The Death Metal thread

LOLPOCALYPSE · 07-21-2011, 08:21 PM

Cookie monster vocals get old real quick for me, so I tend to prefer progressive death metal much more (Gojira, Opeth).

The death metal band I have been listening to a lot lately is Jungle Rot. They have a sort of corny appeal to them I rarely fall for, but I don't regret it.

BastardofYoung · 07-21-2011, 08:29 PM

Jungle Rot to me was always just kind of a joke band. They are awful, but have their appeal in that regard.

My biggest problem at first was adjusting to the vocals, but once I did I found it better. Have to adjust the ears I feel to appreciate it more, somebody laughed at me once for saying that but I just said, If a person is used to hearing sounds of say Bob Dylan or something of that nature, they will not be able to grip the harsh style of vocals in Death Metal or Black Metal very easy, but if they can train their ears to adjust to those sounds it is easier to appreciate.

There is that cliche cookie monster element of course, but I have learned to accept it.

I do not listen to much lately. The occasional album here and there, but I listened to it none stop for months, just had to try some new sounds.

LoathsomePete · 07-21-2011, 09:58 PM

The cookie monster vocals really do add to the aesthetic of the music, I mean it pulls double duty by delivering the narrative as well as being its own instrument. I guess the same can be said for every genre, but I think it's a little more poignant in death metal.

However I think a lot of people really miss the obvious point of having the guttural vocals. How else could you deliver lyrics like this:

"Carve me up, slice me apart
Suck my guts and lick my heart
Chop me up, I like to be hurt
Drink my marrow and blood for dessert
EATEN...
My one desire, my only wish is to be-
EATEN...
The longer I live the more I'm dying to feel the pain
EATEN...
I would do anything to be-
EATEN...
My one desire, my only wish is to be-
EATEN..."

-"Eaten" - Bloodbath

I mean could you really imagine someone like Rob Halford, Bruce Dickenson, or even James Hetfield signing that in their normal manner? It's called death metal for a fucking reason!

BastardofYoung · 07-21-2011, 10:06 PM

I like this.

hip hop bunny hop · 07-21-2011, 10:22 PM

^^^ good point. Vocals in Death Metal exist not as an instrument of melody, but of rhythm; so it's not just the method of delivery that is alienating, but how they are used. Compare this to, say, Hip Hop - where vocals are also primarily an instrument of rhythm, but in the context of hip hop they are almost always used to emphasize a monorhythm - whereas in Death Metal they are generally polyrhythmic in intent, aside from crescendos and what have you.

=========

Anyone else here a fan of Order From Chaos? They were a first wave DM band from Kansas City, Missouri, and played Death Metal with what would now be called Black Metal influences..... but the being an early band, the black metal they were influenced by was the 1st & 2nd album Bathory. They also had a rather strong crossover influence, which I rather enjoy.

The first song is "Of Death & Dying", which I think is their highpoint. Terrific energy, and - despite being a demo - the production is pretty damn good. You can hear the bass guitar, for ****s sake.

Alumni from this band went on to form Ares Kingdom, whereas Pete Helkamp went on to start Angelcorpse, amongst other bands.

BobLobLaw · 07-23-2011, 04:12 PM

Cannibal Corpse? Check.
Opeth? Check.
Death? Hell yes.
Embalmer? **** yeah.

I love death metal.

jackhammer · 07-23-2011, 06:50 PM

I am really shocked that Obituary are barely mentioned (if at all). One of the most distinctive and consistent Death Metal bands ever. Slowly We Rot is absolutely timeless.

BastardofYoung · 07-23-2011, 06:53 PM

John Trady has one of the most unique voices in all of Death Metal.

"Slowly We Rot" is essential as a debut. "The End Complete" though is their best album to date.

Howard the Duck · 07-24-2011, 01:41 AM

^^agreed and seconded

Metal Connoisseur · 07-25-2011, 08:16 PM

So who's flying the American death metal banner these days? I don't hear much about straight up American death metal anymore in modern metal circles. It seems like the genre in the U.S. has taken a backseat to its bastard cousin deathcore. Any bands that come to mind when thinking of modern American death metal?

07-21-2011, 08:29 PM	#32 (permalink)
BastardofYoung Buzz Killjoy Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2,692	Jungle Rot to me was always just kind of a joke band. They are awful, but have their appeal in that regard. My biggest problem at first was adjusting to the vocals, but once I did I found it better. Have to adjust the ears I feel to appreciate it more, somebody laughed at me once for saying that but I just said, If a person is used to hearing sounds of say Bob Dylan or something of that nature, they will not be able to grip the harsh style of vocals in Death Metal or Black Metal very easy, but if they can train their ears to adjust to those sounds it is easier to appreciate. There is that cliche cookie monster element of course, but I have learned to accept it. I do not listen to much lately. The occasional album here and there, but I listened to it none stop for months, just had to try some new sounds. __________________ last.fm ‎"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Jack Handey.

07-21-2011, 09:58 PM	#33 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	The cookie monster vocals really do add to the aesthetic of the music, I mean it pulls double duty by delivering the narrative as well as being its own instrument. I guess the same can be said for every genre, but I think it's a little more poignant in death metal. However I think a lot of people really miss the obvious point of having the guttural vocals. How else could you deliver lyrics like this: "Carve me up, slice me apart Suck my guts and lick my heart Chop me up, I like to be hurt Drink my marrow and blood for dessert EATEN... My one desire, my only wish is to be- EATEN... The longer I live the more I'm dying to feel the pain EATEN... I would do anything to be- EATEN... My one desire, my only wish is to be- EATEN..." -"Eaten" - Bloodbath I mean could you really imagine someone like Rob Halford, Bruce Dickenson, or even James Hetfield signing that in their normal manner? It's called death metal for a fucking reason! __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

07-21-2011, 10:06 PM	#34 (permalink)
BastardofYoung Buzz Killjoy Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2,692	I like this. __________________ last.fm ‎"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Jack Handey.

07-21-2011, 10:22 PM	#35 (permalink)
hip hop bunny hop Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,381	^^^ good point. Vocals in Death Metal exist not as an instrument of melody, but of rhythm; so it's not just the method of delivery that is alienating, but how they are used. Compare this to, say, Hip Hop - where vocals are also primarily an instrument of rhythm, but in the context of hip hop they are almost always used to emphasize a monorhythm - whereas in Death Metal they are generally polyrhythmic in intent, aside from crescendos and what have you. ========= Anyone else here a fan of Order From Chaos? They were a first wave DM band from Kansas City, Missouri, and played Death Metal with what would now be called Black Metal influences..... but the being an early band, the black metal they were influenced by was the 1st & 2nd album Bathory. They also had a rather strong crossover influence, which I rather enjoy. The first song is "Of Death & Dying", which I think is their highpoint. Terrific energy, and - despite being a demo - the production is pretty damn good. You can hear the bass guitar, for ****s sake. Alumni from this band went on to form Ares Kingdom, whereas Pete Helkamp went on to start Angelcorpse, amongst other bands. __________________ Have mercy on the poor.

07-23-2011, 04:12 PM	#36 (permalink)
BobLobLaw Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: In a place. With a bed. Posts: 107	Cannibal Corpse? Check. Opeth? Check. Death? Hell yes. Embalmer? **** yeah. I love death metal. __________________ "I just want to be perfect."

07-21-2011, 08:21 PM	#31 (permalink)
LOLPOCALYPSE Aryan Wonder Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 445	Cookie monster vocals get old real quick for me, so I tend to prefer progressive death metal much more (Gojira, Opeth). The death metal band I have been listening to a lot lately is Jungle Rot. They have a sort of corny appeal to them I rarely fall for, but I don't regret it.

07-23-2011, 06:50 PM	#37 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I am really shocked that Obituary are barely mentioned (if at all). One of the most distinctive and consistent Death Metal bands ever. Slowly We Rot is absolutely timeless. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

07-23-2011, 06:53 PM	#38 (permalink)
BastardofYoung Buzz Killjoy Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2,692	John Trady has one of the most unique voices in all of Death Metal. "Slowly We Rot" is essential as a debut. "The End Complete" though is their best album to date. __________________ last.fm ‎"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Jack Handey.

07-25-2011, 08:16 PM	#40 (permalink)
Metal Connoisseur Franchise Player Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 539	So who's flying the American death metal banner these days? I don't hear much about straight up American death metal anymore in modern metal circles. It seems like the genre in the U.S. has taken a backseat to its bastard cousin deathcore. Any bands that come to mind when thinking of modern American death metal?