I am searching for harsh but catchy metal (not melo-death), most likely with the label death metal but does not have to be. To be more specific, I will describe one of my most listened albums lately and why I listenten to them:

The Faceless - Planetary Duality - I absolutely love this album. Its technical without being overly technical. It is very Jazzy (the big selling point) without bringing out the Sax and the drum-work is one of the best I have heard in any album. Many catchy parts throughout the entire album. I cannot stand the follow-up album though, way to progressive

Neuraxis - Trilateral Progression - Another tech death, which avoids getting too technical for the sake of it. The riffs keep on coming. A curative struggle is one of my all time favorite songs.

Anaal Nathrakh - Eschaton - Fast, merciless and catchy. I love the blend of pure chaos and unexpected hooks.

Any suggestions?

Quo Vadis (Canada) 1st album is similar to Neuraxis - give the album a chance as a whole - I find it works better holistically rather than song by song.
Enthroned (Belgium) - The Apocalypse Manifesto - 1999 can be similar in intensity and catchy hooks to Anaal Nathrakh

Gotta' repeat the prevalent sentiment in the death metal thread: Bolt Thrower.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmaOETGSwDE&t=1027s

I thought the new Allegaeon album was pretty catchy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r26exX3LVgY

Handsome Prick play some killer deathgrind that is equal parts ridiculously over the top & surprisingly catchy songwriting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5vevA3I9c4&t=1589s

Shadow of Intent also fits your request. Tech death with -core influence & keys, excellent musicianship & awesome vocal work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VbBuXJmg1s&t=1728s

Was really enjoying this somewhat melodic brutal death band, Wormhole, the other day. The ultra-gutturals get a little too much for me at times but everything else is top-notch if not a little bit polished.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfwyqoFfgNI

Zornheym plays symphonic extreme metal, normally it isn't my thing but these guys write awesome catchy tunes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePOstoe9fDI

Thanks for your recommendations.

I listened a bit to Quo Vadis first album. Was a bit too experimental for my current mood, but I saw some potential, so I skipped to their 2nd album. At the moment it is not quite what I am looking for now, but I will revisit it later.

Enthroned was not my taste.

Thanks for all the suggestions IamDBR! I did some fast-forwarding to check which albums I will listen to first.

You know what is embarrassing? I do not own a Bolt Thrower album. So, ehm, where should I start?


A tad too progressive. I may revisit the album later though.


Grind is not quite my thing, even though I like it in Anaal Nathrakh. The quality is good though, so I will give it a shot.


Fuck yeah. I did just a sneak peak, but I will definitely do an entire listen. Chances are high that I will get the album.


You are right, the vocals are sub-optimal, the music has some promise.

Now this is my kind of music! It has just the right mix of the different ingredients extreme, symphonic and catchyness. I am also not the biggest fan of symphonic metal, but I like it in small doses.

Well done IamDBR!

I'm with you on that one, I have heard some BT stuff but admittedly, it's nowhere near enough so I'm probably not the best person to answer that. Still I think you should give their last album, Those Once Loyal, (pretty sure I linked that one) a shot.


Glad you are liking these bands. Both are pretty new & have put some stellar material, they deserve all the recognition they can get.


Anytime!
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Since you like Anaal Nathrakh, do you know about Kunstzone? They are rooted a bit more in industrial/noise but play with the same intensity as AN, more or less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q5FCKZlv3Q&t=987s

Also give the new Khonsu a shot, they remind of AN at certain instances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t1syMCej6M&t=302s

Misery Index play pretty catchy death metal imo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7laptOuaSDk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8JQ1kHHbo

This probably the coolest band I have heard in a long time. After only 4 songs, I went to bandcamp and bought it immediately. Holy shit this is good. The industrial/noise part is tasteful mixed into the extreme metal, just how I like it. Sounds like the love child of AN and Fear Factory.


Another cool band, and from Trondheim! I actually lived in Trondheim for 4 years. I will need some time to diggest this, but I like what I hear.


You know, your afterthoughts brings out the gems. Very easy to get into and tickles me at all the right places. Another must buy.

Glad to know you're enjoying this stuff, helping the bands in process.

Let's have another go, shall we?

Given that you like The Faceless & specifically their Planetary Duality album, you should give The Zenith Passage a shot. Their guitarist has actually recorded a song with The Faceless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Km-PkkVcJo

Dyscarnate are pretty solid if you are looking for 'no-frills' death metal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKZxEyJbst0

The new Gatecreeper was pretty catchy & headbangable even if was a tad overrated imo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kIuuojYu-A

Been listening to Hereza quite a lot recently, kickass Swedeath from Croatia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QEfGxJg-44

I'm sure you've heard Cattle Decapitation if not what the fuck are you doing with your life?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szOlMfoN-jU

Job for a Cowboy's last album is surprisingly good (that fucking bass! ), not sure if it's all that catchy. A bit on the proggier side of things but still worth a shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvKDxoVCcI

If you like that JfaC^ record try this one too. It's even more crazier. Their album Green & Black was my 2016 debut album of year.
https://riftwalker.bandcamp.com/album/green-black

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I know most people don't take too kindly to deathcore here but hear me out. Despite all the tech/brutal death & osdm I keep returning to these bands. Maybe you'll like maybe not, worth a shot though.

Angelmaker has a vaguely blackened feel with all those gnarly tremolo progressions & high screeches. Aversions Crowns is more blast heavy & atmospheric with a storytelling sensibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnQXEm4xPo8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb5z5AULWCw

That should keep you busy for a while.

Let me know what you liked & didn't. Cheers!

That is a long list of stuff to listen to. Guess my colleagues have to communicate with me per Email for the next few days. I should probably also cut the teamspeak on Overwatch too in the evenings. You will get the feedback.... later....


I'm not fixated on specific genres, so no worries there. I am open to new stuff, so just fire away. I will tell you if it sucks or not.

You should check out Mistress - very catchy sludge/death metal featuring the guys from Anaal Nathrakh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=den5gT_BV3w

Also, give Slugdge a listen, you'll probably enjoy them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYO8kf2A6V4

Thanks for your suggestions 3D3N. I will go through IamDBR backlog first, then I will get back to you. At the moment I am kinda stuck with Kunstzone on repeat. So good.

Wait, how did I not know about this despite the AN connection?

I'd recommend giving their 2002 album carnage in world's beyond a go instead. This is where they really pulled their shit together by getting a new, better, drummer, and coming up with some great riffs.

After that, at least from what I heard, things started to get a bit stale though.

Decrepit Birth is some extremely catchy shit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91e3HB ... _2lSjvg4eC

Hey chaossphere, join the line

Edit:
schizoid, I copy that. Will give it Enthroned another go.

Gotta mention Benediction, Graveyard, Decaying, and War Master. Bolt Thrower clones if I ever saw them.

Benediction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7BYLCgDU1o

Graveyard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An3NapeYNGE

Decaying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8pQJjdt1Ew

War Master
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNUFmqVskM

As for technical death metal:

Gory Blister
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQFjv8oE98

Mass Infection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QaacsZfeWQ

Reciprocal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwcpR7D ... A&index=33

Henker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVT5Vxd ... A&index=47

Endless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2Du5lszGQ

Yup, definitely the same vibe as Planetary Duality. My to buy list is growing bigger.


Yes, I liked this. Is further down on my list, but still on the list


Hmmm, probably not. Nothing wrong with it in itself, but it is just not interesting enough.


Better than Gatecreeper, but not quite what I am looking for now.


For some reasons I tend to avoid bands "everyone" has heard. I must at some point do some intensive Cattle Decapitation listening.


Very good! I like it a lot. This kind of prog I can get behind. When I say I do not like it too progressive, I mean a specific prog-metal sound. I cannot quite describe it, but I can give you an example: I really like the opening track of Fallujahs "The Flesh Prevails". It has an atmospheric touch which I really enjoy. The rest of the album I cannot really get into. The songs start good, but then this keyboardy prog just ruins the mood.


I would say this is now part of the prog-trio list, together with The Zenith Passage and Job for a Cowboy. When I finally get tired of getting my head mashed by Kunstzone (yeah, I really can't get enough) and Shadow of Intent (which is next on my list), then I will take a closer look here. But then again, I really want to check out Zornheym. Argh, so many bands and so little time.

So, now I need to do some stuff, I will give you a final comment to your deathcore later.