Death is June- 2023

 

Another June rolls around and it's time to devote the month to death metal. I have been a fan of the genre since the 80s. The things I want out of my death metal are not unlike what I want from most music... first and foremost, darkness and a moodiness to it. This means death metal that is just straight forward and heavy on the pat of the snare is more than likely going to bore me. I like Cannibal Corpse, but I do not need another band to sound like Cannibal Corpse. The same can be said from bands who are solely a tribute Morbid Angel, Incantation or Entombed. The 90s was an important time for death metal so leaning into that sound is ok, as long as you are doing your own thing with it. 

This can be hard as the vocals tend to be an after thought. This limits the song writing they can delve into. Things tend to be painted with a monochromatic shade of blood red.I like it to have a sense of adventure I do not like for this sense of adventure to become a math equation that is an excuse for more guitar solos. Thus technical death metal tends to not fly for me, despite the fact I am really into Cynic. Death on the other hand tends to not do it for me, unless it's "Leprosy"  or Andy Laroque is in the fold. Death doom works , but a little goes a long ways. However we are coming to the end of that bandwagon. 

There have already been some killer death metal album out this year. Frozen Soul and Obituary being the two at the forefront. They are also the caliber of song writing we are going to be listening for. I know few bands are living up to that, but I am holding the bar there to measure this year's crop of corpses up to. One thing I am big on after hearing too many death metal musicians complain about the death toll of Co-Vid is are these guys legit ? If not then they need to focus on fantasy like Frozen Soul, if they are having doubts about worshipping death. Death is a sure outcome, there is no running from it. Every one is going to die , this should be embraced and celebrated. If the band is not ready to embrace that kind of darkness I do not want to hear them . With that said let us enter the month of death metal for Death is June.