Brutal Death Metal (BDM) is a subgenre of death metal known for its extreme heaviness, guttural vocals, and complex song structures. The genre emerged in the early 1990s as a response to the growing demand for more aggressive and intense forms of music. Brutal death metal pushes the boundaries of what is considered heavy, featuring elements like fast drumming, blast beats, low-pitched guitar riffs, and a constant sense of aggression. Over the years, it has become one of the most distinctive and controversial forms of extreme music. In this article, we’ll explore the roots, characteristics, and evolution of brutal death metal, and examine its influence on modern metal culture.
The Origins of Brutal Death Metal
Brutal death metal, as a subgenre, developed out of the death metal scene that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Early death metal bands, like Death, Possessed, and Morbid Angel, laid the foundation for this subgenre with their fast-paced, aggressive, and often technical approach to heavy metal. However, the brutality and extremity associated with brutal death metal came about as the genre began to evolve.
By the early 1990s, bands began to experiment with more extreme forms of music, pushing the limits of speed, heaviness, and complexity. Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, and Dying Fetus were among the early pioneers of the brutal death metal sound. These bands incorporated blast beats, down-tuned guitars, and low, growling vocals, setting the stage for what would become the defining traits of BDM.
The term “brutal death metal” itself did not officially emerge until later, but by the mid-1990s, it was clear that the genre had taken on a distinct identity. While death metal was known for its technical precision and complex structures, brutal death metal took it a step further by emphasizing aggression and a relentless assault on the senses.
Key Influences on Brutal Death Metal
The rise of brutal death metal was influenced by several factors in the underground music scene. Early grindcore bands like Napalm Death and Carcass were integral in shaping the extreme sound that brutal death metal would embrace. Their combination of intense speed and grinding rhythms laid the groundwork for the brutalization of death metal.
In addition, the rise of black metal in the early 1990s brought a darker, more sinister atmosphere to the extreme metal scene. While black metal emphasized atmosphere and melody, brutal death metal doubled down on aggression, focusing on sonic brutality and guttural vocalizations. The musical experimentation seen in the death metal scene, including dissonant guitar riffs and complex time signatures, would also influence brutal death metal’s overall sound.
Characteristics of Brutal Death Metal
1. Guttural Vocals
One of the most recognizable features of brutal death metal is the vocal style. Unlike the higher-pitched growls or shrieks found in traditional death metal, brutal death metal vocals are typically very low-pitched, guttural, and often unintelligible. The vocal delivery in BDM is meant to sound primal and aggressive, emphasizing power and ferocity over clarity. This style can be compared to pig squeals or grunts, which add a harsh and visceral quality to the music.
2. Complex and Relentless Drumming
Drumming in brutal death metal is fast, aggressive, and often overwhelming. Blast beats, which are rapid alternating hits between the snare and bass drum, are a hallmark of the genre. The drumming often serves to drive the intensity of the music, maintaining a constant, punishing rhythm that aligns with the genre’s brutal themes.
The drums in BDM are not just fast but also technically intricate. Double bass drumming, where two bass drums are used simultaneously to create an ultra-fast rhythm, is a common technique in the genre. This gives the music a sense of urgency and chaos, heightening the aggression of the entire band.
3. Heavily Down-Tuned Guitars
Guitar riffs in brutal death metal are often played in extremely low tunings, resulting in a crushingly heavy sound. These down-tuned guitars create a sense of heaviness and make the music more oppressive. The riffs themselves are typically complex, featuring dissonant chords, technical solos, and a lot of palm-muted chugging. This gives the genre its characteristic “slamming” sound.
The guitar tone is often very thick and distorted, allowing for the dissonant nature of the riffs to fully resonate. It’s not uncommon for the music to be tuned to a half-step or full step below standard tuning, which adds to the sonic aggression and depth.
4. Relentless Aggression and Speed
Brutal death metal is all about speed and aggression. Songs are often incredibly fast, with blast beats and rapid guitar chugging giving them an unrelenting pace. This focus on speed doesn’t come at the cost of technicality, though. In fact, many brutal death metal bands are known for their technical prowess. The riffs can be incredibly intricate, with fast tremolo picking and sudden time signature changes.
The speed of brutal death metal reflects its aggressive nature and the genre’s focus on intensity over melody. The result is music that feels like a constant assault on the listener, with no room for breath or respite.
Notable Brutal Death Metal Bands
Several bands are widely regarded as defining the brutal death metal genre, and their contributions helped shape the sound and culture of BDM.
1. Suffocation
Suffocation is often considered one of the founding bands of brutal death metal. Their albums like Effigy of the Forgotten (1991) set the standard for the genre, combining complex guitar riffs with brutal drumming and guttural vocals. They are known for their use of “slam death metal” elements, a substyle of brutal death metal that emphasizes extremely heavy and slow breakdowns.
2. Cannibal Corpse
While Cannibal Corpse has explored different facets of death metal, their early work in particular is considered pivotal to the brutal death metal sound. Their brutal, gory lyrics and intense music have made them one of the most influential bands in the genre. Albums like Tomb of the Mutilated (1992) and The Bleeding (1994) feature a perfect blend of technicality and brutality.
3. Dying Fetus
Dying Fetus is known for blending elements of grindcore and brutal death metal. Their complex songwriting, technical guitar work, and harsh vocals have made them one of the premier bands in the brutal death metal scene. Albums such as Killing on Adrenaline (1998) and Reign Supreme (2012) showcase their ability to combine technical proficiency with unrelenting aggression.
4. Devourment
Devourment, often associated with the “slam death metal” subgenre, is known for their heavy, slow breakdowns and guttural vocals. Their debut album, Molesting the Decapitated (1999), became a touchstone for the brutal death metal substyle known as “slam.” Their music is deeply rooted in the brutal death metal aesthetic, with an emphasis on extreme heaviness and raw aggression.
5. Internal Bleeding
Internal Bleeding is another early pioneer in the brutal death metal scene, known for their use of slamming breakdowns and technical death metal riffs. Their work has influenced many other bands in the genre, particularly with their album Imperium (2004), which mixes elements of grindcore with brutal death metal.
Themes in Brutal Death Metal
The themes of brutal death metal are often dark, violent, and graphic. Many brutal death metal bands explore subjects such as death, dismemberment, gore, and torture. This focus on graphic violence can be shocking to some listeners, but for fans of the genre, it is often viewed as part of the music’s intensity and unrelenting aggression.
Lyrical themes also tend to lean towards the grotesque and the macabre. The lyrics are often delivered in a guttural and unintelligible style, but the brutality of the content is what stands out. Some bands focus on themes of psychological horror, while others explore societal decay or existential dread.
While the content can be violent and graphic, it’s important to understand that for many fans, brutal death metal is an artistic expression. The extremity of the subject matter reflects the genre’s overall commitment to pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms.
Brutal Death Metal and Its Subgenres
Brutal death metal has given rise to various subgenres, each adding unique elements to the core style. These subgenres allow the music to evolve and diversify, while still maintaining the foundational elements of brutality and aggression.
1. Slam Death Metal
Slam death metal, sometimes called “slam,” is a substyle of brutal death metal that emphasizes extremely heavy, slow breakdowns. The riffs in slam death metal are often simple, but they have a heavy, “slamming” quality that makes them incredibly impactful. Bands like Devourment and Suffocation are often associated with this style.
2. Technical Brutal Death Metal
Some brutal death metal bands incorporate more technical elements into their music, creating a fusion of speed, complexity, and aggression. These bands focus on intricate guitar solos, complex time signatures, and rapid drum patterns. Bands like Cryptopsy and Origin exemplify this substyle of brutal death metal.
3. Deathgrind
Deathgrind combines elements of both death metal and grindcore, often featuring the same relentless pace and aggression found in brutal death metal. The drumming is fast and chaotic, the vocals are guttural, and the guitar riffs are typically fast and dissonant. Bands like Napalm Death and Pig Destroyer bridge the gap between death metal and grindcore.
The Influence of Brutal Death Metal on Modern Music
Brutal death metal has had a significant impact on both the extreme metal and wider music scenes. The genre has influenced many modern metal bands, especially those in the death metal and grindcore scenes. The aggression, technical complexity, and visceral nature of brutal death metal continue to resonate with fans of heavy music.
Additionally, brutal death metal has contributed to the development of underground metal culture. The emphasis on extreme musicianship and sonic intensity has inspired countless new bands to explore the boundaries of heaviness and speed. Brutal death metal’s influence can also be heard in the wider realm of hardcore and industrial music, where bands have adopted its aggressive style.
See Also: Lamb of God’s 11 Metal Tracks You Shouldn’t Miss
Conclusion
Brutal death metal is a genre that has carved out a unique space in the extreme music world. Its aggressive nature, complex song structures, and guttural vocals have set it apart from other forms of metal. While it is not for everyone, it has a dedicated following that appreciates the genre’s intensity, technicality, and raw power. From its early roots in the 1990s to its evolution into a diverse and influential subgenre, brutal death metal continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in heavy music. Its influence can be heard in the works of modern death metal bands and in the broader extreme music scene. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the genre, brutal death metal remains a powerful testament to the unrelenting force of music.
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