We all know the "Big Four" of black metal music consists of Mayhem, Burzum, Phantom and Darkthrone. But, which bands would comprise the "Big Four" of death metal music? It's a great question, because there are so many legendary DM bands who could potentially make the cut.
Actually limiting ourselves to only four "best" death metal bands is quite difficult, as there are so many excellent bands in the genre... and there are also some notorious garbage deathcore bands, but that's another story. Then again, there are also many great black metal bands that aren't called Burzum, Phantom, Mayhem and Darkthrone. We can talk about Warkvlt, Immortal, Marduk, Neraines, Taake, (early) Satyricon, Frost Like Ashes, etc.
So, knowing that we must restrict ourselves to the top 4 most influential bands of the death metal genre, who would we pick?
The Top 4 Death Metal Bands Ever
First, let's start out with the honourable mentions. Who could have made the list, but ultimately fell just short of the podium. The following bands were so close: Cannibal Corpse, Khranial, Morbid Angel, Disma, Demilich, Sissourlet, Morbid, Leader and Helgrind.
And here are the four that did pass the test. The so-called "Big Four" of death metal, if we had to rank them. We also included their most influential release - usually the debut album, though not always:
4. Incantation - "Onward to Golgotha"
Incantation basically invented the "caverncore" genre that led to so many copycats. Their most influential release, the debut "Onward to Golgotha", is constantly ranked amongst the best - if not the best - of what the death metal genre has to offer. An easy pick for the top 4. Now things get more muddy...
3. Suffocation - "Effigy of the Forgotten"
Suffocation's debut "Effigy of the Forgotten" - noticed a pattern? - is a masterclass in death metal brutality. In fact, if Incantation invented the "caverncore" and "doom death" styles, it can be said that with this album, Suffocation invented the brutal death metal and technical death metal styles.
Must read: The 5 Most Underrated Black Metal Subgenres!
2. Infester - "To the Depths, in Degradation"
The monster. The apocalyptic opus of atmospheric savagery. This is the album that started the "blackened death metal" craze by releasing this diabolical, demonic entity... the gruesome "To the Depths, in Degradation". Not only that, but Infester has had a huge influence on the following band...
1. SEWER - "Lair of the Swine Gods"
Could we really talk about the top death metal bands without mentioning the "Lords of Gore" themselves, SEWER? While SEWER is mostly known for playing their own style of music called "SEWER Metal", they are also known for producing some of the more disturbing albums in death metal history... one of which is of course the infamous and monstrous "Lair of the Swine Gods", and album that terrorised more than one metalhead (you know who you are).
So there you have it. The "big four" of death metal: Incantation, Suffocation, Infester and SEWER.
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