This is my top 10 list of definitive death metal albums; your top 10 may be different, if that is the case then make your own. I've tried my best to make this list as user-friendly as possible so people who aren't very inclined on the subject will still have a good read. Let's get started.


10: Carnage - Dark Recollections


Carnage could be argued more grindcore rather then death metal but I don't see the need to nitpick, the band was a stepping stone for some big metal names that went on to join more successful bands such as Entombed, Carcass & Dismember. The band only released the one album & it still remains a solid release but its main triumph is that the album helped create the Swedish Death Metal sound, which was used on early Entombed & Dismember recordings; this could be because all albums had the same recording studio & producer. Such a great band should have done far more.


9: Pestilence - Testimony of the Ancients


Fucking riffs man! This album contains 16 tracks, 8 are actual songs while the other 8 are small interludes usually consisting of strange voices or small solos, the interlude tracks can go overboard and to my ears they all sound rather bleak & well, dumb. That isn't enough to drag this album down however, if you've ever tried comparing this album to there earlier works you would know it's almost impossible, while Consuming Impulse was straight forward thrash/death, Testimony of the Ancients was progressive technical death metal almost to the point of being avant-garde (but they saved that for there next album), a more than solid album worthy of praise, innovative to say the least.


8: Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten


Known as the originators of the Brutal Death Metal sound, Suffocation are well known throughout the metal scene for this feat alone. Many other 'lesser' bands tried to follow in their footsteps but none could match up to Suffocation's utter contempt & hatred they incorporated into there music. One thing that I always thought funny about this album was it came with a lyric sheet, even when reading along to the lyric's it still sounds like muffled farts which earns Frank Mullen extra points in my book for having some pretty slick vocal chord's.


7: Cynic - Focus


Cynic proved that you didn't have to rely on 'cookie monster' vocals to get the job done, instead they took a more impractical approach & experimented with, none other than, computer generated vocals. The majority call Cynic 'Jazz Metal', I’ve never understood that myself, I see no Jazz influences in this album but then again I don't listen to Jazz so my opinion is void. The music itself is spectacular & if you listen to it you'll often be asking the question "is this really death metal?" The answer to that is yes but Cynic took a more casual stride toward achieving there sound rather than do what every other band was doing at the time, they decided to experiment, hence why people often ask that question. For the most part, it worked but their are some things that bug the shit out of me on this record, mainly the vocals but I can block them out due to the musical brilliance shown overall.


6: Morbid Angel - Blessed are the Sick


One of the biggest Pioneering Death Metal bands of the 90's, Morbid Angel have many credited albums to their name, Blessed is one of them & although many would like to see Altars of Madness in this spot i still consider Blessed are the Sick to be Morbid Angel's most dominant release to date. Although Morbid Angel are just fisting themselves now, they were one of the first death metal bands to gain commercial success & the band itself exploded of the map with this album release & it's still one of the most important death metal albums in existence. Fucking classic.


5: Possessed - Seven Churches


Noted as the first death metal album ever recorded, as such it's place in this list is for historic value only.


4: Death - Human


It's hard to discern why Death has remained in the shadows of death metal when their musical talent & ability, compared to others, is off the scales. Death has also been noted for going through constant line-up changes, probably more than any other death metal band. This could have contributed to there subtle change in sound but many still concede that it was the front man & leader of Death, Chuck Schuldiner (RIP; brain stem cancer) that was the driving force for all of Death's major sound changes. Human still remains one of there most popular release's & is still a noteworthy album when being compared to lesser bands of late.


3: Atheist - Unquestionable Presence


To define Atheist in a mere paragraph is ultimately impossible, the only way to understand or even experience Atheist is to listen to it. Outrageously complex guitar riffs/solo's/lick's combined with jazz influenced blast beat drumming & almost slap bass guitar is something that is unheard throughout metal as an entire genre & not just the death metal scene, but Atheist pulled it off like it was second nature, categorizing Atheist is even harder as they take influences from just about every metal genre & combine it to give you Unquestionable Presence. The album only contains 8 tracks but it feels like 50 when you take the time to listen to it, start from finish. Words can't describe Atheist; you must listen to it, to appreciate it.


2: Entombed - Clandestine


This is Entombed’s final death metal album. Sure, MTV might consider Wolverine Blues and all the shameful works that followed it to be death metal, but true fans of the genre know better. Consider yourself a poser if you haven't heard this or the former, Left Hand Path as they are true artefacts of death metal. Entombed developed the Swedish death metal sound that most have come to know & love, the only band to even slightly match or compare to this would be Dismember. Practically forgotten nowadays because of there crappy works that followed this still reigns as one of my favourite death metal albums in existence & should never be forgotten.


1: Carcass - Symphonies of Sickness


Landmark death metal album that was more intelligible than the before effort "Reek of Putrefaction", I’ve always considered Carcass a band that matured with every consecutive album, but SoS is still one of my all time favourite albums & I’ll explain why.

Carcass follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid) & it works, the album is pretty straight forward, their is nothing overly technical but also nothing dull or pointless, the album from start till' finish is an experience which is what all death metal should be about. It's easy to imagine a couple of adolescent teenage boys flipping through a medical dictionary to come up with the names & lyrics for some of the songs. Swarming Vulgar Mass of Infected Virulency anyone?. No one could come up with a song title like that let alone do it with style, Carcass also had the ability to not take themselves seriously & I think the premise of this album is a joke rather than an actual serious effort which makes it all the more sweeter. Carcass didn't diminish after this album, quite the opposite, there follow-up 'Necroticism' saw them mature & age even more & they started to become a influential powerhouse in the metal scene. They are also noted for starting the Melodic Death Metal era with there album Heartwork which saw them gain even more fans. Unlike Entombed, Carcass knew when to quit, come Swansong the cracks were showing & they disbanded & I’m glad they did otherwise they might have continued down a road similar to Entombed & tainted their legacy.

Choices: Five rockerdudes.
Explinations: Full marks. Five rockerdudes.
Formatting: Five. Images, bolding, standard format all the way down the list. Good.

Overall rating: :rocker::rocker::rocker::rocker::rocker:

Good shit man.

definitely liking the Suffocation and Death albums you got up there.

Interesting read, I've always preferred the Black Metal genre, but I might just check out a few of these, especially the Top 3-5.

Always ready to listen to new stuff. :banger2: :rocker:

all wrong

Lol..


Question. Why is Clandestine better than Left Hand Path. kgo.

Just my personal preference. They're both great albums but I find myself playing Clandestine more.

hahah what would u choose? atreyu? norma jean? slipcock?

you= :cross:
me= :lmfao:



also i personally would have Iced Earth - Horror Show on there xD but thats me i just love that album it has become my most listened to album of all time... and im still not sick of it...

and Exodus - Tempo of the Damned xD in my personal opinion the greatest album lyrically

Neither of those bands are Death Metal.

holy my bad xD was late :P tired didnt even realize the title xD

hmmmm no SuidAkrA or The Crown?

No, but The Crown kick ass.

I made this almost three years ago just out of boredom, I can't even read it now as it's poorly written and far too "middle of the line".

:P i didnt even look at the date :P