Brutal death metal

Its subgenre slam death metal quickly developed, played by Internal Bleeding, Devourment and Cephalotripsy, putting a greater emphasis on the genre's mid-tempo, groove sections and breakdowns.

During the mid–2000s, there was a revived interest in brutal death metal and slam, a period which produced Katalepsy and Ingested, and saw groups lean into cleaner production styles.

[5] Loudwire credited Altars of Madness (1989) as the album that "redefined what it meant to be heavy while influencing an upcoming class of brutal death metal.

"[6] Academic Michelle Phillipov credited Cannibal Corpse's albums Eaten Back to Life (1990) and Butchered at Birth (1991) as "important precursors" of the brutal death metal genre, due to their complex rhythms, speed, staccato vocals patterns, palm muted guitar riffs and lack of melody.

[8] According to Loudwire, brutal death metal is widely considered to have been pioneered by Long Island, New York band, Suffocation, formed in 1988, and popularised on their debut album Effigy of the Forgotten (1991).

[13] One sect of this scene, which included Internal Bleeding and Pyrexia, put a greater focus on the hardcore-inspired grooves and breakdowns, helping to pioneer the subgenre slam death metal.

[19][20] Decibel writer Dutch Pearce also credited Deeds of Flesh from Los Osos, California as a pioneer of brutal death metal.

[7][22][23] Revolver editor Eli Enis, described Dying Fetus, "at the forefront of brutal death metal for the last three decades", by also putting an emphasis on the groovey riffing style of 1990s hardcore punk.

[29] In addition to slower riffing, slam death metal is also said to be characterized by guttural vocals, a "high pitched, ringy" snare drum sound.

[7] This wave was largely based online, particularly on social media sites, with the Facebook group Slam Worldwide playing a major role in promotion.

Suffocation popularised brutal death metal on Effigy of the Forgotten (1991)
Dying Fetus , one of the most prominent acts to merge brutal death metal with technical instrumentation
Russia's Katalepsy were a prominent slam death metal band in their early years