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Technical death metal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Technical death metal
Other names
  • Tech-death
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsLate 1980s, United States, Canada and Europe
Other topics

Technical death metal (also referred to as tech-death) is a musical subgenre of death metal with particular focus on challenging, demanding instrumental skill and complex songwriting. Experimentation in death metal began in the late 1980s and early 1990s by four bands that are often grouped together as "technical death metal's Big Four" – Death, Pestilence, Atheist, and Cynic – as well as Nocturnus; all but Pestilence being part of the Florida death metal scene.[2][3]

Distinct features of the subgenre include dynamic song structures, complex and atypical rhythmic structures, abundant use of diminished chords and arpeggios, frequent employment of odd time chord progressions, and consistent use of techniques such as string skipping in the guitar work. Bass lines are usually complex, and drumming is complex including techniques such as blast beats, odd time signatures and double kicks. The technical death metal genre has also been influenced by mostly jazz fusion,[1] as well as thrash metal and progressive/technical-inspired heavy metal bands like Death,[4][5] Megadeth,[6] Slayer,[4][7] Voivod,[8] Kreator,[5] Dark Angel,[6] Coroner,[5] Sadus,[9] and Watchtower, the latter of whose second album Control and Resistance (1989) is often considered to be one of the sources of inspiration for the genre.[10][11]

The 1990 album The Key by Nocturnus has been cited as the first progressive death metal album.[12] One of the key works that cemented the subgenre was Atheist's debut album Piece of Time, also released in 1990, which took death metal into a more intricate level while incorporating influences ranging from jazz fusion to progressive metal. In 1991, New York death metal group Suffocation released their debut album Effigy of the Forgotten, which focused on pairing speed and brutality with a "sophisticated" sense of songwriting. Atheist's second album Unquestionable Presence, Pestilence's third album Testimony of the Ancients, and Death's fourth album Human were all released the same year, forging a path for more intricate and refined releases within the death metal genre.[3]

Evolution and modern contributions

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The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the emergence of a new wave of technical death metal bands that pushed the genre's complexity and intensity even further. Among these, Necrophagist, Spawn of Possession and Obscura have been particularly influential.

  • Necrophagist (Germany) – formed in 1992, Necrophagist became one of the most renowned names in the genre with their highly technical and precise guitar work, complex compositions, and virtuosic performances. Their 2004 album, Epitaph, is often cited as a landmark in the genre, showcasing intricate guitar solos, rapid tempo changes, and sophisticated song structures that have inspired countless bands.
  • Spawn of Possession (Sweden) – originating in 1997, they further advanced the genre with their blend of technicality and brutality. Their albums Cabinet (2003), Noctambulant (2006), and Incurso (2012) are noted for their intricate guitar work, complex rhythms, and neoclassical influences. The band's use of dissonant chords and elaborate compositions has set a high standard in the tech-death scene.
  • Obscura (Germany) – founded in 2002, they are known for their sophisticated blend of technical death metal and progressive elements. Obscura has gained acclaim with albums like Cosmogenesis (2009), Omnivium (2011), Akróasis (2016) and Diluvium (2018), all of which are part of a four-album concept series featuring a connected story,[13] and feature virtuosic guitar work, complex song structures, and philosophical lyrics.

In addition to these bands, the technical death metal scene has seen a proliferation of talented acts hailing from Canada, including:

  • First Fragment (Quebec) – originating in 2007, they are renowned for their virtuosic guitar work, intricate bass lines, and a unique blend of technical death metal with neoclassical and flamenco influences. Their debut album, Dasein (2016), features rapid-fire riffs, complex rhythms, and sweeping arpeggios, while their follow-up, Gloire Éternelle (2021), further showcases their technical prowess and musical innovation with extremely complex riffs and solos as well as by incorporating motiffs from baroque composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, cementing their place as one of the most technically skilled bands in the genre.
  • Beyond Creation (Quebec) – founded in 2005, their music features complex fretless bass lines and intricate guitar work, exemplified in albums like The Aura (2011) and Earthborn Evolution (2014). Beyond Creation quickly gained recognition for their innovative approach to technical death metal with their unique inclusion of fretless bass, which has since become a staple in the genre.
  • Archspire (Vancouver) – formed in 2007, is known for their extreme speed and technical proficiency. Albums like The Lucid Collective (2014) and Relentless Mutation (2017) feature hyper-fast drumming, rapid-fire guitar riffs, and complex bass lines. Their 2021 album, Bleed The Future, won the 2022 Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year.[14] Archspire's approach often includes a blend of jaw-dropping technicality with catchy and memorable songwriting, pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the genre.

These newer bands have continued to evolve the technical death metal genre, incorporating elements from progressive metal, jazz fusion, and neoclassical music, thus ensuring the genre remains dynamic and ever-changing. As a result, technical death metal continues to be one of the most innovative and challenging subgenres within the broader metal community.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "100 Greatest Technical Death Metal Bands And Technical Thrash Metal Bands". May 8, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  2. ^ Freeman, Phil. "Resurrection Macabre review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Freeman, Phil. "The Man-Machine Will Rock You: The Existential Paradox of Technical Death Metal". The High Hat. Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Pestilence: Patrick Mameli makes no compromise". radiometal.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "GORY BLISTER – Battle Helm". battlehelm.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Revocation interview". Lords of Metal. November 2009. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Metal Crypt - Jeff Hanneman Tribute Interview". metalcrypt.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Iconic metal band Voivod get postapocalyptic on The Wake". Chicago Reader. March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "An Abridged Guide to Technical Thrash Metal (1984-Present): 50 Key Full-Lengths". grizzlybutts.com. January 26, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "Watchtower - Concepts Of Math : Book One EP - Album Review 2016". powerofprog.com. October 14, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  11. ^ ""Control was just the natural progression for us"". metalindex.hu. November 15, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  12. ^ BadWolf (July 13, 2012). "Effigies of the Forgotten". NoCleanSinging. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "Making of "Diluvium" [Episode #1 - Production]". Obscura Official Website. May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Gordon, Holly (May 15, 2022). "Here are all the 2022 Juno Award winners". CBC.ca. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
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