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blackened deathcore

Blackened Deathcore

United States · 2000s
DarkIntenseEpicSad

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Description

Blackened deathcore is a hybrid of deathcore’s breakdown-centric heaviness and black metal’s frostbitten atmosphere, melodies, and blasting speed.

It blends tremolo‑picked minor and diminished riffs, relentless blast beats, and shrieked vocals from black metal with deathcore’s low‑tuned chugs, slam grooves, and colossal, syncopated breakdowns. Many bands expand the sound with symphonic or choral layers, pipe‑organ or string pads, and cinematic sound design to project an apocalyptic, occult, or eschatological mood.

Vocals typically alternate between cavernous gutturals and razor‑edged high shrieks, while guitars use extended ranges and extreme downtuning. The result is a sound that is simultaneously epic and oppressive: theatrical yet ferocious, atmospheric yet crushing.


Sources: Spotify, Wikipedia, Discogs, Rate Your Music, MusicBrainz, and other online sources

History

Origins (late 2000s)

Blackened deathcore coalesced in the late 2000s as deathcore bands began drawing overtly from black metal’s harmony, tremolo riffing, and blasting drum traditions. Early adopters experimented with grim atmospheres, high‑register shrieks alongside gutturals, and occasional keyboards or choirs, setting the template for a darker, more theatrical branch of deathcore.

Consolidation and Expansion (2010s)

Through the 2010s the style solidified. US acts and a growing European contingent emphasized colder chord colors, minor/Phrygian‑leaning harmony, and extended blast passages before collapsing into massive breakdowns. Production grew sleeker and more cinematic, with strings, pipe organ, and choir libraries becoming common. Tours and digital platforms helped establish a shared aesthetic—corpse‑painted visuals, eschatological imagery, and symphonic intros—while retaining deathcore’s pit‑igniting impact.

Modern Era and Viral Breakthroughs (2020s)

In the 2020s the subgenre reached new visibility as several singles and performance clips went viral, showcasing extremes of vocal technique, orchestration, and dramatic song arcs. International scenes (notably in the US, Germany, Denmark, and Canada) flourished, and the style cross‑pollinated with symphonic deathcore and progressive deathcore. Today, blackened deathcore stands as a mature, globally recognized current within extreme metal, balancing atmosphere and aggression with cinematic scale.

How to make a track in this genre

Core Instrumentation
•   Guitars: 7/8‑string or baritone in very low tunings (Drop G and below). Use a blend of black‑metal tremolo lines and deathcore chugs/slams. •   Drums: Extreme double‑kick endurance, multiple blast types (traditional, bomb, hyper‑blast), and halftime breakdown grooves with china‑accented hits. •   Bass: Gritty, distorted low end often doubling guitars; add slides and octave drops for impact. •   Vocals: Alternate layered gutturals (false‑cord) with piercing fry/scream highs; occasional tunnel/false‑cord techniques for dramatic peaks. •   Orchestration/Synths (optional but common): Choirs, strings, pipe organ, and ambient pads to heighten the epic, occult atmosphere.
Harmony and Riff Writing
•   Favor natural minor, harmonic minor, and Phrygian/Phrygian dominant for a sinister hue; spice with tritones, diminished arpeggios, and chromatic neighbors. •   Interleave icy tremolo melodies with dissonant chord punches. Use pedal tones and contrary motion to keep tension under sustained blasts.
Rhythm and Structure
•   Contrast sections: blistering blast segments (220–260 BPM feel) against massive, syncopated breakdowns at halftime. Employ metric modulations and rhythmic false drops to enhance drama. •   Build long crescendos with orchestral swells leading into climactic breakdowns; consider multi‑part “suites” with recurring leitmotifs for a cinematic arc.
Lyrics and Aesthetics
•   Themes: eschatology, mythology, cosmic horror, antediluvian or occult imagery. Use elevated, metaphor‑rich language; Latin phrases and liturgical motifs fit well. •   Visuals: stark monochrome palettes, ritualistic/symbolic artwork to reflect the sound’s bleak grandeur.
Production Tips
•   Layer guitars (quad‑tracking common) and blend cab IRs for clarity in ultra‑low tunings. Parallel saturation on bass and a focused low‑mid scoop to reduce mud. •   Drum production should keep blasts articulate (shorter room tails, controlled cymbal wash). Sidechain orchestral lows to kick/bass to maintain punch. •   Place choirs/strings with wide stereo and long, dark reverbs; automate swells into breakdowns. Master loud but preserve transient impact for breakdown hits.

Best playlists

The Sound of Blackened Deathcore
The Sound of Blackened Deathcore
Every Noise at Once
Blackened Deathcore
Blackened Deathcore
Chosic
Blackened Deathcore Mix
Blackened Deathcore Mix
Spotify
Best user-generated playlists
Best user-generated playlists

Main artists

Related labels

Long Branch Records
Long Branch Records
Blood Blast Distribution
Blood Blast Distribution
Muffin Studio Recordings
Muffin Studio Recordings

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Influenced by
Deathcore
Deathcore is an extreme metal hybrid that welds the low‑tuned, blast‑beat intensity and guttural vocal techniques of death metal to the breakdown‑centric groove and rhythmic vocabulary of metalcore. Typical arrangements feature palm‑muted and tremolo‑picked riffs, rapid double‑kick or gravity blasts, and dramatic half‑time drops designed for mosh‑pit impact. Vocals range from deep growls to high shrieks and squeals, often paired with bleak, violent, or apocalyptic lyrical imagery.
Black Metal
Black metal is a form of extreme metal defined by fast tempos, tremolo‑picked guitar lines, blast‑beat drumming, shrieked or rasped vocals, and a deliberately raw, icy production aesthetic. Harmonically, it favors minor and modal collections (especially Aeolian and Phrygian), open-string drones, parallel fifths and fourths, tritones, and sparse or suspended chord voicings over blues-derived harmony. Arrangements often employ layered guitars, long-form song structures, and enveloping reverb to create a bleak, otherworldly atmosphere. The genre’s visual and thematic language is equally distinctive: corpse paint, monochrome artwork, and lyrics exploring anti-dogma, nature, pagan myth, cosmic nihilism, and misanthropy. While some scenes have been associated with controversy and extremism, the musical identity centers on sound, atmosphere, and aesthetics rather than any single ideology.
Death Metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal defined by heavily distorted, low‑tuned guitars, rapid and complex riffing, blast beat drumming, and harsh guttural vocals. Its harmonic language favors chromaticism, dissonance, and tremolo-picked lines that create an ominous, abrasive atmosphere. Lyrically, death metal often explores dark or transgressive themes—mortality, mythology, anti-religion, psychological horror, and the macabre—sometimes with philosophical or social commentary. Production ranges from raw and cavernous to hyper-precise and technical, reflecting the genre’s many regional scenes and substyles. From the mid‑1980s Florida scene (Tampa) and parallel developments in the US, UK, and Sweden, death metal evolved into numerous branches including brutal death metal, technical death metal, melodic death metal, and death‑doom, each emphasizing different aspects of speed, complexity, melody, or heaviness.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a fusion of hardcore punk’s urgency and ethos with heavy metal’s riff language and technicality. It is defined by tightly palm‑muted riffs, rapid double‑kick drumming, and frequent breakdowns—rhythmic, syncopated passages written to accentuate impact and crowd movement. Vocals typically alternate between harsh screams or growls and, in many bands, soaring clean choruses—a contrast that emphasizes both aggression and catharsis. Harmony and melody often borrow from melodic death metal, yielding minor‑key leads, harmonized guitars, and hook‑driven refrains. Modern production favors precise editing, dense guitar layering, and punchy drum sounds that keep complex rhythms clear at high intensity.
Symphonic Black Metal
Symphonic black metal fuses the speed, tremolo-picked riffing, and shrieked vocals of black metal with orchestral writing, choirs, and cinematic arrangements. It expands the genre’s raw ferocity into a grand, theatrical sound that can feel both infernal and majestic. Keyboards or full orchestras handle strings, brass, and choral parts that support or counterpoint the guitars, while blast beats and double‑kick patterns drive the intensity. Harmonically, it leans on minor modes, chromatic motion, and diminished sonorities, often evoking Romantic and late‑Romantic classical drama. Lyrical themes tend toward the occult, mythology, Gothic romance, and horror, and productions range from deliberately grim to highly polished, integrating extreme metal power with film‑score scale.
Symphonic Metal
Symphonic metal fuses the power and riff-driven weight of heavy metal with the grandeur of orchestral music, choral writing, and operatic vocals. It often features full-scale symphonic arrangements—either via live orchestras and choirs or through sophisticated sampling—alongside distorted guitars, bass, and double-kick drumming. Hallmarks include cinematic songwriting, classical harmony (minor keys, modal colors, counterpoint), sweeping string ostinati, brass fanfares, and layered choirs. Vocal approaches range from operatic soprano leads to melodic rock vocals and occasional harsh growls. Lyrically, the genre leans toward myth, fantasy, history, philosophy, and romantic or existential themes, delivering an epic, theatrical atmosphere.
Gothic Symphonic Metal
Gothic symphonic metal blends the brooding atmosphere and romantic darkness of gothic metal with the orchestral grandeur and cinematic scale of symphonic metal. It typically features soaring, often classically trained female vocals contrasted with harsh growls or baritone male voices (“beauty-and-the-beast” style), layered choirs, and full string and brass arrangements supporting distorted guitars and double‑kick drums. The harmony favors minor keys, modal colors (Aeolian, Phrygian), and chromatic lines, while the arrangements borrow from classical and operatic writing: overture‑like intros, leitmotifs, and dynamic crescendos. Lyrically, it leans toward myth, fantasy, romance, spirituality, melancholy, and gothic literature, delivered with a dramatic, theatrical sensibility.
Brutal Deathcore
Brutal deathcore is an extreme offshoot of deathcore that fuses the low‑tuned, breakdown‑driven weight of metalcore with the relentless brutality of brutal death metal and slam death metal. Hallmarks include ultra‑guttural vocals (growls, tunnel throats, pig squeals), palm‑muted chromatic riffs, slamming “gravity” breakdowns, and a rhythm section that alternates between whirlwind blast beats and lurching half‑time grooves. Production tends to be modern and punishing: sub‑drops, sample‑reinforced drums, and very low guitar tunings on 7–8 (or more) strings. Lyrically, it often leans into gore, nihilism, social decay, or apocalyptic imagery, delivered with an uncompromising, confrontational edge.
Symphonic Deathcore
Symphonic deathcore fuses the heaviness and rhythmic vocabulary of deathcore—down‑tuned guitars, blast beats, and breakdowns—with cinematic orchestration and choral writing drawn from symphonic metal and film score aesthetics. Expect sweeping string sections, brass fanfares, gothic choirs, and thunderous percussion layered over tremolo-picked riffs and double‑kick barrages. Harmony often leans on minor, harmonic minor, and Phrygian colors, while production is polished and widescreen to accommodate both dense guitars and expansive orchestral textures. The result is a sound that is simultaneously brutal and grandiose: aggressive and modern at its core, yet theatrical and ‘epic’ in scope.
American Metalcore
American metalcore is a U.S.-born fusion of hardcore punk’s physical intensity and DIY ethos with metal’s precision, riffcraft, and melodic sensibility. Hallmarks include down‑tuned, palm‑muted "chug" riffs, tightly synchronized double‑kick drumming, and dramatic, half‑time breakdowns built for mosh‑pit impact. Many bands combine harsh (screamed/growled) verses with soaring clean‑sung choruses and Gothenburg‑style twin‑guitar harmonies, yielding a blend of aggression and anthemic melody. Production is typically polished and punchy, with edited tightness and modern high‑gain tones. Lyrical themes often focus on personal struggle, perseverance, social critique, and—within the Christian metalcore thread—faith and redemption.
Beatdown
Beatdown is a heavy, breakdown-centric strain of hardcore characterized by mid‑tempo to slow, groove-led rhythms, palm‑muted guitar chugs, and mosh‑friendly arrangements. It strips hardcore to its most physical elements, prioritizing massive riffs, halftime drum patterns, and call‑and‑response gang vocals. Lyrics often center on street realities, loyalty, perseverance, and confrontation, delivered with shouted or growled vocals. The production aesthetic favors weight and impact over polish, with dropped tunings and percussive accents (e.g., china cymbal stabs) emphasizing every hit. The result is music designed for the pit: tense, blunt, and aggressively cathartic.
Thall
Thall is a hyper-percussive, ultra–low-tuned offshoot of djent and progressive metal popularized by Sweden’s Vildhjarta. The style emphasizes tightly gated, staccato down‑picking; dissonant chord voicings; and lurching, polymetric grooves that drop into sudden rests and accents. Characteristic techniques include rapid release bends, stark contrasts between pitch‑shifted highs and subterranean lows, and the use of lush, reverb‑heavy ambient interludes to heighten tension and reset the ear before the next rhythmic assault. The result is a sound that feels both mechanical and cinematic—aggressive yet spacious.
Has influenced
Symphonic Deathcore
Symphonic deathcore fuses the heaviness and rhythmic vocabulary of deathcore—down‑tuned guitars, blast beats, and breakdowns—with cinematic orchestration and choral writing drawn from symphonic metal and film score aesthetics. Expect sweeping string sections, brass fanfares, gothic choirs, and thunderous percussion layered over tremolo-picked riffs and double‑kick barrages. Harmony often leans on minor, harmonic minor, and Phrygian colors, while production is polished and widescreen to accommodate both dense guitars and expansive orchestral textures. The result is a sound that is simultaneously brutal and grandiose: aggressive and modern at its core, yet theatrical and ‘epic’ in scope.
Progressive Deathcore
Progressive deathcore is a fusion of deathcore’s crushing heaviness and breakdown-centric aggression with the adventurous songcraft, technicality, and textural breadth of progressive metal. Hallmarks include extended-range guitars (7–9 strings) in very low tunings, polymetric “djent”-leaning grooves, rapid meter changes, and long-form structures that move well beyond verse/chorus. You’ll hear a blend of palm‑muted syncopation, angular technical riffs, sweeping leads, and atmospheric keyboards or orchestration that add space between punishing passages. Vocals typically alternate between low growls, layered screams, and occasional clean passages; production is tight, modern, and punchy. Lyrically, the style often departs from deathcore’s horror tropes to explore sci‑fi, philosophy, cosmic imagery, and introspective themes, matching the music’s expansive, cinematic scope.
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