and support networks. Its accompanying video provides a moving look at one boy coping with losing his mother; an important reminder that death can strike any one at anytime regardless of strength.
3. Mayhem – Deathcrush
Deathcrush, the debut EP by Norwegian Black Metal band Mayhem, is widely recognized as an essential piece in genre’s history. Even though its reputation may have diminished over time, Deathcrush remains relevant today – likely because this classic first generation black metal still resonates today and marks one of its earliest commercial releases by an act referred to as “The True Black Metal”.
Deathcrush’s production quality was surprising for such an early demo from this era; likely attributable to being recorded professionally rather than through tape trading networks like most black metal releases at that time.
Riffing ranges from slow, punky chords (inspired by Hellhammer and Bolt Thrower) to fast chaotic thrashing riffs; many tracks like Deathcrush, Chainsaw Gutsfuck and Pure Fucking Armageddon remain instantly memorable to this day.
On vocals, Maniac stands out, providing haunting yet haunting shrieks that perfectly complement the music. He easily outshines Messiah who tends to overdo it with yells and shrieks here; nonetheless his performance still carries weight and makes for an extremely engaging listening experience.
Notable also are its gore-laden lyrics, which help convey an atmosphere of evil and darkness through music. Furthermore, its cover art perfectly compliments its nihilistic theme. All in all, this album should be on your list if you wish to fully appreciate black metal’s origins and potential subgenre potential; its underground gem status warrants its listening experience! Just don’t expect any virtuosity from early Mayhem members – they were just teenagers looking for ways to vent their rage through music!
4. HATE – Auric Gates of Veles
HATE has earned the reputation for creating some of the ugliest and ruthless death metal ever heard on earth since their debut back in 1991. After 2017’s career-defining Tremendum release, Auric Gates of Veles is their best work to date and surely one of their finest achievements.
HATE have truly outdone themselves on Seventh Manvantara from its opening rumble to its final blastbeats on each track – from The Volga’s Veins’ rampant thrashing and wide open spaces, through haunting crushing grooves of Seventh Manvantara, sinister tragic sounds of Salve Ignis’ tragic and sinister sounds, concluding with Generation Sulphur’s raw black metal finale – this record stands out. HATE have clearly made an effort not rehash the same idea over and over.
Each song showcases a different aspect of HATE, testifying to Buszko and Jaroszewicz’s song-writing partnership as each listen brings something new; melodic riffs contrast beautifully with their trademark brutality while drumming is some of the fastest death metal around.
Production work on this record was truly outstanding, with Polish producer duo Wieslawski brothers handling it superbly to produce an intoxicating sound packed with moody atmosphere and intense droning that makes the overall experience all the more captivating.