Deathcore is a subgenre of metalcore that combines death metal with elements of metalcore.
It has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it features bands who bring the intensity and aggression of death metal with the breakdowns and melodic riffs of metalcore.
If you’re looking for heavy and extreme music, then these are the bands to check out. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular deathcore bands.
What is Deathcore?
Deathcore is a subgenre of metalcore that combines death metal with elements of metalcore. It typically features heavy breakdowns, blasts of double-bass drumming, fast and technical guitar riffs, and guttural vocals.
The genre often incorporates different styles from various genres such as hardcore punk, thrash metal, grindcore, and even doom metal. Deathcore has become increasingly popular in recent years, as people seek out heavier and more extreme sounds.
History of Deathcore
Deathcore first emerged in the early 2000s, with bands such as All Shall Perish and Burning the Masses paving the way. The genre then saw a surge in popularity between 2005 and 2010, with bands like Whitechapel, Suicide Silence and Despised Icon becoming more widely known. The genre has continued to grow in popularity ever since, with modern bands like Emmure and Fit For An Autopsy pushing the boundaries even further.
The Top Deathcore Bands
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is one of the most popular and influential bands in the deathcore genre. The band was formed in 2006 in Knoxville, Tennessee and has since released seven studio albums. Their music is characterized by heavy breakdowns, technical riffs, and guttural vocals. They have become famous for their intense live performances, which often feature a large mosh pit.
Carnifex
Carnifex is a deathcore band from San Diego, California. They are one of the most popular and influential bands in the genre, having released seven studio albums since their inception in 2005. Their music is characterized by heavy breakdowns, technical riffs, and guttural vocals. They often incorporate elements of thrash metal and grindcore into their sound , making them one of the more extreme-sounding bands in the genre.
Suicide Silence
Suicide Silence is an American deathcore band from Riverside, California. Formed in 2002, the band has released five studio albums which have earned them a large fanbase. Their music is characterized by heavy breakdowns, technical riffs, and guttural vocals. They often incorporate elements of thrash metal and grindcore into their sound, making them one of the more extreme sounding bands in the genre.
Chelsea Grin
Chelsea Grin is an American deathcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah. They are one of the most popular and influential bands in the genre, having released five studio albums since their inception in 2007. Their music is characterized by heavy breakdowns, technical riffs, and guttural vocals. They often incorporate elements of thrash metal and grindcore into their sound, making them one of the more extreme sounding bands in the genre.
Thy Art Is Murder
Thy Art Is Murder is an Australian deathcore band from Sydney, Australia. They are one of the most popular and influential bands in the genre, having released five studio albums since their inception in 2006. Their music is characterized by heavy breakdowns, technical riffs, and guttural vocals. They often incorporate elements of thrash metal and grindcore into their sound, making them one of the more extreme sounding bands in the genre.
Influences on Deathcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal that combines elements of extreme metal with hardcore punk. It is characterized by aggressive, fast-paced music featuring screaming vocals, double kick drums and distorted guitars. It typically features breakdowns, fast tempos and complex guitar riffs. Metalcore has been an influential genre on the deathcore sound since its emergence in the early 2000s.
Death Metal
Death Metal is one of the most influential genres in the deathcore sound. Death metal first emerged in the mid-1980s and was characterized by extreme tempos, fast drumming, distorted guitars and guttural vocals. The genre is often credited with pioneering the use of blast beats, which have become a staple of deathcore music. Death metal also featured breakdowns, fast tempos and complex guitar riffs which are common in Deathcore.
Hardcore Punk
Hardcore Punk is a genre of punk rock that developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is characterized by aggressive, fast-paced music featuring screaming vocals, distorted guitars and fast tempos. Hardcore punk often features breakdowns and lyrical themes about politics and social issues. The genre’s influence on deathcore can be seen in its heavy use of breakdowns and intense lyrics.
Key Characteristics of Deathcore
Breakdowns
Breakdowns are one of the defining characteristics of Deathcore. A breakdown is a section in music where the tempo and intensity drop significantly, usually creating a heavy, driving rhythm. Breakdowns can be found throughout Deathcore, often serving as the main focus of a song or creating an intense bridge between two sections. Breakdowns typically feature heavy technical riffs and guttural vocals, creating an aggressive and intense sound.
Blast beats
Blast beats are a defining aspect of deathcore music, and they are often credited to the genre’s roots in death metal. Blast beats feature fast and furious drumming with double kick drums and snare hits, creating an intense sound that is often used to create breakdowns. Blast beats usually have tempos ranging from 150-200 bpm, which can be quite chaotic and difficult to play.
Growling and Screaming Vocals
Growling and screaming vocals are a key characteristic of deathcore music. Growling is a guttural vocal style where the vocalist uses their throat to make low and aggressive sounds, while screaming involves higher-pitched shouts. Both styles of singing are used often in deathcore, with growling being more common than screaming. The vocalists often use both styles in combination or one after the other, creating an intense and aggressive sound.
Use of Samples
The use of samples is an important aspect of deathcore music. Samples are snippets of sound taken from other sources, such as movies, video games, or other audio recordings. Deathcore bands often incorporate samples into their music to add a unique texture and atmosphere to the sound. Commonly used samples in deathcore include horror movie sound effects, industrial noises, and movie dialogue. Sam ples can be used to create tension and emphasize certain sections of the songs, adding another layer to the sound.
Criticisms of Deathcore
Criticisms of Deathcore have been raised since its emergence in the early 2000s. Many critics view Deathcore as a generic and formulaic genre, claiming that it relies too heavily on breakdowns, blast beats and guttural vocals to create an aggressive sound. Additionally, some argue that deathcore is simply a combination of other genres such as death metal and hardcore punk with nothing new or original to offer. Others argue that deathcore can be too intense and chaotic, making it difficult to listen to for long periods of time.
Deathcore’s Impact on the Music Industry
Deathcore has had a significant impact on the music industry since its emergence in the early 2000s. The genre has become increasingly popular, with countless bands exploring and developing new forms of deathcore. This has resulted in the development of different subgenres such as grindcore, death grind, and slam metal. Deathcore’s influence can also be seen in other genres such as metalcore and hardcore punk, with many bands incorporating elements of deathcore into their sound. Deathcore’s intense and chaotic sound has also been embraced by metal fans, leading to the genre becoming one of the most popular subgenres of metal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, deathcore has established itself as a popular and influential genre over the past two decades. Featuring intense and chaotic soundscapes, breakdowns and blast beats, guttural vocals, and samples, deathcore has become a mainstay in the metal scene. Despite criticism, deathcore continues to be embraced by fans of the genre who appreciate its intensity and unique sonic elements. With the genre constantly evolving and developing, it is likely that deathcore will continue to have a lasting impact on the music industry for years to come.
