Top 10 Most Brutal Death Metal Bands

This is a list of Death Metal bands based on their brutal sounds, heavy guitar riffs, harsh guttural vocals and deep death growls.
The Top Ten
1 Cannibal Corpse Cannibal Corpse is a American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1988. The band is known for their graphic album covers, explicitly violent lyrics and song titles like "I C** Blood" The group got into mainstream after performing the song "Hammer Smashed Face" in the 1994 film Ace Ventura:... read more

They are the gods of brutality. I don't want to hear any bull about Cannibal Corpse being "mainstream." They are not even close to being mainstream. If they were mainstream, they would be mentioned in the same sentence as popular pop acts, but they're not. Cannibal Corpse is more popular than probably any other death metal band ever, but that doesn't make them mainstream because death metal is underground to begin with.

Some people might try to pretend they are mainstream to make them seem less brutal, but even if they were, it wouldn't make them any less brutal, just more popular. They are the heaviest, most brutal death metal band of all time.

2 Nile Nile is an American technical death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, United States, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and ancient art, as well as the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

What can I say? The dual guitar works by Toler-Wade and Sanders followed by George's brutal double bass drumming followed by 240 BPM all at the same time makes for a brutal powerhouse of a band. They are definitely redefining technical and brutal death metal. And they deserve number 1 in my book of most brutal death metal bands.

They do brutality right. When they're fast, it rips your face off. When they're slow, it feels like the hammer of the gods on your spine. Absolute best Brutal Death Metal.

Still as technically brutal as ever in 2016. Caught them in London this week, and the show was outstanding! Great atmospheric death metal, neck break speed, and flawless.

3 Behemoth Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground.

Their riffs are relentless, the drums are thunderous, and Nergal's vocals sound just plain bestial if not outright inhuman at times. The raw intensity of their music cannot be understated. Their work is devastating Pagan war magic as music. Tracks like Sculpting The Throne Ov Seth are testament to their raw musical might.

Yeah, Behemoth might not sound as 'brutal' as Cannibal Corpse, but they're the true tough guys! Cannibal Corpse always sounds hilarious to me. They're making fun of death metal. I like Cannibal Corpse. Corpsegrinder is a nice guy. But I can never think of them as a 'true death metal' band.

4 Devourment Devourment is an American brutal/slam death metal band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1995, the band has split up and reformed three times and Brad Fincher is the only original member.

This band is FAR more brutal than Bloodbath, Nile, and Cryptopsy. They're not even that guttural compared to this guy's growls. These guys are WAY heavier. Plus, just look them up on iTunes and compare the song names and lyrics to the other bands. There's no comparison. "Babykiller" and "Molesting the Decapitated" by Devourment make "Eaten" by Bloodbath look and sound like a lullaby.

This is a list of the most brutal bands, not the best. Devourment makes most of these bands seem like pub rock. Devourment, Brain Drill, Cryptopsy, Abominable Putridity, Benighted, Suffocation, Nile, and Dying Fetus should be up top.

5 Bloodbath Bloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm, formed in 1998. The band has released four full-length albums, two EPs and two DVDs depicting their performances at Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock Open Air.

My absolute favorite band. Bloodbath has a dark ambiance mixed with good and heavy groove. Taking from bands like Entombed and Dismember. I wish these guys would come across North America, sadly they seem to only play in the Netherlands.

All I gotta say is that the guitars and the drumming are just unexplainable in my opinion. I can't even put it into words. I love Behemoth and CC as well as Infant Annihilator. Those are top 5 bands but this band just throws those bands out the window. The gutturals are just something inhuman.

6 Dying Fetus Dying Fetus is an American death metal band originally from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Formed in 1991, the group is known for their consistently hook-laden song structures, characterized by blast beats, complex riffing, slam riffs and heavy breakdowns.

Dying Fetus is really brutal and honestly one of the heaviest bands I've heard. I really don't understand why so many people hate Dying Fetus. I mean, they're so talented. The guitarist/singer, John Gallagher, is such a talented guy. He plays really heavy and complex guitar riffs while singing guttural vocals and headbanging at the same time. I really want to see them live, and I really want my band to go on tour with them. Here is a list of my favorites by Dying Fetus:

- Grotesque Impalement
- Intentional Manslaughter
- Invert the Idols
- Bathe in Entrails
- Procreate the Malformed

(SUPER HEAVY SONGS!)

7 Cryptopsy Cryptopsy is a Canadian technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1988. The band has sold over 300,000 records.

One of Cryptopsy's earliest albums, Blasphemy Made Flesh, is extremely loud, fast as hell, and downright heavy and insane, and that was just when they first started! Their other albums continue to amaze with incredible sound and brutality. These guys will never disappoint if you're in the mood for the slams!

Blasphemy Made Flesh and None So Vile are hands down two of the best Death Metal albums ever recorded. A true showcase of the severity of the Canadian Metal scene.

Some of the most brutal music ever crafted. Insane vocals, intense guitars, chaotic drumming, and heavy bass. A recipe for brutality.

8 Suffocation Suffocation is an American technical death metal band that was formed in 1988 in Centereach, Long Island, New York, United States.

I had been constantly in the search of some serious brutality until I came across this band, and I knew I had struck gold. I mean it's not that CC is not good enough, but I personally favour Suffocation.

Number 8? Are you joking? Suffocation crushes and has been for more than 25 years despite numerous lineup changes. The band deserves more respect and has earned the top spot.

The true kings of Death Metal. I don't need an explanation for why. Just listen to "Effigy of the Forgotten," and you'll understand.

9 Deicide Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987 by bassist and vocalist Glen Benton and drummer Steve Asheim. They are known for their blasphemous and satanic lyrics which have resulted in bans, lawsuits and criticisms from religious groups and the public. Frontman Glen Benton is also known for... read more

Brutal, blasphemous, and satanic. That right there should say it all. Guttural vocals and super fast tremolo guitar work... Going strong for twenty-five years as of 2013. Soldiering past bans and extreme controversy and censoring while laughing at it all the way... What's NOT to like?

Perhaps the most infamous bands in the genre, Deicide took the satanic lyrics to a whole new level. Loved the band during the Hoffman brothers era. I like Vital Remains more than Deicide.

I love Deicide and think they are heavier than Cannibal Corpse, which happens to be my second favorite band.

10 Meshuggah Meshuggah is a Swedish progressive metal band from Umeå, formed in 1987. They are often considered the fathers or founders of the djent metal sub genre due to their use of downtuned guitars. They are also known for their song “Bleed”, which is known for its extremely complicated instrumentation,... read more

Meshuggah aren't really death metal, but they're still one of the heaviest and most brutal bands ever. Their song Corridor of Chameleons will make you want to smash everything in the same room.

One of the heaviest bands out there, but they aren't Death Metal. The vocalist doesn't use death growls. I'd call them Progressive Groove Metal/Djent.

Dude, Meshuggah is the most brutal out there. Should be on top!

The Contenders
11 Skinless Skinless is an American death metal band. The band formed in 1992 and disbanded in 2011, but reformed in 2013.

They should be way higher up than this. Personally, I think they're on par with CC on brutality, but they're slamming brutal death, so it's a step further.

All these people who are not voting for these guys just haven't heard them. They are relentless!

Dude, check these guys out. If you've never heard them, you don't know what brutal is.

12 Decapitated Decapitated is a Polish technical death metal band formed in Krosno in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski, bassist Paweł Pasek, and drummer Michał Łysejko.

Day 69 is full of collateral bloody damage. CC is what everyone says, and they're the Nickelback of death metal (too generic, sold out).

13 Brain Drill Brain Drill is an American technical death metal band formed in 2005 from Ben Lomond, California. They are signed to Metal Blade Records and released their full-length debut album entitled Apocalyptic Feasting on February 5, 2008. In support of their debut, disagreements were engaged and members began... read more

I think some of the comments and votes are based on, or too greatly influenced by, people's favorite bands instead of the question at hand, which is "Who is the most brutal?" Although what is more brutal to one wouldn't be to another, there are several bands on this list I like better than Brain Drill. Though, I think Brain Drill are by far the most brutal. They are savagely intense, loud, insanely fast, super technical, and spastically aggressive. There might be a few bands that come close but not quite touch them, and whilst not being a whole new level up in the genre, they have definitely raised the bar some.

14 Whitechapel Whitechapel is an American deathcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee. The band is named after the Whitechapel district in East London, England, referencing the series of murders committed by Jack the Ripper.

Listen through Somatic Defilement and then tell me they don't belong on this list.

It's deathcore, not death metal. Still amazing!

There are two kinds of people: those who love Whitechapel and those who have never listened to deathcore.

15 Vader Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn. Formed in 1983, the group was founded by then-bassist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek and guitarist Zbigniew "Vika" Wróblewski. Starting as a heavy metal group, Vader eventually went to thrash, speed, and then in the late 1980s became a death metal band. The... read more

Blasphemous growling comes from the doors of hell. Hail Vader!

Where is Luke Skywalker when you need him?

You guys have not listened to Vader yet?

16 Abominable Putridity Abominable Putridity is a Russian slam death metal band formed originally from Moscow, formed in 2003. The band has released two albums; In the End of Human Existence and The Anomalies of Artificial Origin. They are one of the most popular brutal death metal bands to day. Abominable Putridity shares... read more

The songs "Blindfold Surgery", "Remnants of the Tortured", and "Letting Them Fall…" should give you enough evidence to support the fact that this great Russian band can kick ass.

They should be in the top tens. Their two albums are more brutal than half the bands in the top tens.

Just listen to these guys, and you'll understand why they belong in the top 3.

17 Infant Annihilator Infant Annihilator are an English/American deathcore band based in Hull, East Yorkshire. The band was formed in 2012 by drummer Aaron Kitcher and guitarist Eddie Pickard.

Most bone-crushing, heart-stopping, completely insane death metal band I can find. These guys set a new standard for the whole metal genre. If you haven't heard about or listened to this band yet, you are missing out!

These guys are crazy, but they have great sound and base to every song they produce. I personally think that they are the most violent death metal band out there. In my own opinion.

I have yet to find any bands more brutal or violent than them. I mean, come on, all of their songs are about raping women and babies. What's more brutal than that?

18 Extermination Dismemberment

This is the pure definition of brutal. Growling, guttural vocals, and almost minute-long insane bass drops. Simply amazing slam.

19 Cattle Decapitation Cattle Decapitation is an American Deathgrind band from San Diego, California formed in 1996. Cattle Decapitation's songs protest the mistreatment and consumption of animals, the abuse of the environment and touch subjects such as misanthropy and genocide of the human race. Much of their music is based... read more

Pure demonic bile for humankind. Their recent albums (The Harvest Floor, Monolith Of Inhumanity, The Anthropocene Extinction) are apocalyptically heavy. Dangerously fast and insanely technical, they are more than just a vegetarian grind core. They are black metal, progressive metal, death metal, tech death, and overall, they are brutal!

Each new album they release is faster and more brutal than the previous one. Their last album was kick-ass good and heavy and brutal.

Travis Ryan's vocals are by far the most extreme, mixed with Dave McGraw's insanely fast blasting and Josh Elmore's most unique writing style. Cattle Decapitation is a monster.

20 Origin Origin is an American death metal band from Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1998. They have been recognized by music critics and metal fans alike for combining a harsh sound with a high level of technical skill.

Intensity, brutality, and full aggression played at high speed with incredible technical skill... this band must be in a top position.

Technical enough, but not consistent with their songwriting. The drummer is insane. Effing machine.

21 Gorgasm Gorgasm is a 1994 Death Metal band founded in Chicago. The group disbanded in December 2008 and reunited almost two years (2010) later, creating their third studio album Orgy of Murder a year later.
22 Six Feet Under Six Feet Under is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1993. The band consist of four members: founding vocalist Chris Barnes, longtime guitarist Steve Swanson, current bassist Jeff Hughell and recent drummer Marco Pitruzzella.

I feel that The Bleeding and Maximum Violence are my two most memorable death metal albums of all time. Chris Barnes just provides something that strikes a nerve with me.

A gateway band for many metalheads who are looking into entering the passages of death metal. Maximum Violence did the trick for me when I was a teenager. Chris Barnes needs his due credit, come what may.

Best death metal band overall. Each album is consistently bone-crushing good. No bad albums. Yet!

23 Aeon
24 Infernal War Infernal War is a Polish black metal band formed in Częstochowa in 1997. The band is known for their extreme anti-christian and WWII lyrics, leading them to be mislabeled as a NSBM band. Critics describe the band as "brutal black metal."
25 XavlegbmaofffassssitimiwoamndutroabcwapwaeiippohfffX XavlegbmaofffassssitimiwoamndutroabcwapwaeiippohfffX is a South African brutal death metal band formed in 2012. Known for their humorous and intentionally convoluted name, the band often incorporates elements of grindcore and slam into their music. Their lyrics are typically absurd and comedic, poking... read more
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