Flynn said:
Here's your project, Metal GAF. Fill in my death metal gaps. Start at the beginning and walk me through the early crowning achievements -- I'm looking to cop like 10 of the best founders of death metal for my foundation. I'll be BBQing tomorrow, but I'll check in to see what you guys put up.
Thanks in advance.
Since you were getting out of metal right around 1990, it makes sense that you never got into it because it was right about full swing in late 80's-early 90's
the easiest thing to do is probably look at band lineups from '89-93 from Earache, Roadrunner, Relapse, Nuclear Blast, Century Media, Peaceville. Earache probably spawning the most influential across different styles. Also in the beginning there were about 2 areas of death metal prominence: Florida (Tampa) death metal and Swedish (Stockholm) death metal. With that criteria above you can put together the early death metal days that got it going. The list below is what I would suggest to someone trying to get into death metal. Starting with the early classic stuff and branching out from there.
Master - Self Titled - 1990 - Nuclear Blast Records (
Uknown Soldier) : One of the founding frontman of death metal. Even though Master didn't release anything official until 1990, Paul Speckmann's has been tinkering with the death metal style in the EARLY 80's.
Death - Leprosy - 1988 - Combat Records (
Pull The Plug) : Obvious choice. One of the defining "Florida death metal sound" One of the first to coin the term "death metal". Even though this was the 2nd album by Death, i felt this had more brutal elements than the first album. Bonus track:
Flattening of Emotions
Pestilence - Consvming Impvlse - 1989 - Roadrunner Records(
Deify Thy Master) : ultra brutal and ultra simple straightforward death metal from the Netherlands. This is off their second album which made the full transition from thrashy-death metal to straight up death metal.
Obituary - Cause of Death - 1990 - Roadrunner Records (
Infected) : Another pioneering "Florida death metal" band. Ultra simplistic and headbangable/moshable. Catchy as fuck. The vocals defined the death metal genre and never replicated.
Autopsy - Severed Survival - 1988 - Peaceville Records (
Ridden With Disease) : imo the best American death metal band. It was the drummer on the first Death album's new band. It was almost meant to sound ugly, depressing, and sloppy. Simple, yet effective and one of the first to do really gory lyrics. Bonus track because they are fucking awesome:
In The Grip of Winter
Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness - 1989 - Earache Records (
Chapel of Ghouls) : another Florida death metal band. Different approach to death metal with satanic themes rather than gore. The riffing had a "backwards" sound to it and the speed of the drumming was unheard of at the time besides Napalm Death.
Entombed - Left Hand Path - 1989 - Earache Records (
Left Hand Path) : The band that shook the underground death metal world. Also the band that put Sweden on the map. Nicke Andersson (drummer) was massively involved with the tape trading ring and made contacts around the world to explore the death metal realm. There were a lot of hype surrounding Entombed and the sister bands at the time; Carnage, Dismember, Grave, Tiamat, Unleashed, etc because of one element: the fucking savage buzzsaw riffing. The riffs and sound became the trademark "Swedish Sunlight Studio" sound. Craftsmanship and polish were top notch and all at an early age! This is true raw Swedish death metal. Fuck all the other Gothenburg bands that came after. This was the real lesson in Swedish death metal. Bonus track:
Dusk
Carcass - Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious - 1991 - Earache Records (
Corporeal Jigsore Quandary): labeled as the "Gods of Grind" and rightfully so. Riffs are chockfull of chunky goodness with a flair of finesse. Dual vocal duties (sometimes 3 vocals). Grindy, yet catchy and melodic somehow. Pushed the envelope of gore, but intelligently lyrically. A band that truly progressed with each album. No 2 albums sound alike, with the exception of the first 2 albums. But you can distinguish the quality and maturity between the 2 albums. My all time favorite death metal band. Bonus tracks:
Exhume To Consume and
Carnal Forge
Atheist - Piece of Time - 1989 - Active/Metal Blade Records (
Piece of Time) : Distinguishably different from all the other Florida death metal bands at the time since they added a lot of odd time signatures and jazzy elements. One of the first truly technical death metal bands. Insane bass player that died too short and eerily similar to Cliff Burton
Bonus track:
Unquestionable Presence
Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes - 1994 - Relapse Records(
In The Beginning) : Although slightly after the death metal boom I think this album definitely needs to be in any death metal library. 2nd album from the Finnish band that took elements of Swedish death metal and rock influences from The Doors. Extremely melodic and memorable yet crushing.
other notable mentions:
Deicide - Sacrificial Suicide
Bolt Thrower - IVth Crusade
Monstrosity - Ceremonial Void
Malevolent Creation - Premature Burial
