The nature of death metal

I have been asked many times what exactly death metal is. This question has come from a variety of people, most of whom had little or no idea this type of music existed. It is not surprising that few outside of death metal circles know about it. The genre is, by its nature, somewhat reclusive and inward-looking. Disdaining popular forms of media, the genre has created its own niche where the bands, fans, critics and media are drawn from the same collective. For example, I consider myself first and foremost a fan of death metal. It is the music form that speaks to me more than any other, and that I would choose to listen to every time. I also create death metal, blasting out with my bro Micky in Decapitated Saint. Finally, I debate and analyse the genre, with my webzine’ Exclusive Extremity as well as this, and hopefully further, posts. This is something you would not see with many other genres, where the performers are too rich and ’famous’ to stand in a sweaty crowd like normal fans, and critics speak from behind faceless newspapers and magazines.

 

The reasons for this are obvious if you look into the history of death metal. In the mid-80’s, bands such as Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary and others had shaped death metal into an emergent and powerful genre, in the process making sales far exceeding any modern death metal band true to the name. Unsurprisingly, numerous clones sprang up seeking to emulate their success with uninspired rip-offs. Death metal began to stagnate artistically, until it practically died out with the emergence of black metal in the early ‘90‘s.

It would be some time before death metal arose again, but, led by bands such as Nile, Devourment and Dying Fetus, and with a thriving underground, death metal has been born anew. Eschewing the trappings and popularity that once brought it low, death metal now stands proudly separated from the growing cesspit of modern popular music. Long may it stay that way.

But what is death metal. That is the question I am here to answer. Well, I can only answer with what death metal means to me. Death metal is a pure, undiluted expression of the primitive, bestial nature that runs through our species and yet which, since the Enlightenment and the dominance of New Testament theology- Nietzsche‘s slave morality- we have done our best to convince ourselves does not exist. It is not so much a railing against the sickening nature of the modern music ’industry’, as a constant dismissal and therefore independence from it. Death metal exists and shall live or die upon its’ own merit, independent of anything outside of itself. That is how it must be.  

Aside from that, I can’t deny that I just fucking love to headbang till my neck hurts and slam some people in the moshpit to some brutal ass shit. After all, I doubt I would be listening to death metal if I didn’t enjoy it so damn much.