It is fair to say that death metal is a classic genre at this point. Many classic bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Deicide and Obituary have solidified their names in the realm of the genre and continue to decimate through the week with intense blast-beats, insane riffing, and growls and screams that will echo through humanity for all of eternity.

Many bands have followed in the classic veterans footsteps such as Black Dahlia Murder and Cattle Decapitation, flying the torch high while some other bands delivered their own unique spin on it that we never thought would have worked in death metal, whether it is incorporating breakdowns like we have seen in dethcore, melody as we have seen multiple times from the Gothenburg bands, technical elements from bands such as Obscura and so on and so forth.

With a new decade, here are some bands that will make death metal go down in history and up in flames as the genre that ironically, will never die.

Gatecreeper

Gatecreeper have been pulverizing every club in the underground. They have had the blessings of many death metal peers such as Cannibal Corpse who they toured with in 2017, and now headlining clubs of their own. Their new album Deserted delivers an absolute killing spree of intense riffs, guttural growls and blast-beats that will kill you if you walk too close. Now embarking on the 2020 Decibel Magazine fest with Mayhem and Abbath, Gatecreeper is ready to further show you what they are made of.

Tomb Mold

Tomb Mold has been on a constant creative spree to go along with their killing spree. Releasing Manor of Infinite Forms in 2018, only to release Planetary Clairvoyance a year later. These Canadian Death Metalers seem to be pumping out material left and right, and yet, it seems their fans are still wanting more and more from this group. Constantly releasing new music and touring, they have plenty of gas left in the tank and have become underground celebrities in the realm of pure death.

Necrot

Almost every major death metal tour in the last 3 years has had these guys leaving the venue a smoldering crater before the headliners hit the stage. This trio of death is able to deliver sonic brutality with pure rawness and atmosphere that will turn any venue they play into a murky realm of darkness. Whether they play a smaller venue such as St Vitus or Brooklyn Bazaar (RIP) or playing a venue as massive as Playstation Theater, they manage to bring the place down to its knees and they are ready to do it again on their upcoming tour with Bloodbath as we eagerly wait for the follow-up to their epic 2017 release Blood Offerings.

Archspire

Technical Death Metal has become a genre in itself that many enthusiasts have lost themselves in. Archspire created a half hour killing spree in 2017 known as Relentless Mutation that gives the most uncompromising sound of technical death metal, and with every album and show they have made that decimates through the weak, many of their fans still keep coming back for more. Add their insane live shows with their signature sense of humor, Archspire is a band that will make you laugh your ass off and watch your ass at the same time.

Rivers of Nihil

Speaking of technical death metal, Rivers of Nihil seemed to take the world by storm when they released a tech death gem known as Where Owls know my Name. Many people have said that this was their album of the year in 2018, some have even said it was their top album of the decade and it is worthy of that title. After unleashing their inner prog, many other bands seem to be following in their footsteps. Rivers of Nihil made a technical death metal masterpiece that many new upcoming bands are already siting as reference material. The record is now two years old and Rivers of Nihil is still touring off of it and it looks like many fans aren’t going to be sick of it anytime soon. They have rose from the ashes this past decade, now they are ready to unleash pure fire in this one.

Vitriol

Century Media has been very supportive over the Death Metal genre the past couple of years, working with Lorna Shore, Heaven Shall Burn, Deicide and more. Vitriol is another underground gem that seems to be getting lots of attention. Their guitarist Kyle seemed to take the spotlight at Namm during his demo at the booth for Fortin Amps, and after really rising to the occasion on their fall tour with Cattle Decapitation, they are ready to do it again on their upcoming tour with Vadar and Abysmal Dawn! Their new album To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice delivers sonic chaos and disorder that will leave you limping away whether you hear it at a show or simply listening to it on your phone.

Hideous Divinity

Speaking of Century Media, and Speaking of the tour with Vadar and Abysmal Dawn, Hideous Divinity will be hitting the road with Vitriol on this killing spree of a tour as well. Hideous Divinity brings the signature sound of death metal that we all know and love while brining a freshness to the sound of pure carnage. These Italians are able to spawn outside the world and make their intense riffs and guttural growls from hell echo across the rest of the world. Their latest release Simulacrum has been grabbing many people by storm and from the looks of it, not letting go.

Replacire

While we are still waiting for a follow-up to their insane album, Do Not Deviate from 2018, we can assure that the wait will be worth it. Now recruiting James from Black Crown Initiate and Poh from Native Construct, Replacire has their guns locked and loaded and are ready to deliver something that will make the wait worth it. I recommend holding your breath for this one, because you are not going to be able to catch it. With their mesmerizing use of lights, they are able to create a sonic and visual experience that is so dark, yet so beautiful.

Vulvodynia

All the way from South Africa and now they are already taking over the world. Incorporating elements of slam, grind and pure raw and technical death metal, as well as having some interesting collaborations such as Jason Evans of Ingested or Luke Griffin of Acrania, they are able to collaborate with many of their death metal peers and also develop an experimental and brutal sound of their own. Their latest album Mob Justice continues their pure savagery and it is safe to say they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Red Death

When a metal band says they are from DC, you know you are in for a realm of insanity. Red Death takes elements of hardcore, thrash and death metal and even adds a bit of a melodic spin on it to make an experimental sound like no other. Their latest album Sickness Divine shows all sides of their signature brutality and technical excellence. Taking all clubs across the country by storm, they are ready to take over the world and then some.

Aether Realm

Melodic Death metal doesn’t just show the brutality of metal, but it is also able to demonstrate the emotional and atmospheric elements behind it as well, and Aether Realm does exactly that. Albums such as Journey of Discovery and Tarot do exactly that. They are able to deliver a narrative and an atmosphere that can make you learn a thing or two behind the raw and savage brutality that they are able to demonstrate.

Blood Incantation

If you want to talk about a band that is able to release an album that speaks to many, intrigues many, and teaches many, then look no further, because Blood Incantation does exactly that. Blood Incantation’s new album Hidden History of the Human Race was a gem discovered by many lovers of the genre and brought it from the underground all the way to the stratosphere. Blood Incantation sold out both of their shows at St Vitus in just a few minutes which is a testament to not just this band, but death metal in general, that the genre is not in good hands, but in great hands.

While Death is in its name, death metal is alive and well. Many bands are continuing to push the genre even further. Whether it is adding freshness to a formula we all know and love, or pushing the boundaries of the genre even further, incorporating new material that we have yet to hear, death metal is in good hands.