The albums that define
death metal.
Our picks for where to start with death metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top death metal artists
Start with one of these.
The death metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Celtic Frost
Into the Pandemonium
A chaotic blend of avant-garde metal and experimental sounds, pushing boundaries with haunting melodies and aggressive riffs.
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Cannibal Corpse
Kill
Brutal riffs and guttural vocals collide in a relentless assault of death metal aggression.
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Cannibal Corpse
Torture
Brutal riffs and guttural vocals collide in an unrelenting assault on the senses.
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Cannibal Corpse
Butchered at Birth
Savage riffs and guttural growls collide in a relentless barrage of visceral horror themes.
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Sepultura
Machine Messiah
A fusion of thrash and progressive metal with haunting melodies and incisive social commentary.
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Sepultura
Quadra
A relentless fusion of thrash and groove metal, laced with intricate rhythms and socially charged lyrics.
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Immolation
Here in After
A relentless barrage of complex riffs and guttural vocals that challenge the boundaries of death metal.
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Strapping Young Lad
The New Black
A ferocious blend of death metal and industrial textures fueled by relentless aggression and sardonic humor.
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Burgerkill
Venomous
A relentless barrage of heavy riffs and guttural vocals, layered with intricate melodies and dark themes.
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Bloodbath
Nightmares Made Flesh
A relentless barrage of guttural growls and blistering riffs, melding horror themes with technical prowess.
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Deicide
Overtures of Blasphemy
Brutal riffs and guttural growls collide with relentless drumming in a visceral death metal assault.
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Impetigo
Faceless
A raw and chaotic blend of death metal and grindcore that challenges listeners' thresholds for brutality.
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Obituary
Cause of Death
A ferocious blend of guttural growls and thunderous riffs, capturing the essence of early death metal.
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Sepultura
A-Lex
A-Lex pulsates with aggressive rhythms and visceral themes, weaving complex narratives through thrashing guitars and relentless drumming.
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Sepultura
Against
A relentless fusion of aggressive riffs and rhythmic grooves that propels the listener through chaos and introspection.
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Sepultura
Nation
A fusion of aggressive grooves and intricate rhythms, reflecting Sepultura's Brazilian roots and global influences.
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Sepultura
Beneath the Remains
A ferocious blend of thrash and death metal, infused with intricate rhythms and powerful vocals.
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Sepultura
Roots
A primal fusion of heavy metal with indigenous Brazilian rhythms and tribal chants that challenges genre boundaries.
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Sepultura
Schizophrenia
A relentless exploration of chaos where thrash metal meets haunting melodies and intricate rhythms.
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Sepultura
Chaos A.D.
An intense blend of aggressive rhythms and tribal influences, merging metal with social commentary and cultural depth.
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Immortal
Blizzard Beasts
Frostbitten riffs and relentless rhythms create an unyielding sonic blizzard that envelops the listener.
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Immortal
Pure Holocaust
An unrelenting barrage of icy riffs and haunting melodies that define the bleak landscapes of black metal.
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Immortal
All Shall Fall
A thunderous blend of epic melodies and dark, icy atmospheres that define Immortal's signature sound.
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Immortal
Damned in Black
A relentless barrage of icy riffs and thunderous drums, embodying the essence of black metal's dark majesty.
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