Masterpieces of death metal. Recommended popular songs.
When you hear the term “death metal,” what kind of music comes to mind?
Even among fans of heavy metal, some people find death metal hard to enjoy.
It’s certainly a genre that isn’t for everyone, but the world of death metal is actually incredibly deep.
There’s technical death metal, underpinned by overwhelming musicianship; progressive death metal, where intricate song structures reach an artistic level; brutal death metal, which pursues extremity and sheer destructive force; and deathcore.
.
.
In this article, we’ve selected popular tracks and must-hear classics from across the many subgenres and eras in death metal’s history.
It might just change your entire concept of what death metal is.
Enjoy!
Death metal masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (1–10)
The ViolationFleshgod Apocalypse
An Italian band that shocked the scene with a unique musical approach that overturns the very notion of death metal.
Within their intricate band ensemble—backed by overwhelming technical skill—they unfold a sound world rooted in brutal death metal yet boldly infused with so-called symphonic metal elements, where operatic clean vocals and flowing, gloriously melodramatic guitar solos steeped in classical influence are unleashed to the fullest.
“The Violation” is a prime example of their signature style.
Featured on their 2011 album Agony, it’s the perfect entry point for anyone new to their music.
Hammer Smashed FaceCANNNIBAL CORPSE
From the band name alone, an ominous air hangs over them, but they are a legendary presence—an American, long-running death metal institution that has been active for over 30 years.
Their sound is the very embodiment of the term “death metal”: evil and unfeeling, stripped of any hint of lyricism.
Together with their production approach and the extreme artwork of their releases—so shocking the average person can hardly look straight at it—they have exerted a massive influence on the bands that followed.
In particular, the early vocalist Chris Barnes delivered a death growl often described as “inhuman,” a terrifyingly powerful roar that overwhelms the listener.
Their first-ever single, Hammer Smashed Face, which opens the classic 1992 album Tomb of the Mutilated, is the perfect entry point: if it clicks with you, sprint to your local record shop and pick up the album!
PhobophileCRYPTOPSY
Many people like technical heavy metal but shy away from death metal.
Still, I can say with confidence that you should experience the music of Cryptopsy at least once—the quintessential Canadian technical death metal band.
They are also known as pioneers of brutal death metal, a subgenre that pushes death metal’s extreme elements even further.
The band’s central figure, Flo Mounier, is highly acclaimed as one of the metal scene’s top drummers for his impeccably precise technique.
Released in 1996, Phobophile—opening with solemn piano tones and a blood-curdling scream from original vocalist Lord Worm, whose ferocious death growls render the lyrics nearly indecipherable—is truly one of the genre’s historic masterpieces.
Take a deep breath and step boldly into this side of the world!
Lack Of ComprehensionDEATH
Few band names embody their musical identity as perfectly as this legendary presence in Florida’s death metal scene.
Not only are they one of the most important bands from the genre’s formative years, their influence on subsequent death metal acts is immeasurable.
As they shifted from an early thrash-metal sound into full-fledged death metal, 1991’s Human pushed technical elements to the forefront and stands as a defining album in death metal history.
It’s also notable for featuring members who would become renowned through their work in CYNIC.
Give the featured track “Lack of Comprehension” a listen, and you’ll hear the brilliance of a lean, tightly honed band ensemble—solid riffs, memorable guitar solos, and a sound distinct from purely brutal death metal.
Enduring The Eternal Molestation Of FlameNILE
A death metal band from Greenville, USA that demonstrates the many possibilities of death metal through their own music.
While their technical playing and intense death metal sound have made them an ongoing influence in the brutal death metal scene, their defining trait is their interest in Middle Eastern music and culture, resulting in a sound that fuses death metal with folk traditions.
Guitarist Karl Sanders, who has a deep knowledge of Egyptology and related fields, writes lyrics grounded in specialized scholarship, setting them apart from many death metal bands known for extreme or gory themes.
If this track—featured as the opening song on their seventh album, At the Gate of Sethu, released in 2012—sparked your interest, be sure to take a look at the lyrics as well.
Ten Thousand Ways To DieOBITUARY
It’s an MV composed of funny animations, but the way it rapidly shifts soon after the start into content befitting the music gives it a touch of dark humor, doesn’t it? Centered in Florida, USA—home to many death metal bands—they were active from the 1980s, disbanded in 1997, and reunited in 2003.
Since then, they’ve steadily released new work and performed in Japan both on solo tours and at LOUD PARK, making them a very popular band here as well.
They’re also famous for being the first overseas death metal band to perform in Japan, achieving that milestone in 1992.
This track is the title song from Ten Thousand Ways To Die, released in 2016, which consists of live recordings and new material.
It’s a cool number featuring Obituary’s signature mid-tempo, heavy, and weighty sound.
Abomination RebornSUFFOCATION
Suffocation is a legendary death metal band from New York State, USA, boasting top-tier popularity and skill.
Their original frontman Frank Mullen, who sadly announced his retirement in 2019, is known as one of the first vocalists to master guttural vocals—an extremely low-register style within death growls.
The band is also notable, led by fellow original member Terrance Hobbs, for featuring Black artists, which is relatively rare in the heavy metal scene.
Pioneers in many respects, they have an extensive discography, and here I’ll introduce a track from their self-titled album, the second released after their reunion.
It’s a classic death metal number, but the band’s ensemble—backed by overwhelming technique—is nothing short of stunning!