Death Metal (started 1980s)

Death Metal is an extreme alternative subgenre of Heavy Metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, complex song structures with multiple tempo changes and usually macabre lyrics. Building off the speed and complexity of Thrash Metal, Death Metal emerged during the mid 1980s. It was mainly inspired by Thrash Metal acts like Slayer and Kreator, as well as Black Metal and early Celtic Frost. While very much remaining an "underground" genre, Death Metal has gained followers worldwide and has diversified into a rich variety of regional scenes and distinct subgenres.