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progressive deathcore

Progressive Deathcore

United States · 2010s
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Description

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.


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

History

Origins (late 2000s)

Progressive deathcore emerged from the late‑2000s deathcore wave as certain bands absorbed progressive metal, djent, and technical death metal ideas. The U.S. (particularly the Midwest/Chicago and East Coast scenes) provided fertile ground via labels and tours that linked deathcore with the burgeoning djent/prog community.

Codification (early–mid 2010s)

By the early 2010s, the sound crystallized: groups combined breakdowns and blastbeats with odd meters, long arrangements, and synth/ambient layers. Albums by Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris, The Contortionist, After the Burial, Within the Ruins, and Slice the Cake showcased polymetric chugs, modal harmony, and concept‑driven songwriting that pushed beyond typical deathcore formulas.

Expansion and Hybrids (late 2010s)

The style diversified as bands folded in symphonic, cinematic, and melodic elements (e.g., Make Them Suffer, Shadow of Intent), while others leaned harder into djent/tech textures (Humanity’s Last Breath, Rings of Saturn). The result was a spectrum running from ultra‑technical groove to expansive, atmospheric, and even partially clean‑sung approaches—all while retaining deathcore’s weight.

2020s and Beyond

In the 2020s, progressive deathcore continued refining high‑definition production, extreme low tunings, and hybrid arrangements (orchestral layers, synth design, post‑metal ambience). Bands increasingly use concept albums, dynamic pacing, and modern sound design to bridge extreme metal intensity with cinematic scope, influencing adjacent deathcore substyles and progressive metalcore alike.

How to make a track in this genre

Core Instruments and Tuning
•   Use 7–9 string guitars in very low tunings (Drop F, Drop E, or lower). Pair with a tight, modern amp model and aggressive but controlled gate. •   Bass often mirrors guitars an octave down; consider a clean DI plus gritty amp blend for articulation. •   Drums should cover fast double‑kick, blastbeats, syncopated halftime, and precise cymbal work.
Rhythm and Groove
•   Build riffs around polymeters (e.g., guitar in 7 over drums in 4) and syncopated, palm‑muted chugs. •   Alternate dense grooves with blastbeat spikes and strategically placed breakdowns that resolve rhythmic tension. •   Use tempo shifts and metric modulations to transition between sections.
Harmony and Riff Writing
•   Favor modal/minor palettes (Phrygian, Phrygian dominant, Dorian) and symmetrical tools (diminished/whole‑tone) for dark color. •   Combine djent percussive patterns with scalar runs, tapped motifs, or sweep arpeggios; vary registers to avoid monotony. •   Layer pads, piano, or subtle orchestration for contrast; automate filters and reverbs to create space after heavy passages.
Structure and Dynamics
•   Think in multi‑section forms (intro exposition → development → ambient interlude → climactic breakdown → codetta). •   Use recurring leitmotifs that appear in different meters/keys to create cohesion. •   Balance density with air: follow a technical section with a sparse, melodic or atmospheric passage.
Vocals and Lyrics
•   Mix low growls and mid/high screams; sparing clean lines can heighten peaks or refrains. •   Lyrics can explore cosmic themes, existential questions, or sci‑fi narratives; match imagery to musical “scenes.”
Production Tips
•   Tight editing and re‑amping are common; preserve transient punch on kicks/chugs and avoid over‑limiting. •   Sidechain synth pads/FX to kick or chug rhythms to enhance groove. •   Master with enough headroom for impact; prioritize clarity in the low‑mid where guitars, bass, and kick collide.

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The Sound of Progressive Deathcore
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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.
Progressive Metal
Progressive metal blends the ambition and extended song forms of progressive rock with the heaviness, timbre, and energy of heavy metal. It is characterized by complex arrangements, frequent time‑signature changes, virtuosic instrumental passages, thematic or concept‑driven albums, and a wide dynamic range from delicate, atmospheric sections to aggressive, high‑gain climaxes. Harmonically it draws on modal interchange, chromatic voice‑leading, and jazz‑fusion colors, while rhythmically it favors polymeters, polyrhythms, and metric modulation. Keyboards and layered production often add orchestral or cinematic scope.
Djent
Djent is a substyle of progressive metal defined by ultra-tight, low‑tuned, palm‑muted guitar riffs that create a percussive, onomatopoeic "djent" sound. It favors extended‑range instruments (7–9 strings), precise rhythmic subdivision, and a highly articulate, modern production aesthetic. Sonically, djent emphasizes polyrhythms, syncopation, and metric modulation, often pairing dense, chugging grooves with ambient clean guitars, spacious synth pads, and melodic choruses. Vocals range from harsh screams and growls to soaring cleans, while drums and bass lock tightly to the rhythmic grid, accenting the guitar’s staccato patterns. Although the term took off online in the late 2000s, the core rhythmic and timbral blueprint traces to the 1990s work of Swedish band Meshuggah.
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.
Technical Death Metal
Technical death metal (often shortened to tech-death) is a virtuosic, hyper-detailed branch of death metal characterized by complex song structures, rapid-fire tempo changes, and high-performance musicianship. It fuses the extremity and heaviness of death metal with the rhythmic sophistication of progressive metal and the harmonic vocabulary of jazz fusion. Signature elements include odd and shifting time signatures, polyrhythms, dissonant and chromatic harmony, through-composed or non-repeating structures, and intricate contrapuntal interplay between guitars and bass (often fretless). Drumming emphasizes precision blast beats, rapid double-kick patterns, metric modulation, and constant subdivision changes. Vocals are primarily deep growls or harsh screams, while lyrics frequently explore science, philosophy, metaphysics, and cosmology alongside the genre’s traditional dark themes. Production tends to favor clarity and separation to make dense arrangements intelligible, with tight, gated guitars, articulate bass presence, and drum sounds that capture transient detail. The result is aggressive, cerebral, and often breathtakingly technical music that rewards close listening.
Progressive Rock
Progressive rock is a rock subgenre that expands the genre’s formal, harmonic, and conceptual boundaries. It favors long-form compositions, intricate arrangements, and virtuosic musicianship, often drawing on Western classical, jazz, folk, and psychedelic idioms. Typical hallmarks include multi-part suites, shifting time signatures, extended instrumental passages, recurring motifs, and concept albums that present unified themes or narratives. The sound palette commonly features electric guitar, bass, and drums alongside an array of keyboards (Hammond organ, Mellotron, Moog/ARP synthesizers, piano), woodwinds or brass, and occasional orchestral additions. Lyrics often explore science fiction, mythology, philosophy, social commentary, and introspective themes.
Mathcore
Mathcore is an extreme offshoot of metalcore and hardcore punk characterized by rapid-fire shifts in meter, tempo, and texture. It emphasizes dissonant, angular riffing; complex, polymetric drum patterns; and whirlwind song structures that often feel deliberately chaotic. The genre fuses the precision and rhythmic gamesmanship of math rock with the aggression of hardcore and the density of extreme metal. Songs routinely feature sudden stops, blast beats, start–stop riffing, odd time signatures, and atonal or chromatic harmonies, producing a sound that is tense, volatile, and cathartic.
Blackened Deathcore
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.
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.
Progressive Metalcore
Progressive metalcore fuses the heaviness and breakdown-driven energy of metalcore with the complex structures, technicality, and adventurous harmony of progressive metal. It emphasizes odd meters, polyrhythms, and extended-range guitars while retaining the genre’s characteristic blend of harsh and clean vocals. Tonal palettes often feature djent-like palm-muted syncopation, atmospheric lead textures, and synth layers that add cinematic depth. Songs tend to be multi-part and dynamic, moving from crushing rhythmic figures to soaring melodic choruses and ambient interludes.
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.
Technical Groove Metal
Technical groove metal fuses the locked-in, head-nodding heft of groove metal with the intricate rhythmic thinking and precision of technical and progressive metal. Expect down-tuned, percussive riffing that emphasizes syncopation and polymeter, tight double-kick patterns, and sharply articulated accents that make complex ideas still feel visceral and body-moving. The guitars and drums often lock into repeating rhythmic cells that shift against the barline, creating a hypnotic push-and-pull that balances complexity with groove. Harmonically, it favors dissonant clusters, modal minor colors, and chromatic motion, while vocals tend toward harsh mid-to-low screams or barks. Production is typically dry, punchy, and surgical, highlighting rhythmic clarity and palm-muted impact.
Prog Metal
Progressive metal (often shortened to "prog metal") fuses the weight and timbral intensity of heavy metal with the ambitious song forms, virtuosity, and conceptual scope of progressive rock. It favors extended compositions, unusual time signatures, polyrhythms, and advanced harmony. Bands often use concept albums, dynamic contrasts (from acoustic passages to crushing riffs), and intricate arrangements that spotlight technical proficiency on guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. Lyrically, prog metal frequently explores philosophical themes, science fiction, psychology, and abstract narratives.
Progressive Groove Metal
Progressive groove metal fuses the weighty, syncopated riffing of groove metal with the ambitious song forms, odd meters, and thematic depth of progressive metal. It typically features down‑tuned 6–8‑string guitars, palm‑muted chugs interlocking with polyrhythmic drum patterns, and bass lines that emphasize grit and articulation over sheer speed. Compared with straight groove metal, the progressive strain favors shifting time signatures, polymeter (e.g., 3:2, 5:4 overlays), dynamic contrasts, and longer arrangements that build narratives. Vocals range from harsh growls and barks to clean, soaring passages, while lyrics often address big‑picture topics—environmentalism, philosophy, psychology, and social critique—alongside personal struggle.
Progressive Power Metal
Progressive power metal blends the speed, bright melodies, and heroic tone of power metal with the structural ambition and technical depth of progressive metal. Songs often feature fast double-kick drumming, harmonized lead guitars, and soaring clean vocals, while also using odd meters, extended forms, sudden tempo changes, and layered arrangements. Compared with traditional power metal, it tends to be more harmonically adventurous and rhythmically complex; compared with prog metal, it usually keeps a more melodic, anthemic core and a less harsh vocal approach.
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
Melodic Deathcore
Melodic deathcore fuses the crushing breakdowns, low tunings, and extreme vocals of deathcore with the harmonized twin‑guitar leads, tremolo‑picked melodies, and minor‑key lyricism of Gothenburg‑style melodic death metal. Compared to straight deathcore, it places greater emphasis on memorable melodic motifs, guitar counterpoint, and recurring lead themes. Tempos often swing between fast blast‑beat sections and half‑time breakdowns, while arrangements may add keyboards or orchestral pads to heighten drama without abandoning heavyweight riffing.
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 Metalcore
Progressive metalcore fuses the heaviness and breakdown-driven energy of metalcore with the complex structures, technicality, and adventurous harmony of progressive metal. It emphasizes odd meters, polyrhythms, and extended-range guitars while retaining the genre’s characteristic blend of harsh and clean vocals. Tonal palettes often feature djent-like palm-muted syncopation, atmospheric lead textures, and synth layers that add cinematic depth. Songs tend to be multi-part and dynamic, moving from crushing rhythmic figures to soaring melodic choruses and ambient interludes.
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