Featured Genre #1 – Technical Death Metal

manuscriptreplica · 03-02-2005, 09:56 PM

Featured Genre #1 – Technical Death Metal

When Possessed released ‘Seven Churches’ in 1985, with the proto-growls of death metal and named their track 10 ‘death metal’, a whole new genre was born; death metal. Death metal has a very prominent sound, quick, palm muted chords, usually over a progression, the bassline is usually more noticeable than in other genres, then drums are very fast and often incorporate blasts into their beats (i.e hitting the snare, kick, and a cymbal at the same time at a rapid pace). But the most prominent thing about death metal, and really what separates death metal from other genres is the vocals. Instead of being sung, they are ‘growled’, often described as ‘cookie monster vocals’. Lyrical themes usually range in the gore field, but they can be about all types of things, like religion (Deicide), philosophy (later Death), fantasy (Lykathea Aflame) and even science (Wormed).

Some important albums in the death metal genre:

Death - Scream Bloody Gore (1987)
Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness (1989)
Deicide – Deicide (1990)
Cannibal Corpse – Eaten Back to Life (1990)
Immolation – Dawn of Possession (1991)
Suffocation – Effigy of the Forgotten (1991)

In this particular FG I will be focusing on the technical side of death metal. It can range from the brutal (Cryptopsy, Theory in Practice) to the jazz influenced (Atheist, Cynic) to the downright experimental (Demilich, Obscura-era Gorguts). Musicianship is on an even higher scale than regular death metal, and some have a classical or jazz-trained background. The songs are usually more experimental than regular death metal, rarely repeating the same song structure. Probably one of the biggest differences is the way technical death metal plays a lot more riffs than regular death metal. You’ll find that in regular death metal the songs mainly consist of chord changes, with one or two riffs (I’m being very general here), listen to a Death ‘Sound of Perseverance’ song and you probably couldn’t count the riffs on one hand, there are that many. And lyrical themes tend to stray a lot from the gore and brutality, apart from Necrophagist, Gorguts and Cryptopsy on the following list, all the other albums do not discuss gore in their themes (I think).

Some great albums in the field of technical death metal:

Anata – Under a Stone with no Inscription (2004)
Atheist – Unquestionable Presence (1991) *highly recommended*
Cynic – Focus (1993)
Cryptopsy – None so Vile (1996)
Death – Human (1991)
Death – The Sound of Perseverance (1998) *recommended*
Demilich – Nespithe (1993)
Gorguts – The Erosion of Sanity (1993) *highly recommended*
Gorguts – Obscura (1998)
Lykathea Aflame – Elvenefris (2000) *highly recommended*
Miasma – Changes (1992) *recommended*
Mithras – Worlds Beyond the Veil (2003)
Necrophagist – Onset of Putrefaction (2000)
Pavor - A Pale Debilitating Autumn (1994)
Pestilence – Spheres (1993)
Theory in Practice – Colonizing the Sun (2002)

Good/recommended listening:
Atheist – Unquestionable Presence
Cryptopsy – Slit Your Guts
Death – Scavenger of Human Sorrow
Gorguts – Orphans of Sickness
Lykathea Aflame - Bringer of Elvenefris Flame
Necrophagist – Extreme Unction
Theory in Practice – Clockwork that Counts Aeons

Here is a brief, final overview of the genres of technical death metal:

Jazz/death metal
Musicianship is probably the highest in this genre, often mindblowing. We have seen many brilliant musicians come out of this genre (Paul Masdival, Tony Choy, Sean Malone, Sean Reinert, Kelly Shaefer, Jeroen Paul Thesseling). There are a lot of jazzy, softer breakdowns in this style, and the songs incorporates jazz structure. The ‘death metal’ bits really aren’t that death metally, but the vocals are growled/harsh. Key bands: Alarum, Atheist, Cynic, Pestilence.

Brutal technical death metal
Can be similar to brutal death, but often goes off in long instrumental sections with fast technical riffs. The solos are of better quality, because of the better musicianship. Key bands: Cryptopsy, Gorguts (early), Necrophagist.

Experimental death metal
Totally disregard of all theory and music knowledge, this type of stuff is quite hard to listen to. Most of it is very dissonant, there are long instrumental sections here and there, and time sig changes are everywhere. Non-metal instruments are also used frequently. Key bands: Gorguts (Obscura), Demilich, Miasma.

Download Section

[url=http://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=03TIG62F95ACY3R20IKRV519YL] Atheist – Unquestionable Presence[/url]
[url=http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=26OIYEQQARVS420PU66329K8MY]Cryptopsy - Slit Your Guts[/url]
[url=http://s30.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1WWNJ3QOF42UA2DZ9N9R6JADKS]Death - Scavenger of Human Sorrow[/url]
[url=http://s24.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0BYPWF32H8XC50GOM9J22MNNKH]Gorguts - Orphans of Sickness[/url]
[url=http://s28.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2I1MRYAWHWL233UI57UERXD0R8]Lykathea Aflame - Bringer of Elvenefris Flame[/url]
[url=http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3JFZBS61E3PVD3VYS8KDCCWDQR]Necrophagist - Extreme Unction[/url]
[url=http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2Z38S9KFKS8VY0UW3DV9PHNKQH]Theory in Practice – Clockwork that Counts Aeons[/url]
[url=http://s21.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1NX19A9XUREOI3AY4BSSZVVM40]Cynic - Veil of Maya[/url]

Endless Obsession · 03-02-2005, 09:58 PM

wow goood job dude, thanks for the knowledge

Im begining to learn a lot around here, i had no idea that Possesed started death metal.

PS - this should probly be stickied.

TrainTakeMeHome · 03-02-2005, 09:58 PM

Good job man.

Badmoon · 03-02-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Jazz/death metal

Sounds interesting. I may check it out.

Well, great job Manuscript

You covered a lot of need to know stuff

Can we email in the dibs now? Or has that been predecided.

Jom · 03-02-2005, 10:01 PM

Excellent way to kick off the Featured Genres series

manuscriptreplica · 03-02-2005, 10:01 PM

@ Badmoon- Yeah, go ahead

@ everyone else - thanks

thickasabrick · 03-02-2005, 10:19 PM

I'm liking the sounds of this Jazz/death Metal.

So can you explain the type of stuff Technical Death Metal bands sing about? I've noticed certain genres/bands in metal only sing about like death, gore, and hell and stuff like that. Is it the same with Technical Death Metal? I haven't actually heard a lot of Death Metal before so I'm just trying to get an impression of what to expect.

edit- and rep+ for the info (and being the first featured genre in R&M)

And I've just noticed you already have something about the lyrics...sorry about that I guess I forgot or missed that part. Good job!

Nightrider32X · 03-02-2005, 10:22 PM

Wow this is a really amazing historical breakdown of Death Metal. This definitly should be stickied! Bump man!

manuscriptreplica · 03-02-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thickasabrick

So can you explain the type of stuff Technical Death Metal bands sing about? I've noticed certain genres/bands in metal only sing about like death, gore, and hell and stuff like that. Is it the same with Technical Death Metal? I haven't actually heard a lot of Death Metal before so I'm just trying to get an impression of what to expect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by featured genre

Lyrical themes usually range in the gore field, but they can be about all types of things, like religion (Deicide), philosophy (later Death), fantasy (Lykathea Aflame) and even science (Wormed).

And (techncial death) lyrical themes tend to stray a lot from the gore and brutality, apart from Necrophagist, Gorguts and Cryptopsy on the following list, all the other albums do not discuss gore in their themes (I think).

OFFICIAL:Badmoon has the FG, fools.

RavenousMetalist87 · 03-02-2005, 10:28 PM

Out of all those, I have these:

Possessed - Seven Churches
Death - Scream Bloody Gore
Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness

I should get more if I am liking this type of style, as it's very interesting and well, I'd like to say a great way to get a lot off your mind.

thickasabrick · 03-02-2005, 10:31 PM

Ya sorry about that Manuscriptreplica, I'm just not used to someone actually including everything on their first post. Usually it takes a few edits.

And my friend is really into some form of metal and some songs have a lot of keyboards and synthesizers or something like that. Does Technical Death Metal have stuff like that, or is it mainly guitars/bass for rhythms and melodies?

manuscriptreplica · 03-02-2005, 10:35 PM

With your username it's understandable

Not many death metal bands use keyboards and synths, in fact I can only list a few off the top of my head, Mithras use them a lot, Morbid Angel, Nocturnus, Pestilence (in the Spheres album) (they proudly proclaim in the booklet that 'no keyboards are used on this album - but guitar synths are), and that's all I can think of right now.

Kurtz · 03-02-2005, 10:36 PM

That was awesome.

Great job.

Jom · 03-02-2005, 10:40 PM

Wait a minute, my e-mail to you and DM was invalid? That blows...

Freezing Moon · 03-02-2005, 10:44 PM

Great job, thanks for the info. The part about Possessed was especially informative, I didn't know anything about them.

Demilich is sweet, as are lots of the other bands you named, so I will be checking out all of the recommendations that I have not yet heard.

manuscriptreplica · 03-02-2005, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntiHero3314

Wait a minute, my e-mail to you and DM was invalid? That blows...

Sorry that wasn't my decision. Fast fingers made the rules that you had to dib after the FG was posted, sorry

Jom · 03-02-2005, 10:47 PM

See, I didn't see that

I just e-mailed both of you when he posted the rules the first time.

Do I have to dib again now?

Magicaltroll · 03-02-2005, 10:51 PM

rep++
i still cant get into athiest

i mean some of its cool, but its just weird sometimes, but i find myself liking it a bit more every listen so yeah... and good job man

manuscriptreplica · 03-02-2005, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntiHero3314

See, I didn't see that

I just e-mailed both of you when he posted the rules the first time.

Do I have to dib again now?

i guess. Just make sure you're online when Badmoon posts his FG!

I'm uploading the songs I recommended as we speak, shouldn't be too long.

Berner · 03-02-2005, 11:17 PM

Very excellent but you missed one huge band. Quo Vadis.

03-02-2005, 09:58 PM	#2
Endless Obsession Tough As John Jacobs Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 3,561	wow goood job dude, thanks for the knowledge Im begining to learn a lot around here, i had no idea that Possesed started death metal. PS - this should probly be stickied. Last edited by Endless Obsession; 03-03-2005 at 01:10 PM.

03-02-2005, 10:01 PM	#5
Jom myspace.com/openhappiness Sputnik Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sarnia, ON Posts: 27,400	Excellent way to kick off the Featured Genres series
	Digging: Saves the Day - Stay What You Are

03-02-2005, 10:19 PM	#7
thickasabrick but does it swing? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With my Les Paul Posts: 9,924	I'm liking the sounds of this Jazz/death Metal. So can you explain the type of stuff Technical Death Metal bands sing about? I've noticed certain genres/bands in metal only sing about like death, gore, and hell and stuff like that. Is it the same with Technical Death Metal? I haven't actually heard a lot of Death Metal before so I'm just trying to get an impression of what to expect. edit- and rep+ for the info (and being the first featured genre in R&M) And I've just noticed you already have something about the lyrics...sorry about that I guess I forgot or missed that part. Good job! Last edited by thickasabrick; 03-02-2005 at 10:25 PM.

03-02-2005, 10:40 PM	#14
Jom myspace.com/openhappiness Sputnik Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sarnia, ON Posts: 27,400	Wait a minute, my e-mail to you and DM was invalid? That blows...
	Digging: Saves the Day - Stay What You Are

03-02-2005, 10:47 PM	#17
Jom myspace.com/openhappiness Sputnik Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sarnia, ON Posts: 27,400	See, I didn't see that I just e-mailed both of you when he posted the rules the first time. Do I have to dib again now?
	Digging: Saves the Day - Stay What You Are

03-02-2005, 09:56 PM	#1
manuscriptreplica Chef's Knife Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: 45 mins ago I was just a strummer. Now I feel like Clapton. No Joke Posts: 7,794	Featured Genre #1 – Technical Death Metal Featured Genre #1 – Technical Death Metal When Possessed released ‘Seven Churches’ in 1985, with the proto-growls of death metal and named their track 10 ‘death metal’, a whole new genre was born; death metal. Death metal has a very prominent sound, quick, palm muted chords, usually over a progression, the bassline is usually more noticeable than in other genres, then drums are very fast and often incorporate blasts into their beats (i.e hitting the snare, kick, and a cymbal at the same time at a rapid pace). But the most prominent thing about death metal, and really what separates death metal from other genres is the vocals. Instead of being sung, they are ‘growled’, often described as ‘cookie monster vocals’. Lyrical themes usually range in the gore field, but they can be about all types of things, like religion (Deicide), philosophy (later Death), fantasy (Lykathea Aflame) and even science (Wormed). Some important albums in the death metal genre: Death - Scream Bloody Gore (1987) Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness (1989) Deicide – Deicide (1990) Cannibal Corpse – Eaten Back to Life (1990) Immolation – Dawn of Possession (1991) Suffocation – Effigy of the Forgotten (1991) In this particular FG I will be focusing on the technical side of death metal. It can range from the brutal (Cryptopsy, Theory in Practice) to the jazz influenced (Atheist, Cynic) to the downright experimental (Demilich, Obscura-era Gorguts). Musicianship is on an even higher scale than regular death metal, and some have a classical or jazz-trained background. The songs are usually more experimental than regular death metal, rarely repeating the same song structure. Probably one of the biggest differences is the way technical death metal plays a lot more riffs than regular death metal. You’ll find that in regular death metal the songs mainly consist of chord changes, with one or two riffs (I’m being very general here), listen to a Death ‘Sound of Perseverance’ song and you probably couldn’t count the riffs on one hand, there are that many. And lyrical themes tend to stray a lot from the gore and brutality, apart from Necrophagist, Gorguts and Cryptopsy on the following list, all the other albums do not discuss gore in their themes (I think). Some great albums in the field of technical death metal: Anata – Under a Stone with no Inscription (2004) Atheist – Unquestionable Presence (1991) *highly recommended* Cynic – Focus (1993) Cryptopsy – None so Vile (1996) Death – Human (1991) Death – The Sound of Perseverance (1998) *recommended* Demilich – Nespithe (1993) Gorguts – The Erosion of Sanity (1993) *highly recommended* Gorguts – Obscura (1998) Lykathea Aflame – Elvenefris (2000) *highly recommended* Miasma – Changes (1992) *recommended* Mithras – Worlds Beyond the Veil (2003) Necrophagist – Onset of Putrefaction (2000) Pavor - A Pale Debilitating Autumn (1994) Pestilence – Spheres (1993) Theory in Practice – Colonizing the Sun (2002) Good/recommended listening: Atheist – Unquestionable Presence Cryptopsy – Slit Your Guts Death – Scavenger of Human Sorrow Gorguts – Orphans of Sickness Lykathea Aflame - Bringer of Elvenefris Flame Necrophagist – Extreme Unction Theory in Practice – Clockwork that Counts Aeons Here is a brief, final overview of the genres of technical death metal: Jazz/death metal Musicianship is probably the highest in this genre, often mindblowing. We have seen many brilliant musicians come out of this genre (Paul Masdival, Tony Choy, Sean Malone, Sean Reinert, Kelly Shaefer, Jeroen Paul Thesseling). There are a lot of jazzy, softer breakdowns in this style, and the songs incorporates jazz structure. The ‘death metal’ bits really aren’t that death metally, but the vocals are growled/harsh. Key bands: Alarum, Atheist, Cynic, Pestilence. Brutal technical death metal Can be similar to brutal death, but often goes off in long instrumental sections with fast technical riffs. The solos are of better quality, because of the better musicianship. Key bands: Cryptopsy, Gorguts (early), Necrophagist. Experimental death metal Totally disregard of all theory and music knowledge, this type of stuff is quite hard to listen to. Most of it is very dissonant, there are long instrumental sections here and there, and time sig changes are everywhere. Non-metal instruments are also used frequently. Key bands: Gorguts (Obscura), Demilich, Miasma. Download Section [url=http://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=03TIG62F95ACY3R20IKRV519YL] Atheist – Unquestionable Presence[/url] [url=http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=26OIYEQQARVS420PU66329K8MY]Cryptopsy - Slit Your Guts[/url] [url=http://s30.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1WWNJ3QOF42UA2DZ9N9R6JADKS]Death - Scavenger of Human Sorrow[/url] [url=http://s24.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0BYPWF32H8XC50GOM9J22MNNKH]Gorguts - Orphans of Sickness[/url] [url=http://s28.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2I1MRYAWHWL233UI57UERXD0R8]Lykathea Aflame - Bringer of Elvenefris Flame[/url] [url=http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3JFZBS61E3PVD3VYS8KDCCWDQR]Necrophagist - Extreme Unction[/url] [url=http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2Z38S9KFKS8VY0UW3DV9PHNKQH]Theory in Practice – Clockwork that Counts Aeons[/url] [url=http://s21.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1NX19A9XUREOI3AY4BSSZVVM40]Cynic - Veil of Maya[/url] Last edited by manuscriptreplica; 03-07-2005 at 04:17 AM.

03-02-2005, 09:58 PM	#3
TrainTakeMeHome See Emily Play.. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 238	Good job man.

03-02-2005, 10:22 PM	#8
Nightrider32X All you need is love Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 146	Wow this is a really amazing historical breakdown of Death Metal. This definitly should be stickied! Bump man!

03-02-2005, 10:28 PM	#10
RavenousMetalist87 Crossing Many Lines Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,595	Out of all those, I have these: Possessed - Seven Churches Death - Scream Bloody Gore Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness I should get more if I am liking this type of style, as it's very interesting and well, I'd like to say a great way to get a lot off your mind.

03-02-2005, 10:31 PM	#11
thickasabrick but does it swing? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With my Les Paul Posts: 9,924	Ya sorry about that Manuscriptreplica, I'm just not used to someone actually including everything on their first post. Usually it takes a few edits. And my friend is really into some form of metal and some songs have a lot of keyboards and synthesizers or something like that. Does Technical Death Metal have stuff like that, or is it mainly guitars/bass for rhythms and melodies?

03-02-2005, 10:35 PM	#12
manuscriptreplica Chef's Knife Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: 45 mins ago I was just a strummer. Now I feel like Clapton. No Joke Posts: 7,794	With your username it's understandable Not many death metal bands use keyboards and synths, in fact I can only list a few off the top of my head, Mithras use them a lot, Morbid Angel, Nocturnus, Pestilence (in the Spheres album) (they proudly proclaim in the booklet that 'no keyboards are used on this album - but guitar synths are), and that's all I can think of right now.

03-02-2005, 10:36 PM	#13
Kurtz like i'm in a hurr-ay Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 8,765	That was awesome. Great job.

03-02-2005, 10:44 PM	#15
Freezing Moon ... Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4,442	Great job, thanks for the info. The part about Possessed was especially informative, I didn't know anything about them. Demilich is sweet, as are lots of the other bands you named, so I will be checking out all of the recommendations that I have not yet heard.

03-02-2005, 10:51 PM	#18
Magicaltroll Majestic.amirite? Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pahrump, Nevada Posts: 5,645	rep++ i still cant get into athiest i mean some of its cool, but its just weird sometimes, but i find myself liking it a bit more every listen so yeah... and good job man

03-02-2005, 11:17 PM	#20
Berner Aw, that soothes the fire Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Regina Saskatchewan. Posts: 10,642	Very excellent but you missed one huge band. Quo Vadis.