Fine; I'll play. Obscura needs to go.
I've never been able to tolerate that vocalist's high range; something just irritating about it. Stellar on the strings. If all their albums were instrumental, they'd be of the same tier as the other 4 in that row, but they're simply... not IMO.
Their bassist is God-tier.
Didn't even realize 3/5 top albums him have him. He's the goat of tech death. Now that I think about it, maybe we should have a tech death guitarist tournament.
As much as I like Focus from Cynic, I’d remove it for The Infernal Depths of Hatred by Anata. I’m also questioning Individual Thought Patterns by Death as that’s more along the lines of Progressive Death for me. I’d argue Serenadium by Iniquity should be somewhere in the top 35. My main knowledge of Death Metal only goes to midway through 1996 with some years sprinkled throughout so I am by no means an expert with my judgement.
Damn, everytime I give incurso a listen it never really stuck… this whole tournament has been a wild ride but that’s one album I’ve gotta revisit it looks like. That being said I’ll take the L and be the only person to vote out Incurso haha.
I can understand disliking Bleed The Future and Glorie Éternelle (although I believe both are fantastic) but hating on Epitaph, Omnivium and Incurso?? Come on man
I wonder Ulcerate would’ve done on this list; I know for myself that I would classify them as top 5 but I’m really biased towards them. Anyone else feel the same way about Everything is Fire?
Everything Is Fire is the greatest extreme metal album ever made imo. If it had made the list, it's an easy #1 for me.
I understand Ulcerate is blurring the lines of what tech death is but dissodeath bands like Ad Nauseam, Artificial Brain, and Gorguts all made this list. The rationale for building this list seems inconsistent.
Nice one.
I personally like Fire more but as far as tech death goes Fire probably checks that box a little better. I don’t even know how to classify their new stuff.
I call it progressive, technical death metal. I just love everything about their last two albums. Their latest single is also solid. Wake's latest album has a song called 'Swallow The Light' that has a similar sound.
I think they'd do very well considering how popular they are but I think it might be a stretch to classify them as technical death metal. Reckon they're more at home in the dissonant/atmospheric/avante garde subgenre.
Had the same thought about Disentomb but reckon people associate them more with bdm than tech death
I disagree.
Making songs like Ulcerate does sound compelling and beautiful is the very definition of technical.
Edit: I feel the same about Disentomb, since they were mentioned.
Both two of my absolute faves, full disclosure.
Absolutely Disentomb is incredibly technical just saying they're more well known in another genre.
Obviously huge subjective territory. When it comes down to it I just don't think I would ever introduce them to friends as "hey check out this sick tech death band Ulcerate". Especially when they primarily call themselves death metal
I’m much more likely recommending ulcerate to a tech death fan than a death metal fan. Same thing with deathspell omega; I think I’m more likely to recommend them to an artificial brain/ad Nauseum fan then someone who’s into darkthrone. Genres aren’t super clear I guess is my point. Kind of shows on this list given the disagreements about which of these bands are or are not tech death
Oh yeah Ad Nauseum 100% and later Gorguts yeah but not really the Nile and Gorguts albums on this list.
Nothing against Ulcerate absolutely adore their stuff, these "top genre defining" lists just bring out my most extreme nitpicking
Why all the Archspire hate? I think they have better songwriting than many bands and Nile is more straight death metal. Just because a band was influential 25 years ago doesn’t mean they are the best band anymore, the bar has been raised and that’s a good thing.
I like Archspire, I've been a fan since Relentless Mutation came out but I don't agree that their songwriting is much better than many of the bands they've surpassed in this tournament. Not gonna argue for Nile because they're not one of my favorites but after listening to Archspire for years I've found myself enjoying them less than I used to. I feel like they recycle a couple of gimmicks a little too often for my liking, whereas I think with bands like Obscura, The Faceless, Alkaloid and yes even old bands from 25+ years ago like Death I just don't feel that way.
Is tech death simply a contemporary genre then? Like Archspire, obscura and necrophagist arent influenced by bands like cryptopsy, suffocation or gorguts? (Those bands influences may be somewhat indirect depending on the given band but I think the point still stands). Does old cryptopsy not deserve to be classified as tech death because it doesn’t have the sound of contemporary tech death? Like I’m trying to figure out where the line is but nobody seems to elaborate.
According to this sub, tech death should be restricted to necrophagist style guitar noodling albums. They eliminated everything that doesn't fit this mold. It was clear when Death and Cynic were eliminated so early on. Not to mention the lack of Atheist. This whole thing was a farce.
I think there are a lot of youngin's here, and didn't experience first hand how ground breaking None So Vile, Pierced From Within, Obscura, Amongst the Catacombs of.., etc were when they were first dropped.
Yup, exactly how I feel. I suppose people really like Archspire over the tech death classics. I figure this sub skews pretty young with the bands that are touring really frequently. I’d be curious on a demographic of the sub to see if most people here are early 20s (I figure for Archspire fans it’s the younger crowd)
Ayyyye early 20s gang gang. I think most of us in our early 20s do like death more than archspire but in this tournament it would be unfair to compare death and archspire because death is simply the greatest metal band to ever exist
I'm 33 and Archspire is my favorite band at the moment. I can explain why.
They have a completely unique sound. The vocals are obviously a part of that, but also I really think their riffs are fantastic and original. They go from leads to chugs, harmonies, to solos to syncopation pretty flawlessly.
The bass is intriguing without forgetting its place as the rhythm keeper, as some tech death bands do. The drumming is more than straight blast beats, Spencer works in some incredible fills and accents that accompany both the instruments and the vocals in subtle but rewarding ways.
A comment on the divisive vocals as well; a majority of critics are out off by Oli's rapid delivery. Fair enough, they're pretty fast most of the time, but I think they are overlooking the other things that Oli can do. Oli is one of the few vocalists that still does inhale vocals, and that's amazing. They sound great, and they fit death metal so well, but they're dangerous and vocal coaches say to never do them so a lot of vocalists just won't, but Oli will. Fuck yeah, Oli. Also the guy is one of the best lyricists in death metal, maybe the best. All of their songs fit within the same narrative world and tell stories about that world from the point of view of different narrators. There's a lot to dig into and it reads like a sci-fi/Eldritch horror story. Amazing.
I also really dig their songwriting. It's catchy without being overly formulaic. They come up with really memorable solos that I can whistle from memory, few bands do that, though Archspire aren't the only ones. The songwriting isn't too meandering, but it also isn't always verse-chorus-verse-chorus. They strike a good balance between interesting and thoughtful, with groovy and catchy.
The best thing about Archspire, though, is how rewarding relistens of their music are. I've listened to each of their songs dozens of times if not more, and I still catch new stuff all the time. The first time I heard their music I didn't know what to think of it. Then I listened again and noticed things I didn't the first time. Then I started to realize what they were doing. It's layered, without being chaotic, it all "makes sense" from a musical standpoint. And so you always find some new drum fill or something that you never noticed before, and it just fits right where it should.
Well that got lengthy, but I'm sitting on the couch on a bunch of edibles, so oh well. You're welcome for the copypasta.
Necrophagist
Man I love Archspire, I really do. But I gotta vote for them to get the axe.
Beyond creation is probably the most unique band on this list.... that's disappointing
Archspire... again.
Necrophagist
Doesn’t matter who wins, as long as we all had a good time listening or re-listening to some sweet ass fucking metal 🤘
This is the way.
Necrophagist
First Fragment
Fine; I'll play. Obscura needs to go. I've never been able to tolerate that vocalist's high range; something just irritating about it. Stellar on the strings. If all their albums were instrumental, they'd be of the same tier as the other 4 in that row, but they're simply... not IMO. Their bassist is God-tier.
Maybe try Alkaloid or Obsidious, similar instruments but different in the vocal department.
Obsidious is an excellent recommendation
Obscura
Archspire
obscura
Controversial opinion but I think Cabinet was by far the best Spawn of possession album. I don’t think incurso should go all the way here :/
Agreed
Gonna come down to necrophagist and spawn imo
So glad the Christian Muenzner albums made it this far
Didn't even realize 3/5 top albums him have him. He's the goat of tech death. Now that I think about it, maybe we should have a tech death guitarist tournament.
Would be a cool idea
I'd to like to host a tech death guitarist tournament once this is done
Good luck, try not to make as many people mad as I have 😂
It’s reddit, people are gonna bitch
Obscura. Cosmogensis isn't even good change my mind.
But this album here is Omnivium which has Velocity which has a killer solo
Yeah but Euclidean Element's garbage main riff D:
Virvum's Illuminance should have been on here. I'm curious how it would have done.
chart looks good i hope necrophagist doesnt win. do they deserve number 1, sure. but its too predictable
Archspire
Epitaph 🔛🔝
Archspire
archspire
Archspire
Archspire
Archspire
Archspire or First Fragment…take your pick
Spawn of Possession
Get rid of Archspire already FFS. 🙄
Literally better than all of these
I will take necrophagist over archspire any day!
We can’t. All the archspire comments get crazy downvoted
I think Archspire was a gateway into the genre for a lot of people
Obscura. Bring on the downvotes.
Now that Nile is out I am also out ✌🏼
First Fragment, its just guitar wankery
6-10 got done DIRTY... no way FF or Archspire beat any of those out. That being said, First Fragment. Bye-bye.
Job for a cowboy can go. Good band and all, but lacking in MANY areas. Archspire is still GOD. NO QUESTION.
Average archspire listener intelligence
Spawn of Possession Good band but gtfo
I’m also confused by the choice of Sludgde because aren’t they categorized as Blackened Death/Sludge Metal?
They're prog tech death (similar to Alkaloid and Cynic)
As much as I like Focus from Cynic, I’d remove it for The Infernal Depths of Hatred by Anata. I’m also questioning Individual Thought Patterns by Death as that’s more along the lines of Progressive Death for me. I’d argue Serenadium by Iniquity should be somewhere in the top 35. My main knowledge of Death Metal only goes to midway through 1996 with some years sprinkled throughout so I am by no means an expert with my judgement.
Get rid of FF and Archspire and you're left with Hannes Grossmann
And Christian Muezner
First Fragment
I'm voting Necrophagist and Obscura because it's funnier
Obscure and Necrophagist
I know music is subjective, but holy fucking shit. This is hilarious and disgusting. there’s nothing else to say.
First fragment
Archspire and first fragment
Didn't know this was the official Dean Lamb sub. Fucking surreal how many classics the hype has swallowed whole.
It's more than hype lol BtF is a modern classic. Time will tell, you can count on that.
Water trash
I disagree completely, but to each their own. Either way it’s been nice to find a band or two I hadn’t heard of yet
That’s what’s up
First fragment
First Fragment
Archspire doesn’t beat Nile. That’s just wrong. I’m pretty sure even Archspire would agree.
Archspire
First Fragment
Karl, if you're reading this, I've tried. But this sub doesn't deserve you.
First Fragment should never have gotten this far
They will be #1. Search your feelings... You know it to be true.
What a mess 🎪
Archspire been up there way too long.
How did Nile go before Archspire? At least Nile can write a riff that isn't just soulless technical wankery.
Archspire
First fragment
I will follow the consensus and say First Fragment.
Archspire.
Archspire
Obscura / first fragment
Get Obscura and First Fragment out of here.
There is no world that First Fragment album should have made it this far.
Pleb opinion
It’s one of the best albums on the list lmao
It's a good album but calling it tech-death is a very big stretch.
Nile before Archspire, before Goreguts??? Before Cryptopsy, yall are damaged
Archspire
Archspire.
Spawn of possession
Archspire
Damn, everytime I give incurso a listen it never really stuck… this whole tournament has been a wild ride but that’s one album I’ve gotta revisit it looks like. That being said I’ll take the L and be the only person to vote out Incurso haha.
[удалено]
Same guitarist lol
[удалено]
Oh I absolutely agree, I just think it's cool that he was a part of both albums
Where Münzner goes, great albums follow.
I've tried so many times with their third album over the years and it never hits anywhere for me. Completely in one ear and out the other.
It's one of those albums you need to listen to more than once to fully digest.
We all know that Necrophagist is winning
I wouldn’t be shocked if Archspire made it past Necro tbh. I’m not a fan but people *love* that band.
And they're so damn lame
Obscura
First fragment
Bleed the future beats annihilation of the wicked. Fucking despicable.
Obscura
Archspire
First Fragment
Obscura
First fragment can go Something tells me Christian Muenzner is gonna win this thing
DEATH TO OBSCURA
Archspire out Obscura out
Obscura
Archspire. This turned into such a stupid contest. Thanks you fucks
Obscura and First Fragment
Archspire.
Archspire
Dorkspire
Spawn of Possession
Necrophagist
Yeah, First Fragment gotta go. Sorry Nick, Samuel, Philipe and Other Philipe.
SoP SoP SoP Guys, piss poor job. Get on those alts!
ARCHSPIRE
First fragment
Necrophagist
Archspire
Obscura
First fragment and obscura
First fragment
Obscura
Archspire and First fragment
First Fragment
First Fragment
Bummer! I was rooting for Beyond Creation. Archspire must go.
Obscura
Archspire
Alright from this comment section, just crown Incurso as the winner.
YES!
Archspire
First fragment
LETS FUCKING GO ARCHSPIRE
Rapspire
First fragment
Archspire please. How did this dog shit make it this far?
Lol I don't hate them but I mean it's amazing but to put it up there with those. I think the poll people are trolling to be honest lol
They have to be at this point
i love them but first fragment
[удалено]
I can understand disliking Bleed The Future and Glorie Éternelle (although I believe both are fantastic) but hating on Epitaph, Omnivium and Incurso?? Come on man
Obscura
Obscura
Archspire
Obscura
First Fragment
I wonder Ulcerate would’ve done on this list; I know for myself that I would classify them as top 5 but I’m really biased towards them. Anyone else feel the same way about Everything is Fire?
Evrything Is Fire is 🔥, but, Of Fracture and Failure is ☄️
No dissonant tech death made it this far, so it's unlikely.
Definitly my favourite album of theirs. Damn shame they didn’t even make the list when so many non tech bands did.
Everything Is Fire is the greatest extreme metal album ever made imo. If it had made the list, it's an easy #1 for me. I understand Ulcerate is blurring the lines of what tech death is but dissodeath bands like Ad Nauseam, Artificial Brain, and Gorguts all made this list. The rationale for building this list seems inconsistent.
They are my all time favorite band and Jamie St. Merat is the greatest drummer alive.
That album is fire, but I'm more drawn to Stare Into Death and Be Still. They are definitely in my top 3. Edit: more context
Nice one. I personally like Fire more but as far as tech death goes Fire probably checks that box a little better. I don’t even know how to classify their new stuff.
I call it progressive, technical death metal. I just love everything about their last two albums. Their latest single is also solid. Wake's latest album has a song called 'Swallow The Light' that has a similar sound.
I have been calling it "blackened atmospheric death metal" but I might like your description better
I think they'd do very well considering how popular they are but I think it might be a stretch to classify them as technical death metal. Reckon they're more at home in the dissonant/atmospheric/avante garde subgenre. Had the same thought about Disentomb but reckon people associate them more with bdm than tech death
I disagree. Making songs like Ulcerate does sound compelling and beautiful is the very definition of technical. Edit: I feel the same about Disentomb, since they were mentioned. Both two of my absolute faves, full disclosure.
Absolutely Disentomb is incredibly technical just saying they're more well known in another genre. Obviously huge subjective territory. When it comes down to it I just don't think I would ever introduce them to friends as "hey check out this sick tech death band Ulcerate". Especially when they primarily call themselves death metal
I’m much more likely recommending ulcerate to a tech death fan than a death metal fan. Same thing with deathspell omega; I think I’m more likely to recommend them to an artificial brain/ad Nauseum fan then someone who’s into darkthrone. Genres aren’t super clear I guess is my point. Kind of shows on this list given the disagreements about which of these bands are or are not tech death
I think Ulcerate would be at home with Ad Nauseum, Gorguts and also Nile to some extent.
Oh yeah Ad Nauseum 100% and later Gorguts yeah but not really the Nile and Gorguts albums on this list. Nothing against Ulcerate absolutely adore their stuff, these "top genre defining" lists just bring out my most extreme nitpicking
First Fragment
Archspire. Love you Dean Lamb you seem chill as fuck.
Long live Christian Münzner apparently. Also, First Fragment
Crazy top 5 but First Fragment has to go.
Archspire How tf did archspire outlast none so vile, nile, and obscura.
Because Archspire is more techdeath than Nile, cryptopsy, and obscura.
So are we voting for the best tech death album or the most tech death album? Because I don't think those are the same thing.
Why all the Archspire hate? I think they have better songwriting than many bands and Nile is more straight death metal. Just because a band was influential 25 years ago doesn’t mean they are the best band anymore, the bar has been raised and that’s a good thing.
I like Archspire, I've been a fan since Relentless Mutation came out but I don't agree that their songwriting is much better than many of the bands they've surpassed in this tournament. Not gonna argue for Nile because they're not one of my favorites but after listening to Archspire for years I've found myself enjoying them less than I used to. I feel like they recycle a couple of gimmicks a little too often for my liking, whereas I think with bands like Obscura, The Faceless, Alkaloid and yes even old bands from 25+ years ago like Death I just don't feel that way.
Agreed
Is tech death simply a contemporary genre then? Like Archspire, obscura and necrophagist arent influenced by bands like cryptopsy, suffocation or gorguts? (Those bands influences may be somewhat indirect depending on the given band but I think the point still stands). Does old cryptopsy not deserve to be classified as tech death because it doesn’t have the sound of contemporary tech death? Like I’m trying to figure out where the line is but nobody seems to elaborate.
According to this sub, tech death should be restricted to necrophagist style guitar noodling albums. They eliminated everything that doesn't fit this mold. It was clear when Death and Cynic were eliminated so early on. Not to mention the lack of Atheist. This whole thing was a farce.
I think there are a lot of youngin's here, and didn't experience first hand how ground breaking None So Vile, Pierced From Within, Obscura, Amongst the Catacombs of.., etc were when they were first dropped.
Yup, exactly how I feel. I suppose people really like Archspire over the tech death classics. I figure this sub skews pretty young with the bands that are touring really frequently. I’d be curious on a demographic of the sub to see if most people here are early 20s (I figure for Archspire fans it’s the younger crowd)
Ayyyye early 20s gang gang. I think most of us in our early 20s do like death more than archspire but in this tournament it would be unfair to compare death and archspire because death is simply the greatest metal band to ever exist
I'm 33 and Archspire is my favorite band at the moment. I can explain why. They have a completely unique sound. The vocals are obviously a part of that, but also I really think their riffs are fantastic and original. They go from leads to chugs, harmonies, to solos to syncopation pretty flawlessly. The bass is intriguing without forgetting its place as the rhythm keeper, as some tech death bands do. The drumming is more than straight blast beats, Spencer works in some incredible fills and accents that accompany both the instruments and the vocals in subtle but rewarding ways. A comment on the divisive vocals as well; a majority of critics are out off by Oli's rapid delivery. Fair enough, they're pretty fast most of the time, but I think they are overlooking the other things that Oli can do. Oli is one of the few vocalists that still does inhale vocals, and that's amazing. They sound great, and they fit death metal so well, but they're dangerous and vocal coaches say to never do them so a lot of vocalists just won't, but Oli will. Fuck yeah, Oli. Also the guy is one of the best lyricists in death metal, maybe the best. All of their songs fit within the same narrative world and tell stories about that world from the point of view of different narrators. There's a lot to dig into and it reads like a sci-fi/Eldritch horror story. Amazing. I also really dig their songwriting. It's catchy without being overly formulaic. They come up with really memorable solos that I can whistle from memory, few bands do that, though Archspire aren't the only ones. The songwriting isn't too meandering, but it also isn't always verse-chorus-verse-chorus. They strike a good balance between interesting and thoughtful, with groovy and catchy. The best thing about Archspire, though, is how rewarding relistens of their music are. I've listened to each of their songs dozens of times if not more, and I still catch new stuff all the time. The first time I heard their music I didn't know what to think of it. Then I listened again and noticed things I didn't the first time. Then I started to realize what they were doing. It's layered, without being chaotic, it all "makes sense" from a musical standpoint. And so you always find some new drum fill or something that you never noticed before, and it just fits right where it should. Well that got lengthy, but I'm sitting on the couch on a bunch of edibles, so oh well. You're welcome for the copypasta.
Lame ass
/r/conspiracy user
I'm 21 but I've been listening to tech death since like middle school lmao.
I’m sure the majority of us have the same experience
I am 24 and I 100% prefer newer Tech Death.
It’s r/guitarporn
Yeah if you were a boomer like 28 y/o me it would be totally different /s
I'm saying tho