Top 10 Best Death Songs
Founded in the mid-1980s by Chuck Schuldiner, Death helped shape what death metal would become. The band took the raw aggression of early extreme metal and pushed it forward with technical precision, complex songwriting, and deep, often philosophical lyrics. Schuldiner, often called the godfather of death metal, never settled for repeating himself. With each album, Death evolved, bringing in new influences and refining their sound while still keeping things brutally heavy.From their early days with raw, thrashy brutality to the later years when their music became more progressive and intricate, Death created some of the most influential metal songs ever recorded. Schuldiner's guitar work was unmatched, combining blistering riffs, soaring solos, and intricate melodies that set a new standard for metal musicianship. His lyrics moved beyond horror themes into existential questions, social commentary, and personal struggles, making Death's music as thought-provoking as it was crushing.
Crystal Mountain is amazing, but I have to say my favorite song off of Symbolic is Zero Tolerance. It's like Chuck Schuldiner's warning for all of us: there will be ZERO tolerance.
Overall, though, my favorite Death song is probably Within the Mind. It's so badass.
Perfect from start to end. The lyrics are easy to understand and are some of the best I've ever heard. Every time you hear this song, you find a different detail.
I recently discovered how it starts with the hi-hat closed, but when the drum makes the fill and Chuck starts to sing, it becomes an open hi-hat and, to me, it punches even harder. With these details of the drum, the acoustic Spanish guitars, the legendary solo, and the SHATTER THE MYTH, DON'T CUT YOURSELF,...
The riff that opens this song makes your blood turn to pure ice under pressure. The lyrics are one of the most outstanding things I've ever heard in a song, with a description from which you can take a lot of meanings.
Being honest, the length flies by when you listen to it.
This song is not only prog/death but also has very true feelings. It can almost bring you to tears sometimes.
Absolute progressive/technical death metal masterpiece. Insane riff variety and a killer solo to boot.
For me, this song is pure adrenaline. I also like to listen to it in the middle of the night since its rhythm is very captivating and original. At night, songs of this type are better heard.
Another thing is that it has not even reached number 1 on the list, and it is clearly a much better song than "Crystal Mountain," which did not surprise me as much as "Lack of Comprehension" when I first listened to it. So, please be real men and vote for this song to help it rise through the ranks.
The first song that introduced me to Death and the first Death song I learned on guitar. I'm not a fan of death metal vocals, but the guitar work in this song just got me hooked.
The riff after the breakdown is one of the best riffs of all time, in my opinion, and made me want to learn this on my guitar.
Obviously, this song deserves a better position here in this list because it's very influential. Maybe not the top 5, but I think 13th place for Spirit Crusher is not what this song deserves.
Absolutely the best Death song. So many amazing transitions and riffs.
I'm going to tell you guys a story. Well, I don't really like death metal. Some bands I really do, but then I saw the name of this song on YouTube and I almost started to cry. This man Chuck was a beautiful and talented man. This is their best song.
I like Crystal Mountain too, but this song kills all songs, and if you don't agree with me, well...
Really, all Death songs are amazing, as far as the songs I know, at least. I could vote for every single track on this list, but I will try to make this song take the lead.
Songs may tell you a story, brothers. Even some great songs can make you feel it, but this? This makes you live. This song will make you live inside its brute sorrow.
All in this song sticks in your head. Every time in the song, you are saying, Oh, here comes that cool part. Because this song is a complex of different parts, riffs, and styles that make perfection itself.
Death has so many amazing songs, it's impossible to pick a favorite. Chuck was a musical genius.
Badass riff. It kind of makes me think about Pantera's "Walk." It should definitely be in the top 5.
I can never seem to get over the killer bass in this song. Besides that, it has amazing lyrics and, as usual, great riffs. The music video for this was pretty good too.
Every song Death has made is fantastic, but The Philosopher wins for me. Great lyrics, a fantastic solo, and Steve is just killing that bass line.
The Philosopher is, I think, the signature song of Death. Great Schuldiner vocals, great guitar riffs and solo, and yes, the drumming and the bass solo are very skillful and deadly. Rest in peace, Schuldiner.
This song is simply the best song ever made by a death metal band, in my opinion. Epic intro, epic solo, Chuck's voice - everything is perfect!
Best Death song. It's so beautifully depressing. Their defining masterpiece, in my opinion.
This and Zombie Inc. by In Flames are the two best death metal songs ever!
Such a great piece, full of killer riffs and crushing moments. The vocals were outstanding at the midsection, especially that moment when the song gets atmospheric and eerie all of a sudden with Chuck growling "Spiritual Healing."
Extremely cool riffs and interesting structure. This song stands out as the midpoint between Death's earlier OSDM sound and their later tech/prog-death style.
I love all of Death's songs, but I vote for this one because this album is insanely underrated, in my opinion.
Only 2%? Not even Top 10? What is wrong with you people? This is their best song, in my opinion. It displays the talent and creativity of Chuck Schuldiner! Every Death song does that, but this one does it best!
A beautifully philosophical song, incredible solo, and a gut-wrenching outro. The perfect track to end any album and my personal favorite song of all time.
This is one of the first songs I heard by Death, and every part of it brings back memories. So underrated and so amazing, I can't stress it enough.
The Newcomers
This is a flawless, flowing song. The way Chuck measures the vocals with those riffs is just so brilliantly catchy.
The most underrated Death song. One of the best!
The best intro for any album ever. The riffs in this song are symbolic, all of them without exception. How they managed the drumming and the timing is like a wave. Love it.
This song is easily one of my favorites from this album. I love the intro.
The song that got me into Death. Will always remain my favorite!
In my opinion, the best death metal song. The part after Chuck screams "Now you're in HELL" is a complete hell!
When Chuck growls "Drifting from the living, joining with the dead!" I just get an eargasm!
This is the best death metal song ever and should be on top, clear by miles!
Perfect in every way. When I listen to it, my mind travels to a deep and faraway place where no earthly problems matter. At 1:10, Chuck growls "when pain is acknowledged!" and what follows is the best riff and drumming I've ever heard.
The main riff makes me want to cry because of its epicness. The lyrics are something that all of us are going to relate to at some point in life, and every time we listen to this song again, it's going to take on another meaning.
That's why I love this song so much.
One of the top three songs of their classic album, Symbolic, dominates death metal!
The first Death song I ever heard, and it's amazing! The blast beats are insane.
Not enough Leprosy on this list.
This song surely deserves top 10! And it is at 23! Chuck would be amazed by seeing this! This song has everything! Story! The guitar is superb! The voice is superb! The music composition is just extraordinary! I love this song.
Amazing breakdowns, great lead, epic vocals - perfect!
I think this song deserves to be in the top five.
This should be in the top 5 AT LEAST. It has a sick drum intro from Hoglan as well as the main guitar riff!
"Where virtuous lives are sacrificed!" Love the solo that follows.
My favorite of all Death songs.
The beginning is beautiful and spooky at the same time. The guitar is just out of this world. This is a masterpiece.
As much as I don't like death metal, this wasn't bad.
This needs to be in the top ten at least!
My favorite Death song. The two different melodies merging together is incredible and unique.
One of my personal favorite solos by them, and the riffs are amazing.
In my opinion, this is Evil Chuck's best solo next to Voice of the Soul.
Incredible thick sound from Chuck's B.C. Rich Stealth and Marshall solid state. Such an amazing metal masterpiece!
This song is all of us because, at some point in our lives, we have been less than our dreams wanted us to be. All of this is followed by raw instrumentation that has a lot of complexity and soul at the same time.
It's a masterpiece that is really underrated.
I used to think that Symbolic was the best Death album, but now I think that Human is a better album after listening to it, and this is easily the best song from Human. Underrated and belongs in the top 3.
Every song by Death is amazing. It's very hard for me to make a top ten. But I think this song deserves more credit than Lack of Comprehension, which is also very good, by the way.
The technicality in person. The rhythm of this song is in constant flux, making it feel like a wave contracting and expanding. Perfection.
Simply amazing, so powerful, and beautiful at the same time. Definitely deserves to be Number 1.
Amazing drumming, groovy bass, and face-melting guitar work! Chuck in his finest hour!
Greatest Priest cover in the world! Chuck's voice really adds to the epic nature of the song, proving he can do it almost as well, if not better, than Halford.
Eh? Why isn't this in the top 5? I am disgusted that my favorite death song is not in that top 5!
Come on, people, vote it up. Seriously... jeez.
Great song to begin with, and Death just made it better. When I heard this for the first time, my mind was blown.
The lyrics of this song are all I need to put it in my top ten. So many people think that this is about suicide because of the title, but whoever investigated deeper had the conclusion of a Master of Puppets Pt. 2. However, I think this song is about animal cruelty.
Now draw your own conclusions. One of the best solos too.
Great song, just like every other. The vocals are amazing.
Good lyrics. The thrash riff blows your mind. Underrated.
This song is amazing. From the solo to the main riff, to the drums, to the lyrics, just everything about it is awesome. The fade gives a good effect.
The last lyrics during the fade just give me chills, knowing that it was the end of the Sound of Perseverance album, Death's last release before Chuck's death.
Most underrated Death song by far. It deserves top 10 for sure. It has one of Death's best solos ever!
One of the best solos I've ever heard by any metal band.
My current favorite Death song. The riffs and the vocals here have to be some of the greatest from the band, particularly from Chuck Schuldiner himself.
So brutal, yet so technical. And still, so melodic. Thank you, Death. This song is a must if you are just getting into heavier and faster music.
I mean... the title of this song describes perfectly what it is. OVERACTIVE is the word. I love it, magnificent solo too.