Appreciating the Doom in Death Metal

Appreciating the Doom in Death Metal | Guest Written by Justin Adeyanju

Who has ever heard the crashing and smashing lyrics of 90s classic death metal artists like artists like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Immortal, Obituary, and Cannibal Corpse?

While unfamiliar to most of today’s pop culture generation, the 90s death metal bands continue to play a vital role in shaping many individual’s personalities and day-to-day characteristics. There is much to appreciate in both the music and the style of these classic death metal bands. As well as the legacies they have left.

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Although many bands’ deathly emphasis on the morbid and grotesque elements of life can seem overbearing if you strictly choose to examine the thematic content of the lyrics, this is irrelevant for most die-hard listeners. The humble acknowledgment for other side of the grave is also shared in countries like Mexico for Dia De Los Muertos and India and Nepal with the concept of reincarnation rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism. The human experience of morbidity is common across all cultures and countries, whether you are a fan of fiercely deep music, or not. As a fan, it is important to take in all the artistic elements of the band, including appreciating thematic tones, symbolic and elemental variations of style, and the band’s consistency to create a real-world for the listener to immerse and appreciate. The work it takes behind not only creating the mystical world that the music can thrive. Also the style and appropriate content that coincides with the world is often underappreciated by those who may choose to walk in more conventional styles of life like classic rock and roll, Hip Hop, Country, or Jazz.

Death metal seems to me to be a way to acknowledge and pay respect to the most extreme forms of behaviour on the earth in a non-provoking yet serious manner.

It allows one to recognize the power and brutal strength that a death has upon someone, including the power to flip one’s life upside down. Death Metal gives you the responsibility of dealing with the woes and agony of the side of life that we take for granted on the other side of the grave without having to go through these physically. It is almost serene that one can take the side of despair and turn it into a way to calm oneself and find inner peace melodically.

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I personally believe there is a deeper connection that is bridged between individuals who have their interests merged at the heart of death metal appreciation. Something that says to them, despite anything that is going on that seems to be here on this Earth, we can appreciate anything and about everything if we can both jam out to this music.

Death metal is like an acquired taste of fine wine; you must sit ever so slowly and fully take in every sound bite to really get the hang of it. It does get better.

Check Out This Playlist Created By Justin Adeyanju. It Showcases the Allure of Death Metal.

“To Be Dead” by Deicide

“Blessed are the Sick” by Morbid Angel

“Sons of Northern Darkness” by Immortal

“Body Bag” by Obituary

“Cause of Death” Album by Obituary

 “Hammer Smashed Face” by Cannibal Corpse

“The Philosopher” by Death

“Overactive Imagination” by Death

“Flesh and The Power It Holds” by Death

“Crystal Mountain” by Death

“I Am the Black Wizards” by Emperor

“Stones of Sorrow” by Nile

“The Howling of the Jinn” by Nile

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