I'm looking for some grindcore/hardcore/death metal bands. Preferably from the US/Canadian that are still in existence as I like to see the bands I listen to live. I know there are plenty of sites out there that have reviews but I'd rather hear from others on here that have similar taste. As I work night crew, this leaves me with about 7 hours to listen to my library each night basically on repeat.
Current bands I'm into...
As Blood Runs Black August Burns Red Black Dahlia Murder Children of Bodom Darkest Hour Devil Wears Prada Dropkick Murphys From A Second Story Window Genghis Tron HeavyHeavyLowLow Number 12 Looks Like You On Broken Wings Red Chord
As I Lay Dying The Agony Scene Lamb Of God God Forbid Job For a Cowboy Shadows Fall <--- Maybe, might be a little too "pop"y for you. 3 Inches of Blood Atreyu
Not an exhaustive list, as I am a metal head, but the genres do overlap, and these are mostly hardcore bands that I saw at concerts with metal bands that I liked and thought their shows were pretty good.
Skeletonwitch (probably the best thing in the US right now)
Death (Chuck died in 2001 so you won't be seeing them anytime soon, but it's the best american death metal band, the best death metal band ever on some days, and the only thing the american scene has to brag about. they started out with that really brutal death metal sound, but eventually evolved into a more prog death metal with their album Human)
Nile
Quo Vadis
i make it a point to stay out of the US metal scene, and i have since i was 17, but those are all american/canadian. but seriously you should look into the sweden/norway sound. i don't know what it is, but they just fucking pump out brilliant musicians like it's nothing. google gothenburg metal to get a taste
Gorguts "Obscura" - A brilliantly unconventional death metal album. The guitars don't do the usual chunky palm muted power chords or tremelo picked riffs. Instead, all manner of strange noises are wrenched from the guitars, making me think of rusty twisted metal assembling itself into some strange lifeform. The drum work is pure death metal brilliance, and ever so slightly off kilter, giving it a chaotic and almost frightening sound, with awesome double bass blast beats. The vocals are somewhat unconventional higher pitched screams - they sound like the screams of a man being burned alive; wheezing, gasping, but still generally very ferocious. The mixing is superb and allows every instrument to be heard clearly, unlike virtually all extreme metal. Strange melodies - almost oriental or middle eastern at times, 20th century atonal melodies at others - are all over the place. This record was a milestone for experimental/avant garde metal, and is a psychedelic voyage through hell.
Psyopus "Our Puzzling Encounters Considered"- Excellent bizzarre technical grind. Most of the guitar work is very high pitched and extremely hyperactive. The drumming is fantastic, and the bass player keeps up with the guitar. The vocals are also quite high pitched. Think of high pitched grindcore performed on methamphetamine. Lots of stopping and starting and apparent lack of structure can make this album a little difficult, but it's a fantastic aural representation of insanity and all manner of extreme states of mind. This is a very creative take on grindcore.
Dying Fetus "War of Attrition" - Dying Fetus are the best band out there at taking a conventional sound (in this case death metal, hardcore punk, and grind) and taking it to the next level through wonderfully technical, but catchy, playing, and sheer attitude (almost the Pantera-esque "we are going to roll right over you" attitude.) The guitar players shred but the shreds are never masturbatory. The drums are wicked, and most of the riffs are pure annihilation. Dying Fetus make catchy death metal without softening it one bit.
Beneathe The Massacre "Evidence of Inequity" - Insane technical yet brutal death metal. The guitars alternate between very fast high pitched arpeggios and shreds and low pitched, off kilter riffs. The drums are extremely brutal and wonderfully fast - the drummer does some of the fastest double bass work I've heard. This EP's first two songs showcase this band at their best. Their next record was every bit as technical, but the soul was lost.
Cryptopsy "And Then You'll Beg" - This was my introduction to death metal/grindcore, and it blew my mind. People play this way? This is actually possible? This is an insanely hyperactive kind of music, yet brutal at the same time. The drummer has got to be one of the best out there, at least within the metal genre. This record displays unconventional guitar work - very fast, slithering, high and low, all over the place. The vocals are more hardcore style than death metal. This record is an adrenaline rush.
Cephalic Carnage "Exploiting Dysfunction" - A strange record. Here you have insane grindcore which randomly gives way to strange, quiet jazzy sections. Plenty of gross and out of control low pitched, fast paced grind and silly gurgling voices and high pitched goblin screams. A brutal and interesting record. Bad production, but that actually seems to help the vibe of the record.
AmorVincitOmnia: I agree, American metal is iffy, but there are bands like Dying Fetus that put out insanely good metal.
My feeling is that the best metal is coming out of Canada. I can't explain it - how can Canadians be so violent in their music, and so reasonable and down to earth otherwise?
Oh, I forgot to mention Ion Dissonance. They seem to have changed a lot on their new record, making their sound more brutal, yet more accessible at the same time. I'm not sure if this is a positive change or not, but in some ways it is pretty cool.
"Minus The Herd" - the latest album. Full of odd time signature rhythms. Unlike their other stuff, this album is ALL about brutal rhythm. It is very heavy, yet kind of conventional at the same time. I think this might be a more accessible record to start with. Insanely heavy, crushing guitar/drum work with hardcore vocals.
"Solace" - a real mindf*ck of a record. Crazy time signatures, rapidly changing tempos, crazy speeds, jagged and unpredictable riffs, and grating and intense hardcore vocals. Very creative approach to riffing, making use of incredibly disonant harmonies and a wide range of the guitar. This record is so crazy that it can be hard to listen to, and hard to absorb. Still, a fantastic example of how extreme metal can be.
Although there are some great American bands, I am going to have to agree that Europe, specifically Scandinavia, is where the best metal is coming from. I would strongly suggest looking into it, and a lot of them do tour in America periodically, so you should be able to see them still.
if you like dying fetus, check out a band called Decrepit Birth. much better, in my opinion. dying fetus has been trying to retain their sound since 2001. i'll admit war of attrition was good, but it's still them just trying to retain that sound. i won't even get into that bleak period between 01 - 07 for dying fetus. ;/
anyways, Decrepit Birth is from california so that's another one for you dknight.
Well... try bands like Amoral Nile Cryptopsy Decapitated Devourment Brodequin Abysmal Torment Defeated Sanity Decrepit Birth Dies Irae Vader Behemoth Hour Of Penance Inveracity Sarpanitum Severed Savior Vengeful Unmerciful Zyklon Deeds Of Flesh Suffocation Necrophagist Spawn Of Possession Sickening Horror Saprogenic Quo Vadis Odious Mortem Napalm Death
etc etc Majority of these bands are Technical Death / Brutal Death metal bands. You might enjoy some.
AmorVincitOmnia, thanks for the recommendation. I hear Decrepit Birth is pretty technical and crazy. I'll have to check them out. Currently I am just getting into an Australian death metal band called Portal (not the spinoff from Cynic). They are supposed to be pretty strange, and what I've heard is very nice and dark as hell. Their new album is Outre.
I think all 3 of Dying Fetus's last releases are great, although not my favorite kind of stuff (not weird enough, but still kick ass).
Yeah, the bands the OP listed are largely unfamiliar to me, but sound like the kind of stuff going on in the Ozfest scene and whatnot (not my kind of sound, for sure.) Still, Red Chord has a grind based sound, I think - if he likes Red Chord, I say Psyopus, Cephalic Carnage, Beneathe the Massacre, and Ion Disonance are good choices.
Can't stand metalcore :/
Definitely, the OP ought to check out some of what has been listed in this thread.
On January 02 2008 05:35 ZZangDreamjOy wrote: Well... try bands like Amoral Nile Cryptopsy Decapitated Devourment Brodequin Abysmal Torment Defeated Sanity Decrepit Birth Dies Irae Vader Behemoth Hour Of Penance Inveracity Sarpanitum Severed Savior Vengeful Unmerciful Zyklon Deeds Of Flesh Suffocation Necrophagist Spawn Of Possession Sickening Horror Saprogenic Quo Vadis Odious Mortem Napalm Death
etc etc Majority of these bands are Technical Death / Brutal Death metal bands. You might enjoy some.
This is a good list, I was especially impressed by Sarpanitum. That's probably the best production and guitar tone I've ever heard on a death metal album, and the dummer is really really talented.
One band I'd like to plug is Mithras, from U.K. They play a pretty different style of Brutal Death metal. The drumming is pretty standard fair for tech/brutal death metal, but there's alot of ambient, experimental, and avant-garde style stuff going on as well. It's kinda hard to describe, have a listen http://www.myspace.com/domainofmithras
Might also enjoy Lykathea Aflame, Symphonic Progressive Death/Grind. Just got into this band myself so I can't really describe it in detail, but
On January 02 2008 05:35 ZZangDreamjOy wrote: Well... try bands like Amoral Nile Cryptopsy Decapitated Devourment Brodequin Abysmal Torment Defeated Sanity Decrepit Birth Dies Irae Vader Behemoth Hour Of Penance Inveracity Sarpanitum Severed Savior Vengeful Unmerciful Zyklon Deeds Of Flesh Suffocation Necrophagist Spawn Of Possession Sickening Horror Saprogenic Quo Vadis Odious Mortem Napalm Death
etc etc Majority of these bands are Technical Death / Brutal Death metal bands. You might enjoy some.
This is a good list, I was especially impressed by Sarpanitum. That's probably the best production and guitar tone I've ever heard on a death metal album, and the dummer is really really talented.
One band I'd like to plug is Mithras, from U.K. They play a pretty different style of Brutal Death metal. The drumming is pretty standard fair for tech/brutal death metal, but there's alot of ambient, experimental, and avant-garde style stuff going on as well. It's kinda hard to describe, have a listen http://www.myspace.com/domainofmithras
Might also enjoy Lykathea Aflame, Symphonic Progressive Death/Grind. Just got into this band myself so I can't really describe it in detail, but http://youtube.com/watch?v=HJwSxfT-NHY
Well I'd say... Mithras is hard for most people to get into because of the production. Their new cd is amazing, and the drumming isn't exactly... standard fair. He does really technical things that most people don't notice while going extremely fast.
Lykathea Aflame reminds me of like... symphonics mixed with Cryptopsy in a blender with !T.O.O.H.!. It's hard for the average metalhead to get into too. I gave my list off the basis of what he gave us. He seemed to like the more mainstream stuff, so I gave him bands that have decent-good production, and could be easily gotten into. Cept for Devourment/Deeds Of Flesh, which I put in there because their just cool sometimes.
On January 02 2008 06:12 nA.Inky wrote: AmorVincitOmnia, thanks for the recommendation. I hear Decrepit Birth is pretty technical and crazy. I'll have to check them out. Currently I am just getting into an Australian death metal band called Portal (not the spinoff from Cynic). They are supposed to be pretty strange, and what I've heard is very nice and dark as hell. Their new album is Outre.
I think all 3 of Dying Fetus's last releases are great, although not my favorite kind of stuff (not weird enough, but still kick ass).
Yeah, the bands the OP listed are largely unfamiliar to me, but sound like the kind of stuff going on in the Ozfest scene and whatnot (not my kind of sound, for sure.) Still, Red Chord has a grind based sound, I think - if he likes Red Chord, I say Psyopus, Cephalic Carnage, Beneathe the Massacre, and Ion Disonance are good choices.
Can't stand metalcore :/
Definitely, the OP ought to check out some of what has been listed in this thread.
Outre is amazing, but... I wouldn't really say their exactly.. death metal. Although they are Death Metal based, their sound is more black metal.
What is with everyone praising Psyopus/Beneath The Massacre/Ion Dissonance? Psyopus has no soul, and is too spastic to be considered good music. Beneath The Massacre is soulless as well. Ion Dissonance is just... a more spastic metalcore/deathcore band. Cephalic Carnage though is great, especially Xenosapien.
Oh, and Decrepit Birth is pretty good. Their first cd "And Time Begins" was more along the lines of super fast american brutal death metal. Their new cd will sound like a mixture of that with Death and Odious Mortem.
ZZang, I wouldn't say Psyopus, Ion Disonance, or Beneathe the Massacre are up there with my favorites (though I do like them). I think they all have really good points, but I also think your comments are valid (particularly about the lack of soul - Beneathe The Massacre's first record had a lot more, but their first full length was soul-less.) I think that these bands might be more along the lines of what the OP might appreciate. Not sure...
My kinda stuff is more like Gorguts or Portal.
I'm curious what anyone thinks of Negativa (with Luc Lemay and Steeve Hurdle from Gorguts). The stuff I heard so far is good, but not Obscura good. What trips me out is that apparently they have added a female vocalist and are going in a more ambient direction. I have no idea what this might be like, but I'm kind of excited for it.
Also, Cryptopsy has gone and added a keyboardist, and when they were searching for vocalists (after Lord Worm left - or was kicked out) they specified that they wanted someone that could SING as well as growl... Hmm...
haha. Negativa is decent. It just sounds like left overs from Obscura. The stuff that wasn't good enough. I'm really excited though. and the news about Cryptopsy has me excited too, because although I liked Lord Worm, it was only for one cd, and anywher eelse he tried to "sing" he sucked. ^_^
On January 02 2008 08:45 -WGT-Stars- wrote: o..o he doesnt like atreyu because they're mainstream. noob cake did you ever listen to tower of rome? -__-;;;
I love this quote. People not liking music because its mainstream is not true. Theres the "few" scene kids everywhere who do that, but the majority of people who dislike Atreyu are like that simply because they are terrible. They have nothing going for them musically.
Anyways. Add G_Prime_Death@Hotmail.com to MSN if you want to discuss anything about this. I can help out with alot if your looking for bands, or just want to discuss music.
Zzang, agreed about Negativa sounding like Obscura left-overs. The music also has a less deathy sound, more like just avant-metal than avant death metal. The thing is, it sounds like the stuff on the mini-CD is 6 year old material by Steeve only. The new stuff is by the entire band, and with this female singer... who knows what will result.
Cryptopsy is freaking me out with their possible change in direction. Having been so intense before, I'm worried that a vocalist who actually sings might ruin things.... and what's with the keyboards? Still, I'll buy it.
Lord Worm wasn't sounding as fierce on that last record, but his high pitched screams were still awesome. None So Vile seemed flat to me, perhaps mostly because of the production, but somehow I don't think so.
well there is a lot of people that dont like main stream music just for the fact that they turn into what the record label wants them to be... and shit like that ;p
The majority of mainstream music is disliked simply because it is simplistic. There's nothing there but what you hear. I enjoy music where you have to dig a bit to get the wider scope of things.
On January 01 2008 22:38 Dknight wrote: I'm looking for some grindcore/hardcore/death metal bands. Preferably from the US/Canadian that are still in existence as I like to see the bands I listen to live. I know there are plenty of sites out there that have reviews but I'd rather hear from others on here that have similar taste. As I work night crew, this leaves me with about 7 hours to listen to my library each night basically on repeat.
Current bands I'm into...
As Blood Runs Black August Burns Red Black Dahlia Murder Children of Bodom Darkest Hour Devil Wears Prada Dropkick Murphys From A Second Story Window Genghis Tron HeavyHeavyLowLow Number 12 Looks Like You On Broken Wings Red Chord
Thanks ^^
Nice, you have kind of the same taste in music as me
Anyways, here comes a list from me:
Dark Tranquility (Sweden) Agnostic Front (US) Madball (US) Impaled Nazarene (FIN) Sick of it all (US) All that remains (US) In Flames (Sweden) Amorphis/Finntroll/Ensiferum/Moonsorrow (Finnish pride!) Bane (US) Champion (US) Bleeding through (US) Blood for Blood (US) Death before dishonor (US) Cro-Mags (US) Earth Crisis (US) Evergreen Terrace (US) Everytime I die (US) First Blood (US) Hatebreed (US) Heaven shall burn (US) His hero is gone (US) Lamb of god (US) Machine head (US) Mastodon (US) Morbid Angel (US) NJ Bloodline (US) Shadows fall (US) Sworn enemy (US) The fall of troy (US) Unearth (US)
ZZang, one thing that gets me about a lot of the newer music kids are into these days is that the vocals don't match the music, or vice versa. IE, Atreyu are a decent band, and they play some pretty music (I don't like it, but...), but then the vocalist is screaming on top of it. So you have the basis of a nice pop song, and the singer is screaming as if it is the end of the world. It makes no sense to me. Or you'll have heavy music and pretty/melodic vocals.
Of course it all comes down to taste - there is nothing inherently wrong with these qualities, but it kind of rubs me wrong. I think if you want to get into extreme music, you might as well go all the way - I don't need anyone watering it down for me to get it. I want balls to the wall insanity. If I want something "listenable," I'll listen to STP or the Beatles or something (which are much better than Atreyu, IMHO.)
I've always been into finding the heaviest metal I could. Unfortunately, if you follow most music publications and whatnot, what you'll get into is weak stuff like Killswitch Engage. I was happy when I FINALLY discovered Death Metal - finally, people whole heartedly embracing a harsh aesthetic.
And your comment is dead on: it is nice to have to dig a bit to realize the beauty of something. Art is not just some kind of consumer merchandise - it should be challenging and mind expanding.
Well, as I've only really heard Reroute to Remain, by In Flames, I can't say one way or the other whether I like melodic death, but just going by the name of the genre, I doubt it is for me. If I want emphasis on melody, I won't turn to metal for it! If what I've heard of In Flames is any indication of what melodic death is, then I definitely despise the genre, and can't understand why it is even called death metal.
I couldn't get into Demilich. The riffing seemed too... conventional and melodic, or something (not very heavy). And the voice seemed kind of absurd - like contrived gross talking. While it's been awhile since I've heard them, I remember thinking that the label of "technical" was wrongly applied, also.
Granted, part of the "problem" for me is that maybe they are just too old. I don't like most death metal pre-1998 or so.
Far as European metal goes, I like Meshuggah a bit (particularly "I" and "Chaosphere"), and Spawn of Possession (though the vocals on Cabinet get way annoying.)
haha, yeah. in flames. they're one of the few bands that i can say i still like after they started sucking (after 2002'ish). i won't even listen to their stuff after that so i don't ruin my opinion of them, i'm the kind of elitist prick that would stop listening to them based on how much they suck now, no matter how good they were. and seeing those nu metal kids wearing their shirts from time to time doesn't help.
anyways, anything before 2002 (funny that reroute to remain came out in 2002, when they started sucking) by them is groundbreaking in terms of melodic death metal. i'd recommend listening to Lunar Strain and Subterranean first if you intend on listening to anything though. in flames is defined as one of they key defining bands of the melodic death metal genre, and those two albums really show it. that said, you have to keep in mind this was 1994, and they'd been doing it unrecorded for like 5 years prior.
What about In Flames' style changed on Reroute To REmain? I hear that the album represented a shift for them, but I don't know how. Is it not considered melodic death metal? If it is, I really don't see how it can be called death metal, as all the characteristics I identify with death metal (low tuned guitars, double bass drums, death growls) are not present. I ask out of genuine curiosity, because I really don't know what melodic death metal means. If I were on cable, I would try to download some music, but I am on dialup (yes yes, I know, I know....)
Inky, I don't think you would appreciate it if people deviate from the topic. Lets just suggest some hardcore/grind/metal bands from the US. Or, as you told someone else in one of your blogs, you can get out. ^^
I don't care about the European music scene. Nearly all of the music I listen to now is by American/Canadian bands that tour as one of my passions is going to shows to see the music I love. Call it stupid or whatever you want but its what I enjoy and how I feel.
I did suggest some bands, and all the people I am talking to suggested bands as well. Every person that has joined this discussion (as far as I can recall) has suggested some music for you. From there, the discussion has deviated. This happens in my threads and most threads. The alternative is for your thread to die. We've kept it alive for you, and this has undoubtedly generated more suggestions for you.
Again, for you, I suggest (and these bands are active and based in the Americas) Beneathe The Massacre, Psyopus, and Ion Disonance. More deathy stuff would be Suffocation, Cryptopsy, and Dying Fetus.
Edit: Sorry, this is the result of me posting after I woke up at 6:50 am (an ungodly hour.) You are right. I don't mean to be disrespectful - I won't post here anymore.
On January 03 2008 06:42 nA.Inky wrote: Well, as I've only really heard Reroute to Remain, by In Flames, I can't say one way or the other whether I like melodic death, but just going by the name of the genre, I doubt it is for me. If I want emphasis on melody, I won't turn to metal for it! If what I've heard of In Flames is any indication of what melodic death is, then I definitely despise the genre, and can't understand why it is even called death metal.
I couldn't get into Demilich. The riffing seemed too... conventional and melodic, or something (not very heavy). And the voice seemed kind of absurd - like contrived gross talking. While it's been awhile since I've heard them, I remember thinking that the label of "technical" was wrongly applied, also.
Granted, part of the "problem" for me is that maybe they are just too old. I don't like most death metal pre-1998 or so.
Far as European metal goes, I like Meshuggah a bit (particularly "I" and "Chaosphere"), and Spawn of Possession (though the vocals on Cabinet get way annoying.)
lol, Sweden owns metal hands down Meshuggah, In Flames and Spawn of Possession are all swedish...
I live in the same town as Spawn of Possession and it's not a big town
Dknight, check out my list a little bit above, I think there may be alot of bands you would like.
Deeds of Flesh Cephalic Carnage Arsis Decapititated Psycroptic Vital Remains
I saw the OP also listed Children of Bodom, I'm only really a fan of Hatebreeder and Follow the Reaper... The rest i find sub-par, However more technically melodic stuff that I can think of at the moment would be (though straying from CoB substantially)
Spiral Architect Atheist Death (If you don't know this band, just go ahead and save yourself the trouble and get all their albums now) Synergy Control Denied Cynic
I'd also agree that for good metal the US scene is 99% pure trash.
If you enjoy this music and haven't hard much Black Metal:
On January 03 2008 09:05 nA.Inky wrote: What about In Flames' style changed on Reroute To REmain?
The vocals got noticably worse. Both the harsh vocals and the attempts at clean vocals. They added in keyboards... which really do not fit the style that they had. I feel that their melodies and musicianship got weaker. There are obvious numetal and alt metal influences that were not present before. -Listen to 'Evil in a Closet' on Soundtrack to Your Escape and tell me that doesn't sound like Korn.
i was obsessed with Cia Hedmark for a while. she sung a few song for Vintersorg back in the day, same kind of stuff as Everlost. also never recorded anything else.
On January 03 2008 09:05 nA.Inky wrote: What about In Flames' style changed on Reroute To REmain?
The vocals got noticably worse. Both the harsh vocals and the attempts at clean vocals. They added in keyboards... which really do not fit the style that they had. I feel that their melodies and musicianship got weaker. There are obvious numetal and alt metal influences that were not present before. -Listen to 'Evil in a Closet' on Soundtrack to Your Escape and tell me that doesn't sound like Korn.
The whole reason they did this is because anything before that cd used 3 Guitar's for melody. They couldn't pull it off live, so they simplified things while still retaining their basic sound. Not saying that these cd's are good by any means, but their not terrible.
Yeah, we should have a petition for more random women in metal?
Btw, if anyone knows of the Swedish death metal band Deranged, they're going on a US tour this year and my friend plays in that band, so look out for him! (lead guitar)
On January 03 2008 09:05 nA.Inky wrote: What about In Flames' style changed on Reroute To REmain?
The vocals got noticably worse. Both the harsh vocals and the attempts at clean vocals. They added in keyboards... which really do not fit the style that they had. I feel that their melodies and musicianship got weaker. There are obvious numetal and alt metal influences that were not present before. -Listen to 'Evil in a Closet' on Soundtrack to Your Escape and tell me that doesn't sound like Korn.
The whole reason they did this is because anything before that cd used 3 Guitar's for melody. They couldn't pull it off live, so they simplified things while still retaining their basic sound. Not saying that these cd's are good by any means, but their not terrible.
They used 3 guitars for a minority of their songs. I can find no evidence that it was the norm for them.
In any case, going from 3 guitars to 2 guitars wouldn't automatically turn you into a numetal band. :|
On January 06 2008 03:23 AmorVincitOmnia wrote: plus how hard is it to find a lead guitarist that plays melodic death metal in sweden? in gothenburg no less.
in flames is dead on the inside, and i blame Anders 100%
I blame whoever decided that Fredrik Nordström should stop working with the band. He was involved in every album until Reroute to Remain.