Background

Melodic death metal contains more melodic guitar riffs, melodic solos, and acoustic guitar work than death metal. It also contains more comprehensible lyrics as well as coherent singing along with traditional death growl vocals. The pioneers of melodic death metal include Carcass , Dark Tranquillity , At the Gates and In Flames . Sentenced is also sometimes credited as the first melodeath band with the release of North from Here.

Some melodic death metal bands from the Scandinavian region combine the genre with other metal genres such as viking metal, folk metal, power metal, and symphonic metal.

Melodic death metal vs. black metal

Melodic death metal, though from the same general geographic area as black metal, rarely contains lyrics of Satanic values. Also, melodic death metal should not be confused with melodic black metal or blackened death metal, both which are subgenres of black metal. Melodic death metal contains more poetic themes, which vary greatly. Traditionally, lyrics deal with more expressionist themes.

Evolution of melodic death metal

In the late 1990s, many melodic death metal bands changed their style of playing by adding more melodic elements; more groovy choruses and riffs, more clean vocals(singing), and making more prominent use of keyboards. Alongside the traditional melodic death metal riffs began appearing other musical elements such as alternative metal melodies and singing as well as a higher production quality.

One notable contribution to melodic death metal is the Gothenburg style, named after the city from which it originated. It is not certain what band originally started the Gothenburg sound. However, it is widely accepted that In Flames, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquillity (The Three Kings) are the three major pioneers of the style. They are also some of the only widely known bands to practice it, with newer bands such as Arch Enemy and The Haunted being offshoots of Carcass and At the Gates respectively.

Regional scenes

Most melodic death metal bands are from the Scandinavian and Northern European regions, especially from Sweden and Finland.

In recent years, the genre has gained somewhat of a popularity boost, acquiring an increasing following in North America, especially among North American fans of the Scandinavian bands which still pioneer the genre to this day.