#death-metal

#death-metal

The irony of this column is that most metal that interests us is bound to remain underground to the general music-listening public. Even large metal labels release records that are as likely to chart (or break containment, which is the preferred term these days) as I am likely to grow a third foot. Yes, metal is definitely big, but few acts that push the envelope are likely to be one of those "big" bands.

Novelty and innovation were both in stock as death metal had only been around for less than a decade, black metal - as it came to be recognized - was still fresh, progressive metal was bleeding into extreme metal, and the heavy metal old guard had taken a backseat, clearing way for newer acts. Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and even Slayer had all either pivoted away from their original sounds, swapped band members enough to disrupt their creation processes, or both.