From the world of metal ～Death metal bands recommended for metal beginners～

Even as a metal head, it's not hard to imagine that "Death Metal" would be the most difficult sub-genre for those who don't listen to metal. Probably the word Death in the name is one reason. However, I was once asked by a non-metal heads, "Which band should listen to to get a feel for death metal?" Surely there are people in the world who are interested in extreme music but have not really has a chance to listen to it! I will introduce bands for beginners using my arbitrary judgment and prejudice.

■ The Black Dahlia Murder / Receipt

A death metal band formed in the United States in 2000. The musicality that combines American Death & Thrash with the influences of Nordic melodic death metal made it the leading melodic death metal band in the 2000s. The points I would recommend to beginners are the riffs and melodies above all. A song with a well-balanced mix of the elements of the earlier death metal of their predecessors, and is a great way to understand what a melodic death metal is.

■ Disarmonia Mundi / Swallow the Flames

Formed in 1999, a death metal band from Italy. Initially it was formed as a band, but now it has a two-man unit-like form consisting of Ettore Rigotti, who is in charge of all the instruments, and vocalist Claudio Ravinale. The point for recommending this is Claudio's voice. I personally like his voice. Please pay attention to the thick low range and the piercing high range of the vocals.

■ Fleshgod Apocalypse / The Violation

A death metal band formed in Italy in 2007. It features an exaggerated sound that introduces symphonic elements while focusing on technical death metal and brutal death metal. Points for recommending them to beginners are the intense blast beats, symphonic strings, and operatic clean vocals. I think extreme contrast is one of the most attractive things to listen to metal.

■ Arch Enemy / Ravenous

A famous band here. Swedish death metal band formed in 1996. Since the 4th album "Wages of Sin" (2001), it has become known for being a death metal band with a female vocalist. The point for recommending them is the emotional lead guitar. A band that has been active since the dawn of Melodic Death Metal and has been very popular in Japan since its inception. It can be said that this band is a compulsory subject for Death Metal Heads.

■ Veiled in Scarlet / Atonement

Finally, a recommendation from Japanese bands. Formed in 2010 by Keija (Dr, Key), from the band SERPENT, which was already known to Japanese metal heads. After a change in members, the album "Atonement" was released in 2018 with the current lineup. The most obvious thing to listen to is the exaggerated "Kusamelo". This is a band that strongly recognizes that there is a catharsis that can only be obtained by high speed riffs, wailing lead guitars, and screaming vocals.

The above five death metal band I have introduced are personally recommended. If you read this article and think you might like death metal, I would recommend that you dig into other bands, focusing on bands from the same country or region. If you liked The Black Dahlia Murder, you would like an American bands, if you like Arch Enemy, a Nordic band. By the time you can distinguish between the characters of each region in this extreme music, you will be a good Metal Head.