Melodic death metal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Melodic death metal | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins: | Heavy metal Thrash metal Death metal Progressive metal |
| Cultural origins: | early 1990s, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Typical instruments: | Guitar Bass guitar Drums Keyboards |
| Mainstream popularity: | underground in early to mid-1990s, increased popularity in recent years |
| Fusion genres | |
| Swedecore | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Scandinavia North America |
|
Melodic death metal, (also referred to as Gothenburg metal, melodeath, Scandinavian metal, and post-death) is a subgenre of death metal. Originally the genre mixed the harmony style and groove melodies of British metal with the thrashing, harsh sound of death metal and thrash metal. Later the genre evolved through many influences and evolutions, a notable evolution in the genre being the addition of keyboards.
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[edit] Background
Melodic death metal contains more melodic guitar riffs, solos, and acoustic guitar work than death metal. It also contains more understandable lyrics as well as coherent singing along with traditional death grunt vocals. The song structures are generally more progressive, using diverse themes throughout the songs. Death and Morbid Angel, often considered the "godfathers" of death metal, are primary influences on the genre, and its progenitors include Dark Tranquillity, At the Gates, In Flames and Carcass, with the release of their Heartwork album. Sentenced is also sometimes credited with creating the first melodeath album with the release of their North from Here album. Some credit In Flames as the band which popularized the sub-genre; some even credit them for inventing the sub-genre.
Some melodic death metal bands from the Scandinavian region combine the genre with other metal genres such as viking metal (i.e Amon Amarth), folk metal, and symphonic metal.
[edit] Melodic death metal vs. Black metal
Melodic death metal, though from the same geographic area as black metal, rarely contains lyrics of Satanic values. Also, melodic death metal should not be confused with melodic black metal or blackened death metal, both which are subgenres of black metal. Melodic death metal contains more poetic themes, which vary greatly. Traditionally, lyrics deal with more expressionist themes.
[edit] Evolution of melodic death metal
In the late 1990s, many melodic death metal bands changed their style of playing by adding more melodic elements; more groovy choruses and riffs, more clean vocals (singing), and the addition of keyboards. Alongside the traditional melodic death metal riffs began appearing other musical elements such as alternative metal melodies and singing. Old fans of the genre disliked this evolution but the popularity of the genre increased.
[edit] The Gothenburg sound
One notable contribution to melodic death metal is the Gothenburg style, named after the city from which it originated. It is not certain what band originally started the Gothenburg sound. Many people point to Ceremonial Oath and Dark Tranquillity; bands which started their career between the late 1980s and early 1990s, but it is widely accepted that In Flames, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquillity are the three major popularisers of the style and some of the first bands to play it. They are also some of the only widely known bands to practice it, with newer bands such as Arch Enemy and The Haunted being offshoots of Carcass and At the Gates respectively.
[edit] Regional scenes
Most melodic death metal bands are from the Scandinavian and Northern European regions, especially from Sweden and Finland, notable Finnish examples include Norther and Kalmah, and to a lesser extent Children of Bodom, whose exact style is a subject of debate amongst fans, however they are more often than not classified as melodic death metal.
In recent years, the genre has gained somewhat of a popularity boost, acquiring an increasing following in North America, especially among North American fans of the Scandinavian bands which still pioneer the genre to this day. The genre also has a following in Japan which has produced its own melodic death metal bands such as Blood Stain Child.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Melodic Central - Site about melodic death metal
