Top 10 Best Death Metal Bands

Death metal is a genre that conjures images of dark, gruesome imagery, guttural vocals, and thunderous instrumentals. It's a musical abyss that has attracted legions of dedicated fans since its emergence in the mid-1980s.

What makes death metal tick? It's the relentless blast beats, the down-tuned guitars that sound like buzzsaws, and those otherworldly growls that seem to emanate from the depths of hell itself. Beyond the sound, death metal often explores themes of mortality, violence, and the macabre, making it a genre that's not for the faint of heart.

From pioneers who laid the genre's foundation to modern innovators pushing its boundaries, these bands have left an enduring impact on the metal scene. So, get ready to explore a sonic landscape of brutality and technicality, and discover the bands that have defined and redefined death metal throughout the years.

The Top Ten

Death

Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner. The band is widely considered one of the most influential in heavy metal and a pioneer of the death metal genre. Their debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, is regarded as the first true death metal record. Death released seven studio... read more

Chuck is pretty much my biggest idol ever. I almost cried when I learned of his 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 growls. Chuck's delivery is more of a scream, and it's hard to appreciate generic Death Metal vocals after hearing Chuck's insane vocal sound. You know what? I bet that throat bled, which almost makes it all the more impressive and beautiful, poetic even. That's true "art."

No one, absolutely no one, has topped or can top Death. The raw talent behind every musician Chuck had with him was unmatched in terms of technicality and precision.
Chuck went from brutal, gore-filled topics about hell, guts, murder, and anything death in a gore sense to philosophical and in-depth topics surrounding death and other dark topics not many musicians would touch at the time. He was a master guitarist and diverse vocalist, going from low growls to high screams between the first and last album.
Many other bands focus on the brutal gory aspects of metal just for the sake of it. Chuck added it because it was a part of his fictional world, and he always evolved, making each album different while maintaining his signature sound.
Not a single bad or decent album by Death. All are 8/10 to 10/10 essentials for getting into true death metal. R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner and forever Death!
Cannibal Corpse

Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1988. They're known for their graphic album covers, violent lyrics, and controversial song titles, such as "I Cum Blood." They gained mainstream exposure with their appearance performing "Hammer Smashed Face" in the 1994... read more

Even if you don't like their music, you've got to understand that their hatedom is awful.
"We don't sing about politics. We don't sing about religion. All our songs are short stories that, if anyone would so choose, they could convert into a horror movie. Really, that's all it is. We like gruesome, scary movies, and we want the lyrics to be like that. Yeah, it's about killing people, but it's not promoting it at all. Basically, these are fictional stories, and that's it. And anyone who gets upset about it is ridiculous." - George Fisher, lead vocalist

This is the band that introduced me to death metal, even though I wasn't interested at the time.
Their lyrics are often criticized for being too brutal, but that's what makes them so good.
Morbid Angel

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist Trey Azagthoth. They are recognized as pioneers in the genre for their technical compositions, blast beat drumming, and occult-themed lyrics. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked their 1989 debut album Altars... read more

It doesn't matter that Death or Possessed would be considered the 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.

Morbid Angel should be at least #2. They have made this genre. Actually, Death was the first true death metal band, but MA's contribution cannot be ignored.

Morbid Angel is so much better than Children Of Bodom. They're not bad, but Morbid, along with Death, brought Death Metal to its highest level, not Cannibal Corpse.
Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Åkerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which led to Åkerfeldt becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force.... read more

Although an undeniably great band, they're not death metal in the purest form, especially if you take into consideration their 21st-century album releases. Overall, they were an extreme prog metal band akin to Edge of Sanity.
If you only judge their first three records, then they fit into the Death/Black Metal category.
Orchid: Prog Metal/Melo Black/Dark Folk
Morningrise: Prog Death/Prog Rock/Dark Folk
My Arms, Your Hearse: Prog Black/Prog Rock - It's probably their darkest, atmospheric, and second least accessible album after Orchid
Still Life: Prog Metal. Deliverance: Prog Death
Prog metal is common in every one of their albums.
Carcass

Carcass is a British extreme metal band from Liverpool, formed in 1985. They initially disbanded in 1995 but reunited in 2007. Drummer Ken Owen did not rejoin due to health issues, though the band has continued to release new music since reforming.

This was the extreme metal band that really spoke to me. Alongside Kreator and Godflesh, they made up my personal big three in 1990. I can still listen to all three bands now.
I won't argue if Carcass is the best death metal band, since I don't like most death metal. They are one of the greatest metal bands, period.

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
All of their albums are very distinct and different from each other, yet it's easy to tell it's still Carcass. Classic Carcass.
Amon Amarth

Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, formed in 1992. The band's name is taken from the Sindarin name for Mount Doom in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth mythology. Amon Amarth is known for its Viking-themed lyrics and has released several acclaimed albums, including Twilight of the... read more

I am not a death metal fan, yet I ironically find myself enjoying this band quite recently. I like their balance between aggression and melody, and their vocalist's growls are actually quite natural for the band's content, which is a pretty good thing. That, and the fact that this band is accessible enough, is a bonus point too.
They're overall a kickass band I could go back to.

Any band that can create beautiful, sweeping melodies followed by powerful grinding riffs like Amon Amarth deserves to be in the top five. The atmosphere created by the tales of Norse gods and Viking warriors is unparalleled. Easily my favorite band!
Children of Bodom

Children of Bodom was a melodic death metal band from Espoo, Finland. Formed in 1993, the final lineup consisted of Alexi Laiho, Janne Wirman, Henkka Seppälä, Jaska Raatikainen, and Daniel Freyberg. The band was known for its blend of melodic elements with extreme metal, and disbanded in 2019 following... read more

I absolutely love this band. I first fell in love with them when I came across some Clone Hero charts for Hatecrew Deathroll, and I loved the whole album after giving it a listen. I then moved on to Follow The Reaper and Hatebreeder. Every album is a gem but in a different way. None of them are quite like one another, although there is a similar sound between FTR and HB.
I also love the first album. I would say that their first four are definitely my tops. Overall, great sound and I loved every bit of what they produced in the 23 years of running. RIP Alexi, and rock on to all of you. Have a great day.

Children of Bodom honestly has some of the most complex melodies in each instrument. Every one of their band members is 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.
Nile

Nile is an American technical death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are heavily inspired by ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern history, religion, mysticism, and art, as well as the works of H.P. Lovecraft. The band is known for its complex compositions... read more

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 their interest and unquestionable knowledge in 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.

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 have no match in the genre.
Deicide

Deicide is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1987 by guitarist brothers Eric and Brian Hoffman and drummer Steve Asheim. Vocalist and bassist Glen Benton joined shortly after, and the band officially adopted the name Deicide in 1989. Known for their blasphemous and anti-Christian... read more

Deicide holds the record for having the second and third best-selling death metal albums. Deicide, along with bands like Death and Morbid Angel, is very definitive in terms of their genre. Glen Benton is really a death metal legend and has the most brutal and fast vocals in death metal. I don't get how these overrated melodic bands like In Flames, Children of Bodom, and Amon Amarth are above the legendary Deicide and Morbid Angel.

In my opinion, Deicide made one of the best death metal sounds. Unlike Nile or Cannibal Corpse, even if their songs are brutal as hell, they don't get boring due to the excessive amount of machine-gun blast beats. They have a unique sound of their own and have been around for a very long while. Also, their lyrical content is amazing. I can't believe someone actually voted Children of Bodom higher than them, Carcass, or Behemoth. We're surrounded by scene boys?
Obituary

Obituary is an American death metal band formed in October 1984 in Tampa, Florida. Initially named Executioner, they changed their name to Xecutioner and then to Obituary in 1988. The current lineup includes John Tardy, Donald Tardy, Trevor Peres, and Terry Butler, and they are known for albums like... read more

There are very few death metal bands whose sound a non-death metal fanatic could distinguish from the herd within seconds. Obituary is one of them.
They may be a one-trick pony, but it's a darn 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 for the sake of speed and technicality.

One of my top three favorite death metal bands, along with Death and Cannibal Corpse. They deserve to be in the top five for never really straying from that early '90s death metal sound.

The Newcomers

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The Chasm

Much like Incantation, they are an impressive band that gets overlooked whenever death metal is a topic of discussion.
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Oceano

The Contenders

Behemoth

Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They have been instrumental in establishing and popularizing the Polish extreme metal underground scene.

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

Behemoth is one of the best bands I've ever heard. I admit I put Amon Amarth above them, but these guys don't mess around. 50% history, 50% Satan, 100% brutal. I saw them once, and it was equivalent to warfare. I rate this band 10/10.

Why so low? The lyrics, combined with the attention to detail of the riffs, overall atmosphere - come on! Behemoth is just so much better than Children of Bodom. Behemoth is black metal, not death metal, but whatever.
Suffocation

Suffocation is an American technical death metal band formed in 1988 in Centereach, Long Island, New York. They are regarded as pioneers of the brutal and technical death metal styles. The band has released multiple influential albums since their debut.

All opinions aside, Suffocation essentially created "technical death metal" with their EP "Human Waste" and debut album "Effigy of the Forgotten," in 1990 and 1991, respectively. It's absolutely absurd that Children of Bodom or Amon Amarth could possibly be in the top 10, but not 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.

Let's 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.
Gojira

Gojira is a progressive and death metal band from Bayonne, France. The band was originally known as Godzilla until 2001. Its members include Joe Duplantier on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on lead guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass.

Out of all the death metal bands I'm hearing these days, Gojira gives me that brutal death feeling. Gojira is fresh, super heavy, and the best for me!

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, Flying Whales, or Wolf Down the Earth.

Gojira is thriving in the metal industry today. Have you listened to the L'Enfant Sauvage album? Stuff like that gives hope for the future of metal in this pop-corrupted industry.
Possessed

Possessed is an American thrash and death metal band originally formed in 1982 in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are noted for their fast, aggressive playing style and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals. The band is widely recognized as one of the earliest pioneers of death metal and is often credited... read more

My mom managed these totally deranged kids back in the '80s, and they were definitely pioneers of Death Metal. They're still around, but Jeff, the singer, is the only original member. Mike Torrao was Possessed, and if it wasn't for him, there would be no music and no Possessed.

Seven Churches was released two years after Scream Bloody Gore. They coined the term death metal. It should be #2, in my opinion.

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.
Cattle Decapitation

Cattle Decapitation is an American deathgrind band from San Diego, California, formed in 1996. Their music addresses themes such as animal rights, environmental destruction, and misanthropy, often depicting humans in the roles of abused animals. While the band originally had an entirely vegetarian lineup... read more

I mean, come on. The music by Cattle Decapitation is utterly amazing. They blend the intensity of grindcore and the brutality of death metal, then add in melody (as of late)! One thing that keeps people away from this band is their lyrics, but those people are utterly mistaken. If everyone thought like them, The Anthropocene Extinction wouldn't be a reality.
And of course, there is Travis Ryan, delivering his controlled burps and nasty gutturals into the mic, along with nasty shrieks and melodic screams. Their guitars and bass deliver an awesome sonic attack of technicality and brutality, and their drummer blast beats his way to stardom. Long live the kings of metal!
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 featuring performances at Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock Open Air. Known for their old-school death metal sound, Bloodbath has included members from prominent... read more

I've listened to death metal for years, and believe me, this band is a monster. I have never heard such brutality and witnessed such talent. In my opinion, they dominate this genre. Mikael mutilated, Peter devoured, and Nick grinded. They are the perfect death metal band - not growling unrecognizably like brutal death metal bands, and not growling too weakly. This is and always will be my favorite 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, whether it's Florida or Sweden. Their latest (last?) album, "Fathomless Mastery," is possibly the greatest death metal album to date.
Necrophagist

Necrophagist was a German technical death metal band founded in 1992 by guitarist and vocalist Muhammed Suiçmez. The band released two acclaimed albums, Onset of Putrefaction and Epitaph, known for their complex guitar work and neoclassical influences. Necrophagist has been on indefinite hiatus since... read more

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

Necrophagist is amazing! I wish they would release new material a little faster, but you can't rush perfection!

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

Kataklysm is a Canadian death metal band. They describe their musical style as "northern hyperblast," a term first used in a M.E.A.T. magazine advertisement. The band has been active since 1991 and has released numerous albums.

Honestly, I think that Kataklysm should be in the top 10 because their music is some of the best death metal out there.

Saw them live. They are one of the best metal bands of all time, not just one of the best death metal bands.

Consistent band! They can mix groove, brutality, and melody. My favorite band off this list.
Entombed

Entombed is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in 1987 under the name Nihilist. They were early pioneers of Scandinavian death metal, known for their distinctive "buzzsaw" guitar tone that set them apart from American bands. Their debut album Left Hand Path, released in 1990, is considered a classic in... read more

Why are Entombed not in the top 5? They practically invented Swedish death metal, first as Nihilist, then as Entombed. There is something so unique, raw, and brutal about their style of death metal. Listen to Left Hand Path and Clandestine... you'll see why.

17?! Seriously?! These guys literally INVENTED the iconic Swedish Death Metal sound. They at least need to be in the top 5, or in the very least, top 10.

"Left Hand Path" is to Death Metal what The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is to pop music. This iconic band should definitely be top 5.
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 transitioned to thrash and speed metal before embracing death metal in the late 1980s. The band's... read more

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

Vader should be on every "top x death metal bands" list. Piotr's vocals are so unique. If you think you have heard a fast song, listen to "Decapitated Saints" off the "Morbid Reich" album.
I'm ashamed that as of the moment I'm typing this, they are in the thirties. This band should be no lower than 9.
So it is written.
Bolt Thrower

Bolt Thrower were a British death metal band from Coventry, England. Formed in 1986, they released their debut album with Vinyl Solution in 1988. The band later signed with Earache Records, where they became one of the label's best-selling acts.

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

I think that Bolt Thrower produces some of the best death metal, and all of their albums are very consistent.

Have you heard Killchain? What a riff. Bolt Thrower should be in the top ten just for the album Those Once Loyal. Awesome stuff.
Sepultura

Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte. Their first album, Morbid Visions, presented a proto black metal sound and featured Wagner Lamounier of Sarcófago. Over the years, their sound has evolved across albums to include elements of thrash metal, groove metal, and death metal.

Lyrically, they aren't death metal at all. Death metal has themes about murder, dead bodies, necrophilia, and 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. I love the Cavalera era too much.

Sepultura practically created death metal. Max Cavalera has one of the best death growls there is and is a pioneer of the vocal style. Beneath the Remains and Arise are two of the greatest death metal albums ever.
Autopsy

Autopsy is an American death metal band formed in 1987 in Contra Costa County, California, by drummer and vocalist Chris Reifert and guitarist Eric Cutler. They disbanded in 1995 but reunited in 2009. The band is known for combining doom metal with death metal and has released several influential albums... read more

23? Easily top 10 worthy. They're probably the only old-school death metal band that is 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.

Easily top 10 material. Enjoy the riffs and vocals very much.

Why are these guys so low? They literally made one of the heaviest albums of 1988! Severed Survival, which is an absolute banger of an album!
Cryptopsy

Cryptopsy is a Canadian technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1988. The band has sold over 300,000 records worldwide. They are known for their complex compositions and have been influential in the development of the technical death metal genre.

This band has easily been my favorite band I have ever seen live, as well as one of the most insane bands I've heard musically. They're up there with bands like Anaal Nathrakh, Dragged Into Sunlight, and Strapping Young Lad in terms of chaos and sheer ferocity.
The Loathe riff might especially be one of their most insane. Really, Whisper Supremacy (while not as good as None So Vile) is absolutely nuts and might be their most chaotic album instrumentally. That, or Once Was Not. That album is wild, but it doesn't exactly grab me.
All in all, definitely top 10 - top 5 material.

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

Decapitated is a Polish technical death metal band formed in Krosno in 1996. The current lineup includes guitarist and founder Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski, bassist Paweł Pasek, and drummer James Stewart. The band is known for their precise musicianship and impact on the international... read more

Guys, come on. Musically, they're incredible. Even though people dislike their newer stuff, it's still very good. Honestly, they're creating their own sound, just like Vader did. There aren't many bands that sound like them!

My favorite death metal band by far. This should be in the top ten at least.

Decapitated just knows how to write great death metal!