Explainers

Brand of Sacrifice's vocalist singing into the microphone in orange stage haze at O2 Academy Birmingham, 2025.

How Deathcore Bands Got Their Names

Jonah Pike · Sep 6, 2026

Charlie Benante of Anthrax playing drums live

Thrash Drumming: Double Bass and the Skank Beat

Declan Rourke · Sep 5, 2026

Kreator at O2 Academy Brixton, 2026. Photo: Dominic Beaven

Why Regional Metal Scenes Sound Different

Declan Rourke · Sep 5, 2026

James Hetfield playing his Flying V with Metallica live in London, 5 July 2026. Photo: Brett Murray

Downpicking

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Sep 3, 2026

Brand of Sacrifice's vocalist screaming into the microphone through stage smoke during the band's set at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts, March 2025

What Deathcore Sings About

Jonah Pike · Sep 3, 2026

Slade at Reading Festival, 1980. Photo: Barry Plummer

Gang Vocals and Crowd Chants

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Sep 1, 2026

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica playing guitar

Thrash Guitar: Downpicking, the Gallop and the Dive Bomb

Declan Rourke · Sep 1, 2026

Carnifex's vocalist at Summer Breeze 2018, arms raised and one leg up, in front of the band's large white dripping logo banner, with the bassist and drummer behind.

Deathcore Album Covers and the Artists Behind Them

Jonah Pike · Aug 31, 2026

Judas Priest at Aichi Prefectural Theater, Nagoya, 2024. Photo: Yusuke Takagi

Why People Hate Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Aug 31, 2026

Fenriz and Nocturno Culto of Darkthrone

Anti Commercialism and the Limited Press

Eirik Solvang · Aug 30, 2026

Veil of Maya bassist playing a headless multi-string bass under white spotlights and haze, hair over his face, black and white, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg, 2023

Clean Vocals in Deathcore, and Why They Divide

Jonah Pike · Aug 29, 2026

Extol in a black and white band portrait

Christian Death Metal

Rafael Quintero · Aug 27, 2026

Paul Di'Anno singing with Iron Maiden in their early years

Is Iron Maiden Thrash Metal?

Declan Rourke · Aug 27, 2026

Slaughter to Prevail on stage at Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, masked guitarists on risers under a dripping logo backdrop flanked by two roaring bear heads, a crowd of raised hands in front

Deathcore Culture and Artwork: Logos, Covers, Pits and Memes

Jonah Pike · Aug 27, 2026

Justin Hawkins of The Darkness at OVO Arena Wembley, London, 29 March 2025. Photo: Robert Sutton

Falsetto vs Full Voice

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 26, 2026

Moonspell's Wolfheart and Under Satanae with Paradise Lost's One Second

Black Metal and Gothic Metal: The Border

Ilse Brandt · Aug 25, 2026

Napalm Death, Barney Greenway and Shane Embury at the centre

What Is Death Metal Music? A Plain Answer

Rafael Quintero · Aug 25, 2026

Chelsea Grin vocalist Tom Barber with the microphone at his mouth under orange and teal stage light, guitarist, bassist and drummer behind him.

The Highs: Fry Screams, Shrieks and the Low/High Trade-Off

Jonah Pike with Curtis Vance · Aug 24, 2026