For death metal fanatics, it should be apparent what I'm looking for; for less experienced people, I need some raw, unpolished, heavy, brutal and crushing death/doom similar to "Descend Into The Absurd" by Fleshcrawl. The guitar tone on the album sends orgasmic shivers down my spine, so anything similar is more than welcome. Obvious recommendations would be Aphyx and Evoken (and Funebrarum and Winter, though less obvious), so refrain from mentioning them, please. No Acid Witch and Hooded Menace (can't stand both), either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Wmi6tZ8ZI - an example of the sound and songwriting that I'm looking for (the transition between the fast intro part and the slow main part is especially great).

I've got a bunch of their mid-era stuff (meh) but I've never heard the debut. Never thought of them as death/doom either, do most of the songs on the debut have slower sections?

Anyways, if you're looking for quality death/doom (or just slow death metal) my default recommendation is and will always be Cianide. If you're looking for their absolute heaviest album I'd suggest "A Descent into Hell". I really like Death, Doom, and Destruction, though.

As much as they are talked about on here I'm sure you've checked out Infester's "To the Depths in Degredation" by now, but if you haven't please do yourself a favor. The drumming is fucking stellar and the album in general pretty much epitomizes filthy.

You might be interested in Delirium. They formed in the same year as Winter, but it seems that they get less attention.

Yes, they do. The debut is completely different from the rest of their discography: it's more complex, slower and... more thought-out and thoughtful, so to speak, whereas their other albums are more straightforward and Swedeath-inspired.


I know and love Cianide. In fact, I even own their demo compilation. Their first two albums are nothing short of amazing, but I can't find them anywhere here, sadly.


The album's artwork is one of my absolute favourites.

Might not be exactly what you're looking for, but regarding the doom aspect and that kind of guitar tone and overall crushing feel, I'd like to put the album "Monotheist" by Celtic Frost up on the table. That is one wicked, nasty piece of work.

The first names that came to my mind after reading the OP was Rippikoulu, but you're probably already familiar with them.

Try Decomposed's Hope Finally Died if you can get your hands on it. If I try hard I might be able to think of a few more if need be.

Thanks to everyone who replied, I know all these bands except for Delirium. Rippikoulu's "Musta Seremonia" is splendid, but I can't say I'm a fan of their other demos. Decomposed is good but not quite what I'm looking for. As for "Monotheist", I own the limited edition digipack. Nuff said.

Will give Delirium a try, even though the album's title is kind of stupid and/or childish (the songtitles are rather promising, on the other hand).

If it can be along the lines of disembowelment, I suggest trying Ceremonium "Into The Autumn Shade" or Symphony of Grief "Our Blessed Conqueror". They grind away like Fleshcrawl and mix it up with some crushing slow play as well. Also if you don't mind a little gore influenced vocals try Mangled Torsos "Drawings of the Dead", they are also somewhat similar to disembowelment. Necrophiliac "Chaopula - Citadel of Mirrors" is a good one too.

Out of all these, I know only Ceremonium and Disembowelment. What are gore-influenced vocals? Pig squeals and toilet flushing?

Not really, my description may not have been the best. Judge for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI2VjSJEIU8

Mmm, the vocals remind me of Antti Boman's. However, the music itself sounds rather mellow.

You my like to try Excommunion they're slow and Doomy brutal death (they are somewhat like Evoken) and they did a great cover of God of Emptiness by Morbid Angel.

i would recomand the great early doom/death dutch scene with such albums like:

necro schizma - erupted evil
sempiternal deathreign - the spooky gloom
spina bifida - ziyadah
beyond belief - towards the diabolical experiment
mystic charm - shadows of the unknown
sad whisperings - sensitive to autumn
castle - castle
sacramental sachem - recrucifiction

Delirium is so-so (1989 demo is the best recording out of three), Symphony of Grief and Necrophiliac I didn't like much (especially the production).

Ulflesh, I know only the first two bands (they're okay, but not quite what I'm looking for), I'll check out the rest. Thanks for the suggestions.

You may already be familiar with it, but try Paradise Lost's debut.

Sweet Satan... Cemetery Earth is exactly what I want. "Here Rest Remains From Centuries Of Demise" is one of the best US death metal demos. The sound is incredibly thick and crushing.

What about Goatlord´s 'Reflections Of The Solstice'? It´s occult drenched death metal with huge doom parts and an really evil atmosphere. But it has one flaw: the drums (especially the snare) sound really horrible, but nevertheless it´s worth hearing.

I prefer their demos due to a better sound, actually.

Maimed from Chicago is perfect for you
http://www.myspace.com/maimedchicago

they only released 1 demo though, kinda shitty but it's filthy-as-fuck

i second the Sempiternal Deathreign, pretty grimey Death/Doom

maybe Mangled Torsos and Doomflight, might be what you're looking for

I'm starting to get interested in oldschool death/doom as well.

You should check out Purtenance if you aren't famiilar with them yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEuGiXJ1 ... re=related

Not really oldschool as its from 2008, but there pretty decent.
You may have heard of them.
Coffins-Altars in Gore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an-Py_yIn1s

Try Nivathe - Enveloped in a Diseased Abyss

It's not exactly like Fleshcrawl but it's pretty filthy

When they play fast, Fleshcrawl almost sounds like Incantation. Another band that shifts from fast to slower, doomier tempos is Torchure, also from Germany. However, I'm not sure I'd say they sound alike.

Purtenance is awesome! Divine Eve is also cool.

Nivathe? Never heard of them. The rest I know and like (except for Incantation which bores me).

Check out Disgrace - Debts of God if you aren't familiar. That is some of the heaviest, and sickest stuff to come out of Finland during the early 90s.

Hehe, I think there's not a single old Finnish DM album/EP I haven't heard already. The same goes for Swedeath. However, the Dutch scene is really obscure for me, as evidenced by Ulflesh's post.

Wow, I will definately have to check out Fleshcrawl's debut, not being particularly taken by the later material i have heard. Anyhow, if you don't know of this band, i would suggest checking out 'Mausoleum'. They are on Razorback Records so that should already give you a ballpark idea of they sound and are all about, but Mausoleum is total 'Autopsy - Mental Funeral' worship and meets your requests for "raw, unpolished, heavy, brutal and crushing death/doom".

http://www.myspace.com/mausoleumpa

I came, I heard, I drooled.

I should look into the Dutch scene. The only band I can think of that played death metal in the early 90s is Sinister.

Catachthonian (and others as well) - You may want to try the following (if already haven't heard these bands) :-

1) MYTHIC (US) - http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=3117
All girl band (Split-Up). They had released an Anthology pack, which contains all the re-releases of their earlier material. Death/Doom all the way... nice growls for a girl, decent riffs with standard drumming and all that... all and all a very good effort indeed.

2) ASCENDED (Fin) - http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=116735
These guys are one of my favorites. Crushing/mid-paced/slow DM capturing very dark/doomy essence in every song. Atmospheric, well structured, solid old school feel in all of their tracks, perfectly matching vocals to the music, drums are all well done! Very promising band and these are (re)starting something that was gone/disappeared not too long ago. Also, I noticed they play with one rhythm and one lead guitars. So far, they have released a demo-The Art of Necromancy '08 and an EP-Temple of Dark Offerings '09, and have been tracking these Finnish lads for a while now and waiting for a full-length from 'em. Anyways, they recently got a new record label called Enucleation. Do they check 'em out.

3) Slugathor (Fin) - http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=4313
One more from Finland. Might not be exactly what you want, however do give them a listen. Could be a bit too modern compared to the 'OP' but still worth a listen. Try their album Circle of Death '06.

You definitely should, there's only about a dozen of essential Dutch DM albums from early 90-ies.

@ MEMEME: I heard both Mythic and Slugathor at a certain point in time, they're somewhat fitting my request, though both aren't that impressive IMO. judging by samples, Ascended is okay, but the sound is too clean.

Oh! ...just thought I could be of some assistance , anyways... will be watching this thread a bit carefully as I also am in dire need of such bands (same as the OP)...

catachtonian, i have also some other "obskure" recomandations that might filed your request:

curse (swe) - integumentum de tenebrae
hardware (mex) - cyber death
unholier (mex) - revelations of she'ohl
buried beneath (us) - ...and this too shall pass away
sadistic intent (us) - impending doom
timeghoul (us) - tumultuous travelings
horrified (grc) - eternal god
dominus (chl) - the occult lords of torment
nostradamus (pol) - non omnis moriar

All these are great, and Timeghoul isn't that obscure among MA folk, I believe.


I'll look into these, thanks!

EDIT: the last three are pretty solid, Nostradamus's second album is as good as the first one IMO.

yes, nostradamus are a great band, too bad they are not so well known, not even in their country...i spoke with some metalheads from poland (who pretend that they listen to dm) and asked them about the band, but neighter heard /listem.
anyway, for old skull death metal die hard fans this band (and the whole 90's dm scene from poland) should be a must.

...which is something I shall look into now.