I love old school tech death, the added technical flair and (usually) added speed to the tried and true riff based OSDM formula clicks with me really well. Obviously OSTDM being a pretty rare phenomenon, there are plenty of bands which exist more in the traditional style while having a few techy elements, stuff that could be considered semi-tech death or proto-tech death I guess like say, Adramelech. Given that many of these bands would just be listed as death metal on the archives, a simple genre search isn't going to cut it, so if anyone has some recs for these styles it would be greatly appreciated. It doesn't need to be super complex; simply having intricate riffs or hectic bass work or busy drum work or extensive time signature mind-fuckery would be enough to count as semi tech enough for me.

Obviously this is a broad request since the actual variety isn't of huge importance, I'm happy with everything from Nespithe to None So Vile, so in the interest of giving the request some level of focus I'd say to not include any bands that just have complex solos around some standard death metal, not only are there like a thousand of those bands, the actual songs themselves don't really fit my request, just passages of shredding. Likewise just to cut down the number of viable bands, lets not include bands that sound like Immolation, even though I would count them as semi-tech under normal circumstances, there are a lot of bands with that sort of disjointed jumpiness, so unless the band also has other tech elements to go with the jerkiness don't post them. And keep it in the 90s, just to keep the request a little bit easier to follow don't bother with recent bands who have an old school sound like Embrional, while there are a lot of viable bands around, I can imagine there being a lot of bands with too much modernity involved due to people having various ideas as to what is old school sounding enough, so just stripping away the last 12 years should make it easier.

Thanks guys.

Catharsis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDtoE7WN2pE
Funcunt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W98Le5z3KHo (don't be fooled by the name; this is superb!)
Thormenthor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT2-Ep1dCR4
Virulence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZvneK6k_58 (more grind than death, but hey, it might work)

All from the 90's, except Virulence (2001).

I have recommended them before, but i really dig Obliveon, from Canada. Also i will throw out there, Chemical Breath, from Belgium, and Oppressor from the US. These are a few i like off the top of my head.

Acid Death from Greece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzxGBkVa ... ure=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SpchGKx ... ure=relmfu

Youtube is being a little bitch tonight, but Catharsis, Funcunt and Thormentor are outstanding. Looking forward to hearing the other bands rec'd at a later stage. Thanks.

Hah, I figured Virulence would seem a bit out of place there. Aside from that, I second Chemical Breath, though I tend to classify them as being more on the thrash spectrum than death. Great band nonetheless.

I haven't actually tried Virulence yet, youtube was too shit so I stopped trying for today haha. Chemical Breath are a great band.

Edit: comments on non techness were because I had them confused with Torchure somehow.

I won't be name-dropping any known bands because my guess is that you'll already be acquainted with them. If you liked Thormenthor you may also enjoy Disaffected, and although they're more in the progressive realm they have a kick ass ODSM feel on their debut.

Electrocution from Italy are somewhat technical also, remind me a bit of old Atheist, they're pretty great. The debut of Torturer from Chile is also something worth checking, albeit death/thrash it's like a more technical version of Massacra and somewhat similar to Chemical Breath.

Feel free to name drop the well known, my knowledge tends to be ridiculously scattered. I think I get too excited to go for unknown bands too soon which makes me miss out on hugely popular things.

Ah well, I've always considered Disincarnate, Brutality and to some extent early Monstrosity to fit into your vision for this thread. Sinister on Diabolical Summoning and Hate can also be seen a bit through this panorama. You should also be acquainted with Xenomorph and Timeghoul by now I guess...

I don't need to name Gorguts now do I?!

I think Hellwitch has a place in this thread, though more thrash-oriented.

Absorbed from Spain had an excellent album in 1999 that was unfortunately not officially released. Lots of really great bass work throughout along with plenty of technical riffing. The overall production also gives it a very unique, almost relaxed sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyBzCANFuw

Necrotic Mutation's s/t EP is pretty good technical death metal with a somewhat brutal edge to it. Again, lots of sick bass work, especially on this track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv7oRLXvixo

Lastly, if you're a fan of Gorguts - Obscura, Wicked Innocence's Omnipotence will be perfect. Heavy use of dissonant, angular riffs along with occasional "clean" vocals, and a variety of growls and gurgles. I actually think this is superior to Obscura.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Doe4U7kn ... ure=relmfu

Seconding Eletrocution's later stuff, especially if you like Atheist. Afflicted's The Prodigal Sun is a bit of a forgotten gem, great oldschool tech death album. It's also from 1992, making it a bit ahead of its time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0fx08BD7_c

Yes! Early Monstrosity - In Dark Purity! Also Kaamos - Lucifer Rising.

Album recs, YT links, all old school:

Toxodeth- Mysteries About Life and Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBRf52nLz60
Hellwitch- Syzygial Miscreancy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzDOlyFNdRg
Obliveon- From This Day Forward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SznX1oWhGk
Disciples of Power- Power Trap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fIgK3zpqfg
Nocturnus- The Key: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2RH9QEU050
Fatal- A Somber Evocation of Nihilism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM0ozpRCBYI
Timeghoul- Tumultuous Travelings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLEP_yAi0fE
At the Gates- The Red in the Sky Is Ours(well to some degree): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn071u4cCRM
Atrocity- Todessehnsucht: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cNAa6ps ... ure=relmfu
Polluted Inheritance- Ecocide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEKe6Sh59YI
Liers in Wait- Spirtually Uncontrolled Art: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYrpoBtVyKM
Violent Dirge- Elapse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDDGZV-IAI8
Crypt of Kerberos- World of Myths: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS6dGMIP5l8
Pavor- A Pale Debilitating Autumn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWw81MsbpEI

Have fun, they're all pretty damn good.

Detest
Psychic Pawn
Crystal Age

Sorry for the list post but it is late and I am really tired and you don't want to miss out on these 3 gems.

Thanks for all the recs so far guys, it's going to take me a while to get through them all.

Virulence was really out of place on that list there haha, sorry Triggerhappy but I kinda hate it.

Androdion, I only knew 5 of those bands you thought were obvious, my knowledge is pretty poor. Most of them are great, but I never did like Sinister for some reason.

That Wicked Innocence album is amazing, I've heard that the stuff that followed it was just stupid and annoying, but that one rules. I don't like Obscura at all actually, so that's odd.

All those YT links are going to take a while Prome, thanks. Violent Dirge is probably my favourite of the ones I recognise.

Thanks again all, even AcidWorm who I barely had to beg to post here at all

edit: Its a damn shame Absorbed's album never got officially released, tht song was brilliant.

This thread needs Cadaver, especially their second album "In Pains" (1992). An often overlooked example of superb technical and quirky Death Metal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJil_qqP2qo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmudBE79-nU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1mbnsscCY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJJ5x6-EjqE

Shit i should probably add that Hallucinations, by Atrocity is absolutely mandatory.

Glad I could be of service then!

Sinister has had different "sound stages" through its career. The debut is basically a very muscled version of Seven Churches, very death/thrash infused but relentlessly more brutal than any of that scene. The sophomore is more in line with Considered Dead, to give a somewhat fitting example, but has a different "attitude", resorting more to brutality than subtlety. Third album is a brute mid-paced beast that constantly goes into blasting territory, and the production is also more "meaty" than its predecessors. It actually took me a long time to enjoy it but I eventually did. After that they changed vocalists and had a bit of turbulence, but Aggressive Measures and their recent albums are also enjoyable.

Mangled Torsos - Drawings of the Dead is a cool old school death metal album I'd describe as semi tech. Similar to Demilich, also has the crazy burping vocals.

EDIT - when I listen to it again I see it's not very techy afterall. It's more progressive than tech and the Demilich-ish vocals got me thinking too much of weird old school tech. Still a great record though.

Instead I'll mention Catacombs - In the Maze of Kadath which is Lovecraftian death metal from France as well as Iniquity - Serenadium which is very cool early tech death from Denmark. I'll second Atrocity as a really awesome band too.

You mean this? That "s" made me go through a bit of a hassle.

Plus it means I don't have to put up with a name clash in my files.

Exactly, sorry for the mix up!

Two bands I would recommend are Caducity and Nokturnel

This is awesome. Pretty much the only band I've come across that sounds like Ripping Corpse. Plus they've got better production than RC ever had haha.

Xenomorph's Empyreal Regimes (Released in '95 I think) should fit your request almost perfectly. They play a very dark style of tech-death that has some slight doom influences. Very unique, and very underrated.

Don't really get the Obliveon rec because to me they are far more techno-thrash than tech death even if they had a little death/thrash vibe on second and third albums.

Jumpin' Jesus - The Art of Crucifixion.
Excruciate - Passage of Life.

Two of my favorites. Should be to your liking.

Thought about making an own thread but that seems rather unneccesary. I'll just use this one for my request if you don't mind.

I'm looking for (proto) technical thrash and death metal. Prefer it to come out of the 80's or 90's. In technical death metal I'm not looking for ultra low vocals. I can't stand them. That also means no brutal technical death metal as I probably won't dig it any. As far as songwriting goes I'm looking for bands that despite their technical skills were able to write songs just as catchy as ''regular'' bands so to speak - no instrumental wankery please.

Bands I'm already familiar with that should give you an idea of what I'm looking for:

Atheist
Cynic
Death
Darkthrone circa Soulside Journey
Pestilence
Coroner
Toxik
Watchtower

In addition to my earlier post regarding Cadaver, the first 2 albums by Gorguts should fit what you're after:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyROXIhaFlw

Feel free to hijack the thread colin haha.

Revenant had technical moments in thier proggy death/thrash sound. A few bands mentioned are thrashy, most have been pointed out already though.

@ colin040 - For the death metal part of your request just browse above, lots and lots of great stuff! For the thrash part there's also come cool recs above, albeit death/thrash, however this thread might become rapidly flooded with responses to that. One band you should check, and again I'm trying to avoid the obvious ones, is Invocator on their Excursion Demise album. Aftermath's Eyes Of Tomorrow is a great example of worshipping Coroner's Mental Vortex, and Aspid should be without question your first stop. I'm guessing you already know early Annihilator.

Intruder fit the tech thrash bill nicely. A bit like a techier Megadeth or something.

This:

Colin, have you heard Believer? Check out "Dimensions".

Sanity Obscure (SG) has just released the album "Subterranean Constellation" for digital download on Bandcamp. If you like the music, you can purchase individual tracks ($1.20 USD) or the full album ($8.00) from the Bandcamp page here : http://sanityobscuresg.bandcamp.com/

This band and album is said to be for fans of Voivod, Nocturnus, Pestilence, Anacrusis, Atheist, Death and many more. If you like a blend of Technical Thrash Metal with experimental touches, moods of space and sheer intensity, you might like this release.

Guest musicians/appearances include Kevin Hufnagel (GORGUTS, DYSRHYTHMIA) and Bruce Lamont (YAKUZA). Mastered by Colin Marston (BEHOLD... THE ARCTOPUS, GORGUTS DYSRHYTHMIA).

Bandcamp : http://sanityobscuresg.bandcamp.com/
FB Link : https://www.facebook.com/SanityObscureSG

^ And coincidentally they're named after Believer album

Yeah, "coincidentally"... Sure...

I meant that it was funny how after my Believer rec someone recommended a band named after one of their albums.