Explainers

Autopsy, the death metal band whose 1989 Severed Survival logo the article opens on, photographed in 2023. Photo: Nancy Reifert, courtesy of Secret Service Publicity, via Blabbermouth.

The Death Metal Logo: Why You Cannot Read Any of Them

Rafael Quintero · Aug 24, 2026

Emmure guitarist leaning toward the camera with an extended-range guitar angled across the frame, headstock and fretboard in focus against stage smoke and the band's logo, Max Watts, Melbourne, 2024

Seven Strings, Eight Strings: The Deathcore Guitar Sound

Jonah Pike with Curtis Vance · Aug 23, 2026

Matt Cameron of Soundgarden drumming live, early 1990s. Photo: Ross Halfin

Odd Time Signatures in Metal

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 22, 2026

Dimmu Borgir on stage at the Motocultor festival in August 2025.

Is Dimmu Borgir Still Black Metal?

Eirik Solvang · Aug 21, 2026

Tom Araya of Slayer singing live

Thrash Vocals: From Baloff's Bark to Chuck Billy's Roar

Declan Rourke · Aug 21, 2026

A hooded crowd in front of a lone guitarist at an underground show

North Korean Black Metal: The Story Behind the Search

Eirik Solvang · Aug 20, 2026

Fit for an Autopsy's vocalist on stage at Impericon Festival 2025, one hand cupped to his ear and the microphone at his mouth, in stage haze.

Deathcore Around the World: The Scenes

Jonah Pike with Andrzej Sawicki · Aug 20, 2026

Bloodbath band portrait

Why Death Metal Vocals Sound Like That

Rafael Quintero · Aug 20, 2026

Epica at Hellfest, Clisson, 2025. Photo: Ryan Hildrew

Operatic Singing in Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 19, 2026

To the Grave's vocalist in a pig mask and black hooded jacket, hunched over the microphone mid-vocal under blue stage light.

Pig Squeals, Gurgles and Gutturals: The Lowest Sounds in Deathcore

Jonah Pike with Rafael Quintero · Aug 19, 2026

Boris guitarist Wata playing beside an amplifier while Takeshi plays a double-neck guitar and bass, both lit pink and purple

The Doom Metal Chords

Ilse Brandt · Aug 17, 2026

The members of Gorefest

What Is Death and Roll?

Rafael Quintero · Aug 16, 2026

Wolf Hoffmann of Accept playing guitar at Hellfest, 2024. Photo: Ryan Hildrew

Why Metal Loves the Minor Key

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 15, 2026

A Suffocation guitarist on the Summer Breeze Open Air stage, head bowed over a grey seven-string, fretting hand high on the neck mid-riff.

The Deathcore Riff: Tremolo, Chug and Chromatic Crawl

Jonah Pike · Aug 15, 2026

Horde on stage as silhouettes in blue light

Christian Black Metal, or Unblack

Eirik Solvang · Aug 14, 2026

The sleeve of Dance of December Souls, Katatonia, 1993

Black Metal vs Doom Metal

Ilse Brandt · Aug 13, 2026

Cannibal Corpse on stage

What Is Death Metal?

Rafael Quintero · Aug 13, 2026

Eddie Hermida of Suicide Silence screaming into the microphone, eyes shut, tattooed forearm raised, under blue stage light at Rock im Park 2017

Lows, Highs and Everything Between: Deathcore Vocals

Jonah Pike with Curtis Vance · Aug 13, 2026