Best Death Metal Bands

My favorite band of pure death metal (I mean that is just death metal and not a death metal sub-genre)... Chuck had one of the best guttural voices ever.
R.I.P CHUCK SCHULDINER - rock2metal

Only the first 3 albums were pure Death Metal. The last 4 albums are Progressive Death Metal. - Juli

DEATH is number 1 and always will be the best band
RIP chuck
Amon Amarth is over rated, children of bodom isn't death metal or is it children of boredom. Some of best death bands are death, morbid angel, cancer, massacre, autopsy, deicide, obituary, cc, suffocation, unleashed, grave, dismember, bloodbath, carcass, asphyx, demonical, monstrosity, disincarnate, malevolent creation, the old schools the best and majority r from Florida where it all started with death

Chuck is pretty much my biggest idol ever. I almost cried when I learned of this dudes death, just think about the possibilities had he still been alive. I bet Control Denied would've been only one of many epic side projects and experiments.

Also I consider his voice to be in a whole category by itself, to be honest I'm having a hard time enjoying growl, Chuck's delivery is more of a scream and it's hard to appreciate generic Death Metal vocals having heard Chuck's insane vocal sound, ya know what? I bet that throat bled, which almost makes it all the more impressive and beautiful, poetic even, that's true "art"

One word: Chuck.

I understand why Death are first (I mean, they pretty much invented the Death Metal) but, let us be honest: Cannibal Corpse were the band that truly took the meaning of Death Metal and brought it up to a whole new level. Brutal blast beats, amazing vocal performances by both Barnes and Corpsegrinder and also some of the greatest artwork, riffs, albums, songs and even album/song names ever (F***** With A Knife, Hammer Smashed Face, Raped By The Beast and Make Them Suffer are amazing song names). This is why CC should be first. Death created the genre but Cannibal Corpse took it even further and is much more of an inspiration for the newer DM bands than Death.

Hammer smashed face, make them suffer are the real death metal songs. The real brutality, hate, violence is cannibal corpse. The slasher lyrics is like AHH!

Why Children of bodom is so high? Cannibal Corpse is much more greatness than this childs

Consistency and always delivering top quality death metal releases. They set the first blueprint for the 2nd wave of death metal with tomb of the mutilated and raised the technical bar with the bleeding. Great to their fans,cannibal corpse is consistently and overall the best death metal band ever.

Morbid angel should be at least #2... They have made this genre. Actually death was first true death metal band.. But MA's contribution cannot be ignored.

CoB 17percent, In Flames 10percent and Morbid Angel 6percent are on crack dudes? Or you have not taste in music?

It doesn't matter that death or possessed would be considered first ever death metal band. Their rank should not be bumped up due to that. What matters is how good the band is and morbid angel wins for me.

Should be #2.

Karl Sanders and Dallas Toler-Wade form one of the best guitar duos of all music genres. Combined with Kollias' inconceivable drumming technique and speed, as well as with all of their interest and unquestionable knowledge in the Egyptian lore and mythology, Nile is one of the greatest metal bands of all time and quite frankly the best death metal act. Their live performances and their studio recordings are some of the best I've ever seen in terms of quality, musically as well as overall performances. - Cyrax

Brutal, nerve trampling metal. Insanely precise. Probably the best overall group both in technique and creativity. Also, I think the production and sound quality of Nile has no match in the genre.

Listen to Cast Down the Heretic or What Can Be Safely Written and tell me this band isn't the epitome of brutality...

This is my favorite Death Metal band!

No one could create such a melody within the Death Metal genre like Mikael ever, and I can bet none will be able to create in future...
Please listen to 'Black Rose Immortal' before you vote any other band.
- Nord666

It's an alright song, but it just felt like there was too little continuation for it to stick. - AdamDestructorJr.

I'm trying opeth out for the first time and honestly I think there amazing I like death and nile more but that is because I've been listening to them for a long time so I can't really tell right now if ill like them more then nile cause death will be number one always but I can't wait to try out more songs

My favorite besides death. I hate cannibal corpse because I can't hear the lyrics, but opeth you can clearly understand everything. and they have soft songs too, which no other death metal band has

Best voice in terms of rendition, melody and brutality. Their composition is out of the world.

Amon Amarth rules... One of my fave bands and they definitely deserve to be higher up this list!

Awesome songs with awesome riffs. And the viking's feel to the music is unique and takes you to the great battles that must have been fought in those ages! Can't get tired of listening to them!

Absolutely the best out there! Amon amarth is established band playing over 20 years and they know how to make best riffs ever.. Johan is natural born singer, drummer and his doubekick - rarely you hear that speed and all of it is glued with fantastic lyrics which brings you to old era of vikings - I believe that this band is playing n future at every home over Xmas.. Well my house is full of Amon Amarth! Spread the word, valhalla awaits us all!

VIKING + DEATH METAL = AWESOME THEY NEED TO BE HIGHER

Children of Bodom honestly has some of the most complex melodies in each instrument, every one of their band members are amazing at what they do, not just Alexi, even though he's the most famous. They totally deserve to be number one because everything they make sounds AMAZING!

Man that's the best death metal band ever! I mean I heard every time I die 25 times in a row still it does not get old its so awesome! The music the lyrics and everything in the song is so awesome its the best death metal song I'v ever heard!

This band is my favorite death metal band! But my judgement is not bias and clouded. This band plays exceptional masterpiece! They are like hi breed death metal bands, their solos are one of the best! They may not be the most brutal or fierce but they sure ire things and and let headbangers bang! Listen to mask of sanity, evereytime I die, warheart, follow the reaper. It never gets old!

Are you kidding me? This should be in top 3 with Death and Opeth. - Disturbedpotato

One of the most versatile Death metal bands. Jeff Walker's vocals are truly among the best in the business, and Bill Steer can pull off some amazing riffs and solos. Everybody in this band is a great musician and they really put their skills to good use. Carcass can be brutal, melodic and very technical at the same time.
This band was on the forefront of both grindcore and melodic death metal - and that is truly an accomplishment. Also - they are not dumb jackasses like some others and are actually cool people.

Genre classics (chronologically):
Vomited Anal Tract
Exhume to Consume
Embryonic Necropsy and Devourment
Corporal Jigsore Quandary
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
Buried Dreams
Heartwork
Tomorrow Belongs To Nobody
Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System

... And all of their albums are very distinct and different from each other, yet it's easy to tell it's still Carcass. Classic Carcass. - Moonchild

This band has everything, whether you like grindcore, melodic death metal, death 'n roll, or just straight up death metal, they have it! They're the band that got me into death metal, and they'll always be my favourite

Carcass is definitely in the top 3

A very innovative and progressive death metal band

Mind boggling death... Just pure blood... Wow I love behemoth... Behemoth rules

Even though Behemoth is not originally a death metal band. They have great atmosphere in their music, and also has death metal influence in their songs. Also their lyrics is very dark and morbid, powerful and strong.

Behemoth makes really extreme death metal. I must say that I uprated them because of Grom (even though it is actually black metal). Grom in my opinion Behemoth's best album

Behemoth forever! 666

Honestly cannot believe that Obituary isn't at least in the top 10. They are one of the most badass old school death metal bands ever. Along with Death, Morbid Angel, and Malevolent creation they practically created death metal. Go listen to Cause of Death and Slowly We Rot and then tell me that Obituary doesn't deserve to be at least in the top 10.

Number one in my mind. No-one sounds like John and their pounding grooves are second to none. Many other bands sound close to the same, but these guys are as original as Death and Sepultura, they deserve to be at least in the top 3.

There are very few death metals whose sound a non-death metal fanatic could distinguish from the herd within seconds. Obituary is one of them.

They are a one-trick pony, no doubt -- but it's a damned good trick.

Also, they sound BETTER live than they do on their records, which is really saying something in this age of live mediocrity.

Finally, unlike most death metal bands, Obituary makes music that is hooky, catchy, approachable, and focuses on solid grooves instead of speed and technicality only for the sake of speed and technicality.

Old school death metal at it's finest. I still cannot believe that they are not in the top5.

All opinions aside, Suffocation basically created "technical death metal" with their EP "Human Waste" and debut album "Effigy of the Forgotten," 1990 and 1991 respectively. Absolutely absurd that Children of Bodom or Amon Amarth could possibly be in top 10, but no Suffocation.

The correct top 10 list should include: Death, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Cryptopsy, Nile, and Deicide. Any top 10 without them is incorrect.

What! Suffocation should be in top 3... Nothing is more death metal than this band..
Amon amarth? Children of bodom? Yes I like that band.. But in the terms of death metal, maybe not

Lets be honest suffocation and CC are kings of brutal death metal. no top 10 is correct without Death, Possessed, Opeth, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass (kings of grindcore/goregrind, Deicide, Suffocation, Nile, Obituary and of course last but not least a tie between Cryptopsy and Morbid Angel.

This band and Cannibal Corpse are my favorite death metal bands of all time!

Seven Churches! No comments! The Best ever!

They either need to be #1 or tied with Death for #1. They coined the phrase "death metal" with the song of the same name.

Possessed made death metal; Death just enhanced it.

Seven churches was released two years after scream bloody gore. The coined the term death metal, it should be #2 to my opinion.

How is Necrophagist so damn low? This band's intricate riffs and beats are technically (pun intended) the best I have ever heard. The vocals are nice, the insturmentals are amazing, and no band has ever done or been able to do what they did. We do need that new album, though...

My latest discovery. Necrophagist is one of the coolest tech-death bands I've heard. Easily one of my new favorites - ryanrimmel

Necrophagist is amazing! I wish they would be a little faster with the releases, but you can't rush perfection!

Should be in top 5

This Band is awesome! Kataklysm are Magic!

This band is amazing at what they do the guitar work is fierce and fast there astonishing and badasses give them a listen

Consistent Band! They can mix
Groove, Brutality ane Melody. My favorite band off this list.

Awesome band heavy guitars vocals are amazing give this band a chance

I've gotta say, these guys are perfect matches for each other. They know what to put where and even their lyrics are some of the most meaningful lyrics to ever exist. It shows things from animal cruelty all the way to how stupid people of religion can be (doesn't mean I'm not religious.) And Travis is probably the most talented vocalist I've ever heard. All the way from shrill black metal screeches to raspy cleans to melodic and ear-shattering screams then to a signature low mid that normally drops somewhere in the song all the way to the pits of hell in how low it gets.

These guys are INSANELY talented, and their vocalist Travis Ryan is about one of the most diverse and talented death metal vocalists out there

My all time favorite. Travis Ryan can do it all! A great death growl, high pitched gutturals, deep slam growls, everything. Great lyrics, energy, just an all around great band. - ryanrimmel

THE kings of modern death metal. - ThatStrangeKid42

I listened to Death Metal for years and believe me, this band is monster. I have never heard such brutality and seen such talent. In my opinion they dominate in this genre. Mikael mutilated, Peter devoured and Nick grinded. They are the perfect Death Metal band... Not growling unrecognizable like Brutal Death Metal bands and not growling too weak. This is and always will be my favourite band.

Death metal supergroup! What's not to like? These guys can duplicate any school of the genre. They manage to bring out the best parts of all the classic scenes, being it Florida or Sweden. Their latest (last? ) album, "Fathomless mastery", is possibly the greatest death metal album to date.

Listen to the song EATEN by this band people and you will definitely see why I have voted for this band. Be it lyrics, vocal or the music, this band is the most influential band ever.

Truly epic

I'm a huge Sepultura fan, but I never thought of them as death metal. I personally think their just thrash/groove metal. - ryanrimmel

YEAH! IT'S GOOD BAND! I SWEAR TO YOU! THANK YOU SEPULTURA FOR ALL!
SECONDLY THE SONGS OF SEPULTURA HELPED ME IN EXAMS.
I'd like to set this song in my funeral)))

Lyrically they aren't death metal at all, death metal has stuff about murder, dead bodies, necro philia, and is just about anything morbid. But vocally during the max cavalera era they sounded like death metal I'm not so sure about now though because I've personally never listened to it because I love the cavalera era too much.

I thought they were groove. - Metalhead1997

This is my ultimate old-school DM band - ThatMetalChick

23? Easily top 10 worthy, they're probably the only old skool death metal band that are still making quality music today. Severed Survival and Mental Funeral are two of the greatest death metal albums of all time, and they're still pumping out classics with Macabre Eternal, The Headless Ritual and Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves.

Severed survival and mental funeral is some of the best death metal albums ever

Easily top 10 material. Enjoy the riffs and vox very much. - IronSabbathPriest

Fantastic band. Great riffs, great atmosphere, does not disappoint.

"Left hand path" is to Death Metal what Beatles "sgt Pepper..." is to pop music. This iconic band should definitely be top 5.

Created the death metal subgenre known as

Death the eternal sunshine

This band is really awesome!...I don't know where have this band been all my life... - nooreldeen

Wow I wish I discovered this band before. The symphonic and classical style arrangements really sound awesome with death metal added in. Probably my favourite behind Opeth.

Great band, they blend symphonies with tech death for an epic combination

Love 'em

Without Vader we probably wouldn't have Decapitated or Behemoth. These guys defined the Polish death metal sound.

I would vote Opeth in this rank for sure, but after I have seen Vader so low on the list - man it's a shame that such band is not in top 5 or at least top 10. They are probably the only group in existence with ability to make Slayer song sound even more brutal. Most of their songs are masterpieces of brutality and perfection.

Great Death Metal Band from Poland. Return to the Morbid Reich is my favorite, along with their new single, Triumph of Death. They also did a great cover of Black Sabbath and Raining Blood

Vader is just pure awesone-juice. One of the first death metal bands I got in to

One of the greatest death metal bands

My Favorite Death Metal Band by far. This should be in the top ten at least.

Guys come on musically they're incredible even though people dislike their newer stuff, its still very good honestly they're creating their own sound just like vader did there aren't many bands that sound like them!

One of my favourites bands. Their live shows are awesome!

This band had an incredibly unique sound and approach to death metal (both musically and lyrically), yet they don't have a whole lot of influence, which is quite sad. They also are one of the few bands that never put out a bad album. My two favorites from this band are Realm of Chaos and Those Once Loyal. - Caleb9000

Is there a band which sound and messages are quite different from others, this is Bolt Thrower they must be in first 10 places. that's for sure

Need to be I the top 10. If you don't think so then you just don't know death metal.

This band is the absolute definition of death metal. they have their own sound so you always know it's them. they are the reason I got in to death metal.

Proves that French people can still be awesome... Gojira has awesome music with a lot of subtleties that are lost in most death metal- listen to the songs Esoteric Surgery or Flying Whales or Wolf Down The Earth

Out of all the Death Metal Bands I'm hearing these days GOJIRA gives me that Brutal Death Feeling. Gojira is Fresh Superheavy, and The Best for me!

Gojira is amazing, the songs that they have made are quite impressive. Should at least be in top 10.

This is one of the most influential bands in death metal history! In their album From Mars to Sirius, you can hear music similar to that of several bands that formed before and after it was released.
The Heaviest Matter in the Universe is amazing, give it a listen if you think this band sucks. - GREATEST

Come on they're the 7th largest economy in the world

They are just one of the best death metal bands that I have listened to. Melodic death metal to be precise. Brendan Small just kicks major ass on the guitar and the drumming by Gene Hoglan is mind boggling. The death growl presented by Small is unique and doesn't go with other death metal bands that you listen to. If you want to know what I mean, you just gotta listen to tracks like "I ejaculate fire", one of my absolute favorite

Dethklok are the BEST death metal band in the world, just watch the documentary on their band, Metalocalypse, no song beats Thunderhorse.

What? should be in top 15..

Personally think Children Of Bodom is best, but Arch Enemy's stuff comes a very close second. Michael and Christopher's guitar skills are incredible, along with Daniel's drumming and Sharlee's bass (not heard too much under the other instruments, but amazing when you do hear it). Not to mention Angela's vocals (more brutal than many male vocalists).

(Also, We Will Rise isn't a great Arch Enemy song in my opinion. I prefer their heavier stuff like The Last Enemy and My Apocalypse) - Porcupine

This band is just amazing with a female vocalist and what a song it produces you can just see a song like WE WILL RISE

Best metal voice ever

Arch enemy shouldn't be this far down, they are the reason I got into death metal in the first place

Come on, COB and In Flames aren't even dm! Cryptopsy is insanely technical and brutal, but catchy at the same time. They deserve the top spot.

Hey you! Listen to cryptopsy! Why is children of bodom so high? They are good but not that good.

Way underrated lets see some more votes people only Canadian band I like

Must be in top 15, should replace Chidren Of Bodom - Fahrezi

One of the most technical bands ever. Unquestionable Presence is easily one of the best death metal albums of all time

0,6% is very few for ATHEIST! These guys can play pure death metal.

Most technical instrument lines, and some of the most original songwriting

Atheist are cool, but they are barely death metal. In my eyes, they are a thrash metal band with some death metal elements thrown into it.

Immolation deserves a top ten spot much more than a few of the bands in the actual top ten. One of the earliest and one of the most creative bands in the genre, there is no one that sounds like them, and their lyrics are top-notch

Immolation being this low is an insult. They have been putting out masterful death metal of the highest quality for 20 years. - TomTheMetalhead

#40 are you serious they should be in the top ten if not top five

0.2 really? Shows how many children are voting on this. Immolation is one of the greatest most consistent and original death metal bands on the planet. Period. Should be top 5.

Yeah they are amazing, not death metal though.

Their legends, I can't believe they're so low on this list.

Can't believe they're not on here already.

Meshuggah should #1 on this list because they take jazz music and put it in there own deathly way which sounds so really good!

In Flames We Trust! If you are from Romania/moldova thumbs up!
In flames albums like the jester race, whoracle, colony or clayman are extreme. That is true melodic / death metal msic. I don't like as much the later albums like a sense of purpose or soapf which are alternative metal but there are very good(not as good as episode 666, jotun, embody the invisible or the jester race) songs in them that must be listed.

In Flames is the greatest band I have ever heard. Their melodies and timing shifts place them in a category above all other bands I have ever come across, in the metal genre or otherwise. I can't think of a single song on all 10 albums that is not amazing. Since I discovered them I cannot stop listening. The Jester Race might just be the best album ever.

Their newer stuff is crap, when they started to add in nu metal elements. Great band though, but other bands are better. Should be higher then sepulture/

I’m not a big fan of death metal... Like, I understand why people like it but it’s just no my cup of tea... But this band has something that I really enjoy

Wow their music gives me chills. No joke

They should be in second place after cannibal corpse! The real grindcore britanian band best ever...

Number 3 on the list the MIGHTY NAPALM DEATH but I can understand why they are so far down the list to all over the place music wise

Founders of Grindcore. - Metalhead1997

I love them

Even though they are melodic death are beasts surely have to be at top 5! Trevors vocals are awesome drumming are awesome guitars and bass too favorite band of mine and if you are talking about death metal you have to get in the list The Black Dahlia Murder

My stepmom used to date Brian their guitarist back when they first formed

These guys kick ass!

Sound great when there live
Really good beats
And vocals and guitar riffs are perfect

At The Gates may not be the most innovative or creative Death Metal band, but the perfection they bring to genre is mindblowing. Just listen to Blinded by Fear, Slaughter of the soul or The Swarm. Your outlook on Death Metal will never be the same. I will always place them in the top 10 of my favourite bands of all time. Deserves a top 5 spot anyday.

They are really sick! They have sutch great riffs and some very melodic riffs. The notes they play fits the ear just right. And same with the vocals.

"The Red in the Sky is Ours" is the best death metal album ever.

Slauter of the soul one of my best albums!

Truly underrated, if you just listen to them they'll simply crush your ears!

Just downloaded the song taste of god and it blew me away AWESOME! I recommend this band

Feel the rhythm, the flow, beat and hate! One of the most underrated band by the genre of death metal

My favorite band for about like 10 years now! Underrated

One of the most under rated bands today.
Amazing vocals and guitar work. Great song writing and story telling.
While they only have 4 albums so far, I am looking forward to what they put out in the future.

In my opinion, They are the most underrated death metal bands...But I'm kindda happy to see them in first 50

They're good. - Metalhead1997

The Best

I just don't belive, this guys where shocking death metal band

Spheres, consuming impulse does one have to say more

76 is shocking for a band as great as pestilence

Pestilence have my favorite vocal

This is the first tech death band I listened to and let me tell you now, everyone who has been in it is a musical genius, but luc lemey who is the founding member and lead guitar/vocalist, has a writing ability like no other, his infusion of classical style intros creates an eerie beginning to many of the songs and then he smashes through with a powerful and complex riff, and unlike many tech death metal bands, his riffs are still possible to follow along, I would say this is undoubtedly one of the top 5 greatest death metal bands for sure.

Obscura is one of the best albums ever made. Gorguts should be way higher on this list if not number 1

One of the bests, absolutley

How in the name of all that is unholy is GORGUTS sitting below The Black Dahlia Murder, Meshuggah, Dethklok (!?!? ), Gojira, In Flames, Opeth, and Children Of Bodom!?!

What? this isn't death metal.

Ah-Ah-Well, those young folks have been redefining brutality and fun at the same time. Groovy, fast, ambient, HEAVY, technical and innovation are some of the ways to describe the band. Like some young band such as Rings Of Saturn, Beneath The Massacre and Archspire, they created their own genre to refresh the scene. They took Cryptopsy, Morbid Angel, Death and many more and put their influence into one of the most epic Brutal Technical Death album in a decade. I have to listen to "The Palpable Leprosy Of Pollution" at least every other day and I can't get bored. "C***crusher" - "Devotion To the Child Rape Syndicate" - "Flayed and Consumed", basically all the album kicks ass.
It should be a Top 20 as there too many great bands able to have their own genre of Death Metal: in no particular order -
Cryptopsy, IA, ROS, Archspire, CC, Death, BTM, Bolt Thrower, Suffocation, Grave, Hate Eternal, Gorguts, Nile, Cattle Decapitation, Aborted, Dying ...more

Dying Fetus is just amazing. Fast, complex riffs, excellent aggression, perfect song structuring and layering, intense buildups, perfect balance of technicality and brutality, and just all around excellent musicianship. Stunned that Opeth, Meshuggah, In Flames, and Children Of Bodom are higher on the list than Dying Fetus... those bands aren't even death metal (Progressive Rock, Metal, Rock, and Speed Metal respectively). laugh out loud wow after the children are off to bed, the adults will put on the real music - AeturnalNarcosis

110th wow, I'd have thought dying fetus would be top 50 at least, but each to their own. Love this band; bone crushing and inspiring riffs that somehow seems to always make you move, and John Gallagher is one hell of a vocalist, some songs I think stand out: the blood of power, second skin, subjected to a beating, ethos of corceon, homicidal retribution.. So many songs.. I think over the years they have grown as a band, one of my favorite death metal bands

I can't believe Dying Fetus isn't even in the top 200! They should be at least top 20. Extremely talented musicians combining technicality with brutality in a 2 vocalist system. - ryanrimmel

Saw them live & they played an insane show, amazing hard hitting metal, in my top 10 death metal bands easily.

"Field of the Impaled" just started playing in my head. - Metalhead1997

This is a band incapable of bad music

Gods of their genre.

Superb band. They sound like amon amarth but better

Awesome... Deserves to be in the to ten