Death 'n' Roll

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)
Death 'n' Roll
Stylistic origins
Death metal, Grindcore
Hardcore punk, NWOBHM, Hard rock or other styles far removed from the extreme metal subgenres.
Cultural origins
Early 1990s in Scandinavia
Typical instruments
Mainstream popularity Low

Death 'n' roll is a term used to describe the sound of death metal bands which incorporate punk, hard rock and NWOBHM stylings to their music. Notable examples are Entombed and Gorefest. The achieved effect is that of death metal's trademark combination of double bass drumming, gruff vocals and detuned guitar riffing being given a "rocker" treatment.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

Alhough its origins are unclear, the "death 'n' roll" tag was first associated with Entombed.[1] Considered one of the premiere death metal bands of the early 1990s[2], Entombed had, since their Earache days, been influenced by the likes of KISS, The Misfits, Motörhead and Discharge.[3] After their breakthrough release, Wolverine Blues, the band became associated with what the music press dubbed as "death 'n' roll"[3], a label which has followed Entombed's career ever since.[4][5][6][7]

Another noteworthy death 'n' roll release is Soul Survivor, Gorefest's 1996 effort. This album showed more than a passing nod to classic rock.[8] Proof of that influence was the club tour organized by the band that same year, where Gorefest played songs by AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.[9] Gorefest broke up after their last 1990s album, Chapter 13, which continued the trend started in Soul Survivor.[8] (Gorefest reformed seven years later.[10]) Two of its members currently play on Live & Dangerous, a Thin Lizzy tribute band from the Netherlands.[11]

[edit] Debate

Confronted with the "death 'n' roll" label in interviews, the death metal acts it usually is attached to react with skepticism. Entombed's LG Petrov made the following statement, regarding this issue: "We see it as Entombed music, if people see that as death 'n' roll so be it. We just laugh, death 'n' roll, why not? When we write songs, we aren't thinking it has to be a particular style."[5]

When questioned about their mixture of death metal and rock 'n' roll, Gorefest's Frank Harthoorn replied: "Strange, everyone has always mentioned this Death N' Roll thing. To me it's just Metal, plain and simple. I don't believe our influences are different from other bands."[12][13]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Tobin, Dan (1999). Album notes for Wolverine Blues by Entombed, p. 8 [CD booklet]. Nottingham, United Kingdom: Earache Records.
  2. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. ((( Wolverine Blues > Overview ))). allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-11.
  3. ^ a b Tobin, Dan (1996). Album notes for Entombed by Entombed, p. 4 [CD booklet]. New York, NY: Earache Records.
  4. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. ((( Entombed > Biography ))). allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  5. ^ a b Entombed Interview. WELCOME TO THE CHAOS. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
  6. ^ Bowar, Chad. Entombed Interview: A Conversation With Vocalist L.G. Petrov. About.com: Heavy Metal. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  7. ^ ENTOMBED: Unique, Detailed Biography. Rockdetector. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  8. ^ a b Huey, Steve. ((( Gorefest > Biography ))). allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  9. ^ Paul the Postman (September 2007). Interview with GOREFEST :: Maelstrom :: Issue No 58. Maelstrom Zine. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
  10. ^ GOREFEST: Unique, Detailed Biography. Rockdetector. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  11. ^ GOREFEST Members' THIN LIZZY Tribute Band; Photos Available. BLABBERMOUTH.NET (2007-05-14). Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
  12. ^ Mira, Fabio Desiderato de (March 2006). Gorefest. Secrets of the Moon zine. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  13. ^ Following Wikipedia protocol, here's the original quote, untranslated: "Estranho, todo mundo sempre tem mencionado essa coisa de Death N' Roll. Para mim, isso é apenas Metal, claro e simples. Eu não acredito que nossas influências sejam diferentes de outras bandas."
  14. ^ Band articles - Death'N'Roll. THE METAL OBSERVER - Everything in Metal!. Retrieved on 2008-02-11.
  15. ^ Boward, Chad (2007-08-03). Entombed - Serpent Saints: The Ten Amendments Review. About.com: Heavy Metal. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
  16. ^ Boward, Chad. Birds Of Prey - Sulfur And Semen. About.com: Heavy Metal. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
  17. ^ HEARSE: 'In These Veins' To Receive North American Release In September. BLABBERMOUTH.NET (2007-06-19). Retrieved on 2008-02-22.

[edit] References

  • Entombed (1993). Wolverine Blues. [CD]. Nottingham, UK: Earache Records Ltd. Remastered & Limited Edition, 1999.
  • Entombed (1997). Entombed. [CD]. New York, NY: Earache Records (USA).
v • d • e
Death metal
Sub-genres
Fusion genres
Deathgrind · Blackened death metal · Death/doom · Deathcore · Death 'n' Roll
v • d • e
Heavy metal
Regional scenes
Other topics