The Debate, Week 2: Big Four of Death Metal

To build on last week's topic, which was what should the real big four of thrash metal be, I'd like to ask a question. If there were a big four for death metal... Who would be in? Now obviously, you'd have to go with innovators, and what bigger an innovator than the band Death

But this brings up our first problem of a few, so I'll explain the rules for this discussion:

1. The bands in question must be currently active.
2. You may have bands that are from countries other than America, but...
3. Since we're talking about innovators, no bands on your list that formed after 1990.

So, let's list some bands that could potentially be in. The ones i think of right off the top of my head are Death (yes I know, they don't exist anymore, but they need an honorable mention), Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, and Autopsy.

So, now the question is, which one of these bands did the most for the genre? Well, the first one that comes to mind, believe it or not, is Cannibal Corpse! But part of me hates this band, and i'll explain why. So many people that have tried to get into death metal find CC, and gets turned away immediately. Whether it be the album covers, song titles, or song lyrics, a lot of people that i know hate death metal because of these guys. Now, with that being said, they are arguably the best known death metal band, and really helped put it on the map. Their catalogue is amazing, and i think they are definitely in. Obituary is the next band i think of, because they have the best selling death metal album of the soundscan era (The End Complete that is) and again, have an amazing background. "Chopped in Half" is one of the most viewed death metal songs on Youtube, so they are in for sure. Autopsy is a great band, but i thought their first two albums were great, and that they never did much good after that. The other band in question is Carcass. The inventors of Goregrind have also done a lot for death metal by virtually inventing melodic death metal, but however, were not originally a death metal band. I think they can't be in. All that is left are two of my favorite bands, Morbid Angel and Deicide. Deicide are true hardcore satanists, make metal as such, and haven't let up since their self named debut. Morbid Angel got me into death metal. My rule is that if you don't like death metal, listen to Altars of Madness until you do. I think Illid Dividium Insanus is a shitpile, but they are very worthy. You have to include them both.

So there you have it! Brandon decrees that the big four of death metal is officially Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, and Morbid Angel. Your welcome!

-Brandon