Need a Death, Black, Extreme Metal Primer

[KampfVerein]

My heavy metal roots are in the '70s and '80s (e.g. Sabbath and Sabbath-esque doom, psychedelic and stoner metal / NWOBHM / Big Four of Thrash, esp. Megadeth), so a lot of this newfangled metal escapes me. I know very little about who's vital and who's disposable in the genres of death metal, black metal, extreme metal, et cetera, and I need some good suggestions of core, essential material.

While I have a lot of reservations about these genres, most notably the vocal styles and often repetitive and unimaginative compositions, I realize I need to explore them to be a well-rounded, conversant metalhead, yes?

Here are a few bands / records I'm currently giving a spin (mostly inspired by that upcoming DLC pack):

Behemoth (some bits of Evangelion)
Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
Job for a Cowboy - Genesis
Mnemic - Passenger
Gojira - From Mars to Sirius, The Way of All Flesh
Cannibal Corpse - Vile

Keep in mind that I'm already reasonably familiar with metalcore, mathcore, drone metal, groove metal, industrial metal, the Gothenburg style of melodic death metal and progressive metal.

CULLED SUGGESTIONS:

Death - Symbolic, The Sounds Of Perseverance, Human
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence, Elements
Venom - Black Metal
Bathory - Bathory, Blood Fire Death
Nocturnus - The Key
Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse
Wolves in the Throne Room - Diadem of 12 Stars
Sacrementum - Far Away from the Sun
Opeth
Darkthrone
Immortal

RESPONSES:

Ah, yes, the Florida death metal scene of the '90s. I was told that's the best place to start, especially with Death and Atheist. Will mark that down.

As for Cynic, I'm already very familiar with them. I came across them in one of my more progressive moments.

Whenever I need to picture a black metal band, I inevitably think of the video for Immortal's "Call of the Wintermoon." It's pretty cheese-tastic, but if you folks say it's canon material, then I'll give it plenty of time and thought.

I've got Mercyful Fate's Melissa, but I haven't really sat down and given it a dedicated listen yet. I can say that King Diamond's falsetto is pretty epic.

My selection of Wolves in the Throne Room was just a shot in the dark. I thought I remembered hearing good things about Black Cascade, that it was cerebral and polished.

In general, I don't much care for ambient or atmospheric works in any genre of music (doom and drone metal being notable exceptions to this personal rule - even then, I listen to these genres sparingly).

[Onslaught_fei]

In my opinion:

Essential Death Metal Bands from the original Florida death metal scene:
Obituary, Death, Morbid Angel, Atheist

I would start with Opeth. That will open the door to death metal. Everything from Serenity Painted Death, Baying of the Hounds, When, Deliverance, Blackwater Park or their lighter tracks like Windowpane. From Opeth I would recommend probably Cynic and then to Atheist. I would then try Death at that point. After that you make the jump to Necrophagist back down to Obituary to hit the original sound. You are looking at a good half a year of listening intently to some great bands.

[franticfish]

Death metal 101:
Death - Symbolic
Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
Atheist- Unquestionable Presence
Cynic - Focus
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Obituary - Slowly We Rot
Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos

Black Metal 101:
Venom - Black Metal
Bathory - Bathory
Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse
Celtic Forst - To Mega Therion
Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon
Immortal - Pure Holocaust

[afterstasis]

black metal necessities
burzum - filosofem
darkthrone - transilvanian hunger
bathory - blood fire death
weakling - dead as dreams

other recommendations considering you're checking out wolves in the throne room

leviathan - tentacles of whorror
a forest of stars - the corpse of rebirth
peste noire - la sanie des siecles
forgotten tomb - songs to leave

[Fizzeler]

I can help with a couple essential Death Metal albums

Death Metal
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Cynic - Focus
Death - The Sounds Of Perseverance

If you need Prog Metal I can help with that as well :D

[JerryBrudos]

Nocturnus- The Key
Autopsy- Severed Survival
Pestilence- Consuming Impulse
Death- Human
Atheist- Elements

I remember being in your situation not too long ago listen to the other albums recommended especially the Atheist and Death ones, I know you're already familiar with Cynic but check out their demos as well. I'm less experienced with black metal but I would recommend Emporer- In the Nightside Eclipse, and Wolves in the Throne Room- Diadem of 12 Stars. Listening to classic stuff like Mercyful Fate and Venom doesn't hurt. Off of my death metal list Nocturnus is probably the most accessible its a bit more thrashy than the others and they do some very techincal and interesting things, Elements is probably the most progressive on the list and its personally my favorite Atheist album but Unquestionable Presence is a very close second.

[Mystlyfe77]

You made some good choices with Wolves in the Throne Room and Gojira. Two great bands, right there.

For Death metal, I'd suggest working with bands like Opeth, Gojira, Atheist, post-reunion Obituary (more accessible, imo), Death, Vader, and Bolt Thrower. From there you can work out what other paths you want to explore based on what you like (whether it be the more brutal, technical, progressive, or groovy bands). You may also want to work your way along with some of the more aggressive/heavier thrash bands (Kreator, Exhorder, Sarcofago, etc).

For Black Metal, if you like Wolves in the Throne Room, then Weakling is also for you. Basically you're going to want to check out the stuff afterstasis mentioned (especially if you're looking more for atmospheric/depressive black metal, like WitTR). There's also the stuff that focuses more on aggression and raw power. I'm not really a huge fan of this brand of BM, so I couldn't give you good suggestions. Also you may want to check out some of the "blackened thrash" bands and thrashier black metal bands (Skeletonwitch, Absu, Destroyer 666, Sarcofago, early Samael, early Toxic Holocaust).

[Azatos]

If your getting into BM check out "Welcome My Last Chapter" by Vinterland. Great stuff.

[Gowienczyk]

Black Metal 101:
Venom - Black Metal
Bathory - Bathory
Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse
Celtic Forst - To Mega Therion
Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon
Immortal - Pure Holocaust

Where's Sacrementum?

[Squaretriangles]

Nile was my introduction to extreme metal. There are an excellent (by my standards, at least) Death Metal band. I'd recommend them.

Also, this thread is helping me venture into Black Metal, so thank you for that. The only Black Metal I have on my iPod is WitTR, and they're pretty excellent.

[Gowienczyk]

Nile was my introduction to extreme metal. There are an excellent (by my standards, at least) Death Metal band. I'd recommend them.

Also, this thread is helping me venture into Black Metal, so thank you for that. The only Black Metal I have on my iPod is WitTR, and they're pretty excellent.

Far Away From The Sun NOW.

[Squaretriangles]

Far Away From The Sun NOW.

Say what now? Is that a band or a song?

[Gowienczyk]

Say what now? Is that a band or a song?

Album and every black metal fan I know pegs it as the "best black metal record ever". It's by Sacrementum.

[Squaretriangles]

Album and every black metal fan I know pegs it as the "best black metal record ever". It's by Sacrementum.

Alright. Thank you kindly. :D

EDIT: Crap, it's not on iTunes. That's my only means of acquiring music. :(:(

EDIT DEUX: Holy ****, I just gave them a listen on last.fm. Their sound is just amazing. I'm going to have to get me the money to order Far From the Sun from Amazon or something. Goodbye, MAYHEM Fest pack. Thank you for the recomendation, Gowienczyk. I would've PM'd this to you, but it would seem the profile/PM system is down.

[franticfish]

Album and every black metal fan I know pegs it as the "best black metal record ever". It's by Sacrementum.As excellent as it is I would never ever call it the 'best black metal record ever' but then again I like my black metal Norwegian or French so thats probably why.

[Oscar-Rio]

As excellent as it is I would never ever call it the 'best black metal record ever' but then again I like my black metal Norwegian or French so thats probably why.

i like it all, as long as there's atmosphere in it. Black Metal just isn't Black Metal without it.

[Gowienczyk]

As excellent as it is I would never ever call it the 'best black metal record ever' but then again I like my black metal Norwegian or French so thats probably why.

Like I said, that's what my friends who like black metal deem it as. :p

[afterstasis]

i've never met a BM fan who didn't like/love "far away from the sun", but i'm not sure i've ever met one who considered it their favorite.

[Gowienczyk]

i've never met a BM fan who didn't like/love "far away from the sun", but i'm not sure i've ever met one who considered it their favorite.

Haha, I see.

[KampfVerein]

These are all good suggestions, gentlemen. Much obliged.

[Shredder87]

Immortal

They are all that is grim and frostbitten in black metal