by Vai Helmer

Created on: June 24, 2009

In my opinion, extreme metal is the last and greatest movement in music. It is the pursuit of pure emotion, most famously anger and resilience, though notably also sadness, thoughtfulness, and would you believe it; happiness. It is birthed from all other genres; classical movement, jazz technicality, blues attitude, and naturally the groove of rock and roll. Every band combines these, taking from one or all to create the most varied spectrum of sounds found in any musical genre.

Among the many niches this music has dug into, including thrash, folk, and doom, we find the death metal genre. Inspired by the pioneering works of the Chuck Schuldiner, founder and key member of the band Death, death metal is a genre with one focus; the subject of death. Whether through the context of war, revenge, or decay, bands within the genre examine this gruesome subject in its every facet.

The lyrics are often delivered through heavily distorted vocals, usually a roar, growl or scream, and are at first unintelligible to an unfamiliar listener. Guitars tend to err on the severely distorted side, ranging from crunching tones to gain-boosted grooves, and are usually tuned lower to add a deeper and darker sound to the music as a whole, all fired through minor keys and power chords. Drums are fast, employing techniques such as blast beats to create a wall of overpowering sound. Time signatures often twist and shift, showing the shifting balances in the mind and in conflict. The objective overall is to create a powerful, furious sound, to reflect the darkness of death and imitate the sound of war.

Traditional sounds have been extrapolated, from the grooving early works to the precise Technical Death Metal, and even the darkest pit of all, Brutal Death Metal, the gore-obsessed subgenre which earned metal the stereotype it has today; guitars tuned a rumble, lyrics screaming bloody gore, and drums so quick and machinelike they become akin to an industrialised killing.

Death metal has been successfully combined with a surprising number of genres, beyond the normal extent of just using it as part of the inspiration, and in fact using pure elements of other styles to add flavour to the music. This style is usually dubbed Progressive or Experimental Death Metal. Atheist and Cynic pioneered the addition of Jazz to their music. Necrophagist use classical guitar extensively in their work. Even incredibly specific styles, such as classic Egyptian music have been added successfully, by the American group Nile. A plethora of styles can be seen in some bands work, such as the Swedish band Opeth, who include elements of progressive rock, jazz, folk and blues in their songs. It is this flexibility, a trait shared by much of metal music, which allows the genre to be so divergent and stay interesting despite over twenty five years of exploration.

Despite its tag as a genre for the low brow, Death Metal is an incredibly rewarding treat for those who choose to look into it. Though I could hardly recommend it to everyone, since it is so specific, I do think that those who love emotion in their music, or music quick enough to genuinely get the heart pumping in frenzy, should definitely give it a try. Good luck if you do, because either your ears will be bleeding..

..Or you'll be in heaven.

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