By Draven Copeland, Editor-in-Chief
Last month (September 17, to be exact), Cannibal Corpse came to town, playing the Mill and Mine in the Old City. If you didn’t know they were here, you’re not alone. If you’re wondering who the fuck Cannibal Corpse is, you’re also not alone. Unless you’re a fan of extreme music or the first Ace Ventura film, I wouldn’t expect you to have their music on your playlist.
Naturally, I was at their show this year along with Imaginary Gardens’ Lead Photographer, James Cochran, to mosh or, in other words, run into people repeatedly along with the music, and enjoy a night with like-minded fans of horror and death metal. Originally, I had planned to write a review of the concert but, while I was enjoying sets from the opening bands and wearing my characteristically grotesque Cannibal Corpse shirt I’d just bought, I felt at home in a way I couldn’t really explain – so, of course, I’m going to try to explain it.
As a regular concert-goer, I’ve been to shows featuring artists of many genres; from the jazz/improv legend Trombone Shorty and indie-pop up-and-comers like Jazmin Bean to all genres of metal, I’ve seen it all. But, one type of concert that I find myself coming back to is that of extreme metal and its subgenres, such as death metal, deathcore, black metal, blackened death metal, grindcore, brutal death metal, atmospheric black metal, and so on.
Of course, one of the reasons for this is financial: in today’s era of $800+ floor tickets (shout out to My Chemical Romance and Kendrick Lamar, both of whom I swore I’d get floor tickets for before reconsidering putting my bank account through that kind of torture), a $40-$60 maximum pricing for extreme metal shows is appealing, especially considering that they are often playing in significantly more intimate venues around town like The Mill and Mine and the now-defunct Concourse and Brickyard Bar and Grill. I’ve met, and sometimes even had drinks with, lead vocalists and guitarists for bands like Nights of Malice and Paleface Swiss, and I didn’t pay more than $60 total to be at their shows. Comparing that to the ridiculous meet and greet fees stacked on top of ticket/food and drink prices that you’ll find at a mainstream genre artist’s concert in large venues like Nissan Stadium and Bridgestone Arena, the choice is easy, if you can stomach the music.
The Journey to Enjoying Extreme Metal
The first thing people see when looking up a death metal band like Cannibal Corpse is their overtly graphic/gory album covers and song titles. While Tomb of the Mutilated’s artwork is one of my favorite covers of all time (please don’t go look at it unless you’re enjoy gore/gothic erotica in your art, for your own sake) and “Hammer Smashed Face” is one of the most recognizable and revered classic songs in the death metal genre, the average listener would likely steer clear of them off of vibes alone. And, honestly, I wouldn’t blame them; I was there too, trust me. While I still to this day wouldn’t say that every album cover/song title is tasteful, they often tie in to the horror theme that’s present in most all of extreme metal, and there’s fun to be had in a lot of them once you become accustomed with how grotesque they might get.
But, let’s just say you push through and give some of the music a listen. The next thing you have to be prepared for is the relentlessly heavy and erratic style of music that you’re consuming, as blast beats (a very fast and abrasive drumming technique) and loud, scary vocal techniques/distortions are the norm here. While you probably won’t understand more than a couple words of the lyrics, it’s often better that you don’t if I’m being completely honest; obviously, that’s more depending on the band than anything, but the overall trend of death metal is to talk about death often and usually in the most graphic and depraved ways.
At this point, I’ve probably completely sold the idea of never even trying to get into the genre Cannibal Corpse played a major part in popularizing. So, why do I and so many others find it and its genre-brothers so appealing?
Why It’s Worth It
While people may give varying answers to the question of extreme metal’s appeal, for me, it all boils down to catharsis. All sub-genres of extreme metal focus on absolutely assaulting your eardrums with sound and giving you minimal time to even think about everything that is coming at you. The drums are always playing incredibly fast tempos and often incorporating all parts of the drumset, while guitars play frenetically, utilizing not only the low notes but also the high pitched shrieks of pinched notes, and then you have whatever horrendous screaming sound the vocalist makes on top of all of it. And, just when you might think you have it figured out, the time signature changes on a dime again and again.
The meditation on extreme topics in the lyrics, artwork, and overall vibe of extreme metal bands adds to the catharsis of the music too. For many bands, the absolute insanity of what they’re talking about lends itself to dark comedy and, even when it doesn’t, the intense emotions of disgust, shock, and anger that they elicit help in the process of purging any negative feelings the listener might be having.
The other thing that I’ve found enjoyment in as a long-time fan of these genres is the incredible talent that the bands have to possess to play well together. With the extremely fast tempos of the music requiring near superhuman abilities from all of the musicians (for example, the drummer for one of my favorite bands, Infant Annihilator, plays the kick drums at 320 beats per minute in many of the bands songs), they also have to be able to, as a group, switch between tempos regularly and on short notice for pretty much every song they play. The intricacy of songwriting, at least from a non-lyrical standpoint, has to be methodical even though it comes off as frenetic and unbalanced. Listening now, after being a fan of the genre of extreme metal for years, it’s really cool to hear how different bands approach it from measure to measure, because there’s often some pretty impressive stuff going on when you have a tuned ear to hear and recognize it in the maelstrom.
One thing I have to quickly touch on too is the fact that the vocal techniques used in extreme metal aren’t easy to pull off either; I dare you to try to scream or growl like they do for multiple songs straight without hurting yourself. Some techniques, like the combination of fry screaming and gutturals that Lorna Shore’s current vocalist/frontman, Will Ramos, has brought to the forefront of the genre take years to learn and perfect to be able to safely perform. Taking that into account, as well as the frequency at which some bands tour, it’s kind of insane to see a vocalist that can distort their voice and literally scream for hours at a time night after night without causing permanent damage.
Final Brutal Thoughts
Extreme metal is obviously not for everyone. Just like any genre of music, it’s dependent on the listener’s taste profile and interests. But, for those that rock with it, it can be a safe and healthy way to express emotions and connect with people; a social space for the anti-social, you might say. Sure, there are problematic aspects of the lyrics (there was a pretty horrific trend of violent misogyny in the songwriting for a couple of decades early on in both death metal’s and deathcore’s origins that I’d be remiss in not calling out) and there will always be assholes and gatekeepers in any fandom, but I’ve also genuinely met some of the kindest and most understanding people in my life at these shows, both in the performers and crowd members.
If you’re willing to brave the horrors, this genre could be your next obsession; if not, that’s totally fine too. Either way, it’ll always be around for those that can hear the beauty in the screaming.
My Extreme Metal Album Recs for Newbies
These are all favorites of mine that got me into the vibes of extreme metal; I still go back to all of these to this day. I’ve listed them from least to most graphic lyrics, but I’ll go ahead and put a blanket trigger warning over all of them if you’re going to read the words.
There Is a Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let’s Keep It a Secret. by Bring Me the Horizon
While not extreme metal itself, this metalcore album opened the doors for me to experiencing the heavier side of music, mixing in both screaming and clean vocals and staying away from the graphic shit you’ll see in most of the later recommendations.
…And I Return to Nothingness by Lorna Shore
This three-track blackened/technical deathcore EP broke the band into significant popularity that has yet to wear off – vocalist Will Ramos gives what is easily one of the most impressive vocal performances on this list, especially on the first track, “To the Hellfire.”
Witch Club Satan by Witch Club Satan
The first full-length release from feminist black metal trio Witch Club Satan, this is the newest release on this list by far – while the band isn’t very popular just yet, I’ve been following them since the release of the promotional single for this album, “Fresh Blood, Fresh Pussy,” which blew me away with its incredible guitar riffs.
Doom by Job for a Cowboy
This one is for those that enjoy the pig-squeal vocal technique, which is exactly what it sounds like it is – while the band strictly pursued the death metal genre with all later endeavors, this first release is a defining work in the early days of deathcore (the love child genre of death metal and metalcore that incorporates the extreme sounds of death metal and the musical breakdowns of metalcore).
The Cleansing by Suicide Silence
Revered by many, myself included, as one of the greatest works in deathcore canon, Suicide Silence’s first full-length album with original vocalist/frontman Mitch Lucker (R.I.P.) blasted the band into popularity and confirmed the genre of deathcore as a mainstay in the extreme metal world.
Prowler in the Yard by Pig Destroyer
My all-time favorite grindcore album, Pig Destroyer’s full-length debut is a prime example of artistic vision executed in extreme metal – loosely following the narrative of an extremely troubled man that stalks and kills his love interests, almost all of the album’s 22 tracks are under a minute in length each, making it a quick but never dull listen.
Reign Supreme by Dying Fetus
I had to throw a DF album on here solely because their guitar riffs are largely unmatched in my opinion – focusing on power chords and tremolos similarly to bands like Metallica, guitarist/vocalist John Gallegher performs both his roles at the same time in the band’s live shows, which is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in person.
Any Cannibal Corpse album, they’re all good!
I really couldn’t come up with any one album in their discography to recommend, but I will say that Tomb of the Mutilated, Gallery of Suicide, and Violence Unimagined are my go-tos.
The Elysian Grandeval Galériarch by Infant Annihilator
While this is my favorite technical deathcore band of all time, they are not for the faint of heart in any way. I’ve genuinely nearly vomited reading their lyrics (not to mention the hour of silence I had in my room afterwards) and they are the epitome of a sound that will scare the shit out of the uninitiated, but the talent on display from all band members is truly amazing every time I put them on. This is for those that want to dive all the way in headfirst!
