{"id":2569,"date":"2025-10-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2025-10-14T17:10:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T21:10:58","slug":"life-and-death-metal-your-excuse-to-give-extreme-metal-a-try","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/15\/life-and-death-metal-your-excuse-to-give-extreme-metal-a-try\/","title":{"rendered":"Life and Death Metal: Your Excuse to Give Extreme Metal A Try"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Draven Copeland, Editor-in-Chief<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Cannibal Corpse Live at The Mill & Mine, September 17, 2025, Knoxville, TN | James Cochran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last month (September 17, to be exact), Cannibal Corpse came to town, playing the Mill and Mine in the Old City. If you didn\u2019t know they were here, you\u2019re not alone. If you\u2019re wondering who the fuck Cannibal Corpse is, you\u2019re also not alone. Unless you\u2019re a fan of extreme music or the first Ace Ventura <\/em>film, I wouldn\u2019t expect you to have their music on your playlist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, I was at their show this year along with Imaginary Gardens\u2019<\/em> 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\u2019d just bought, I felt at home in a way I couldn\u2019t really explain \u2013 so, of course, I\u2019m going to try to explain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a regular concert-goer, I\u2019ve 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\u2019ve 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, one of the reasons for this is financial: in today\u2019s era of $800+ floor tickets (shout out to My Chemical Romance and Kendrick Lamar, both of whom I swore I\u2019d 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\u2019ve met, and sometimes even had drinks with, lead vocalists and guitarists for bands like Nights of Malice and Paleface Swiss, and I didn\u2019t 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\u2019ll find at a mainstream genre artist\u2019s concert in large venues like Nissan Stadium and Bridgestone Arena, the choice is easy, if you can stomach the music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Fulci Live at The Mill & Mine, September 17, 2025, Knoxville, TN | James Cochran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Journey to Enjoying Extreme Metal<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em>\u2019s artwork is one of my favorite covers of all time (please don\u2019t go look at it unless you\u2019re enjoy gore\/gothic erotica in your art, for your own sake) and \u201cHammer Smashed Face\u201d 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\u2019t blame them; I was there too, trust me. While I still to this day wouldn\u2019t say that every album cover\/song title is tasteful, they often tie in to the horror theme that\u2019s present in most all of extreme metal, and there\u2019s fun to be had in a lot of them once you become accustomed with how grotesque they might get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, let\u2019s 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\u2019re 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\u2019t understand more than a couple words of the lyrics, it\u2019s often better that you don\u2019t if I\u2019m being completely honest; obviously, that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, I\u2019ve 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It\u2019s Worth It<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

While people may give varying answers to the question of extreme metal\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019re talking about lends itself to dark comedy and, even when it doesn\u2019t, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other thing that I\u2019ve 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\u2019s really cool to hear how different bands approach it from measure to measure, because there\u2019s often some pretty impressive stuff going on when you have a tuned ear to hear and recognize it in the maelstrom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing I have to quickly touch on too is the fact that the vocal techniques used in extreme metal aren\u2019t 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Full of Hell Live at The Mill & Mine, September 17, 2025, Knoxville, TN | James Cochran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Final Brutal Thoughts<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Extreme metal is obviously not for everyone. Just like any genre of music, it\u2019s dependent on the listener\u2019s 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\u2019s and deathcore\u2019s origins that I\u2019d be remiss in not calling out) and there will always be assholes and gatekeepers in any fandom, but I\u2019ve also genuinely met some of the kindest and most understanding people in my life at these shows, both in the performers and crowd members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re willing to brave the horrors, this genre could be your next obsession; if not, that\u2019s totally fine too. Either way, it\u2019ll always be around for those that can hear the beauty in the screaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

My Extreme Metal Album Recs for Newbies<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ve listed them from least to most graphic lyrics, but I\u2019ll go ahead and put a blanket trigger warning over all of them if you\u2019re going to read the words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There Is a Hell Believe Me I\u2019ve Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let\u2019s Keep It a Secret. <\/em>by Bring Me the Horizon <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ll see in most of the later recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026And I Return to Nothingness<\/em> by Lorna Shore <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This three-track blackened\/technical deathcore EP broke the band into significant popularity that has yet to wear off \u2013 vocalist Will Ramos gives what is easily one of the most impressive vocal performances on this list, especially on the first track, \u201cTo the Hellfire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Witch Club Satan <\/em>by Witch Club Satan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The first full-length release from feminist black metal trio Witch Club Satan, this is the newest release on this list by far \u2013 while the band isn\u2019t very popular just yet, I\u2019ve been following them since the release of the promotional single for this album, \u201cFresh Blood, Fresh Pussy,\u201d which blew me away with its incredible guitar riffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doom <\/em>by Job for a Cowboy <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This one is for those that enjoy the pig-squeal vocal technique, which is exactly what it sounds like it is \u2013 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cleansing<\/em> by Suicide Silence<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Revered by many, myself included, as one of the greatest works in deathcore canon, Suicide Silence\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prowler in the Yard <\/em>by Pig Destroyer<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

My all-time favorite grindcore album, Pig Destroyer\u2019s full-length debut is a prime example of artistic vision executed in extreme metal \u2013 loosely following the narrative of an extremely troubled man that stalks and kills his love interests, almost all of the album\u2019s 22 tracks are under a minute in length each, making it a quick but never dull listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reign Supreme <\/em>by Dying Fetus<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I had to throw a DF album on here solely because their guitar riffs are largely unmatched in my opinion \u2013 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\u2019s live shows, which is one of the most impressive things I\u2019ve seen in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any Cannibal Corpse album, they\u2019re all good! <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I really couldn\u2019t come up with any one album in their discography to recommend, but I will say that Tomb of the Mutilated<\/em>, Gallery of Suicide<\/em>, and Violence Unimagined <\/em>are my go-tos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Elysian Grandeval Gal\u00e9riarch <\/em>by Infant Annihilator<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

While this is my favorite technical deathcore band of all time, they are not for the faint of heart in any way. I\u2019ve 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019t know they…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2666,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7,9],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-2569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","category-lifestyle-social","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2814,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569\/revisions\/2814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=2569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}