Cannibal Corpse have successfully survived an unexpected frontman change without succumbing to any internal turmoil, continuing their brand of vicious death metal music with regular releases and merciless intensity – making them one of the most relevant acts in their genre.
Other death metal bands, like Portland’s Torture Rack, don’t get bogged down with such intricate anatomy and focus instead on keeping things raucous and violent.
Carcass
Carcass are one of the premier death metal bands, pioneering melodic death metal in the mid-1990s. Their landmark 1993 album Heartwork became widely considered their pinnacle work; combining progressive ambition on Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious with midtempo swagger that had been developed on previous records, it produced something different than just plain thrash-metal of their earlier work.
Carcass was formed as a D-beat band in 1985 by guitarist Bill Steer and bassist Ken Owen, both later joined Napalm Death (replacing drummer Justin Broadrick). Their early lyrics took inspiration from horror movies as well as social commentary. Over their first several years together there were various lineup changes but only Steer and Owen from its initial form were left intact.
Carcass took an important leap in production quality with the release of Symphonies of Sickness, working alongside engineer Colin Richardson who would remain with them throughout all their subsequent albums and helping create more melodic tracks than previously. Richardson helped refine Carcass’ sound.
The result was an album featuring longer songs with slower passages – an experiment intended to address criticism that their earlier works had become monotonous and repetitive, as well as making their music more approachable and accessible for a broader audience.
Symphonies of Sickness features two noteworthy tracks, “Excoriating Abdominal Emanation” and “Crawling from the Grave”. The former offers an effective mix of brutality, tremolo picking and double-tracked vocals; while its counterpart displays more deliberate instrument placement – more space between riffs, slower pace overall and a dramatic effect – indicative of how band were beginning to understand how essential it is to balance brutality with subtlety and melody.
DECAPITATED
DECAPITATED has long been one of the premier Polish death metal bands. For nearly two decades now, DECAPITATED has found ways to innovate while remaining true to their signature brutality. Anticult is an impressive testament to their dedication and craftsmanship. The album takes an innovative approach with a focus on groove and melody; set for release via Nuclear Blast on July 7th. As part of their preparations, to celebrate, they released an intense, occult-inspired music video for their lead single “Earth Scar,” directed by Dariusz Szermanowicz who shot them against an expansive landscape before interweaving scenes of shamanic rituals and fiery witches into one single video!
From their early beginnings in the mid-teens, Sauron rapidly gained attention for its highly technical style of metal music. Following two demo recordings with Wicked World in 2000 and signing to release Winds of Creation as their debut album – which became an instantaneous hit among fans and fellow extreme metal acts such as Morbid Angel and Deicide touring together as touring companions – Sauron quickly established themselves on an international stage.
Early years for the band were heavily influenced by black metal; after experiencing periods of creative stagnation, however, the group eventually transitioned into its own unique death metal sound that has come to be known as Nihility – their 2004 hit that established their signature sound and remains relevant today.
Decapitated returned in 2007 following their break up, with Carnival is Forever, an album which established them back into modern metal music. Carnival is Forever also marked their first album with new guitarist Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka who expanded the songwriting capabilities beyond pure technical death metal and towards melodies and riffs while adding his mastery of guitar gave Decapitated an accessible sound without losing their signature ferocity.
Obscura
Although many of the songs on this album may seem harsh or harshly brutal, each contains incredible melody and beauty. Lemay’s passion for classical composition can be heard throughout each track, lending elegance while maintaining brutality. Furthermore, this album explores existentialism rather than gore or horror themes and remains highly experimental to this day.
This album was much more complex than their previous releases, due to the band having become more familiar with each other and writing songs faster. Riffs on this release were more complex and guitar playing often dissonant – adding another layer of complexity and originality to the music.
This album marked an enormous step forward for the band. Notably, it marked Robert Patrick’s first performance after joining after Hannes Grossmann left. Additionally to more intense drumming, this album showcased some great bass lines and fusion-influenced guitar arpeggios that have since become signature features of subsequent recordings and tours by this collective.
Lemay continues to push the limits of death metal with each release. His style is extremely adaptable, always looking for new ways to use his guitar – an influence visible in bands like Gorguts and Neurosis.
On “Earthly Love”, Linus Klausenitzer employs his trademark whirling riffs to build unstable compositions, simultaneously taking the listener on an emotional rollercoaster ride that leaves them wanting more. Additionally, this album includes a bass solo by Linus Klausenitzer from Noneuclid and Aborted; who have both provided him with opportunities.
Since 2016, they have continued touring and building their fan base. Supporting bands like Sepultura, Goatwhore and Fit for an Autopsy among others as well as appearing at festivals like Graspop Metal Meeting and Hammersonic Festival has only added to this momentum. Now working on their third studio album slated for release sometime during 2018.
Mortuous
Mortuous has been creating brutal death metal music since 2009. Formed in San Jose, California by Colin Tarvin (vocals/guitar/bass of Funerealm), they released their debut demo, Mors Immortalis through Skeleton Plague records early 2010. Since then they have seen multiple lineup changes but now seem well-suited for their musical direction.
Through Wilderness is their debut full-length album released this summer on Carbonized and Tankcrimes Records, marking a groundbreaking achievement in death doom music that proves they’re ready to make the jump into professional status.
Upon Desolation is the successor to Through Wilderness and further raises the standard in an already highly-competitive genre. Each song on this release was meticulously composed with experience in mind and exudes an air of doom that emphasizes its filthy aggression.
This album is sure to please fans of death metal, doom metal, black metal and any music with powerful, brutal and devastating sounds – whether death metal fans, doom metal fans, black metal fans or simply anyone who appreciates music with powerful, brutal and devastating sounds like this album is. Filled with crushing riffs, blast beats, guttural vocals as well as elements from thrash metal compositions the band includes elements into their compositions for an incredible listen.
Mortuous stands out among newer death metal bands by maintaining an intense yet powerful level of intensity without sounding over-produced. This feat is accomplished using a mix that does not overwhelm and an engaging drummer who keeps pace with the music’s relentless pace, with vocalists who deliver lyrics with emotion and conviction that many younger death metal bands cannot match – ultimately creating an album that leaves you feeling like you have just entered hell itself!