Classics of Finnish Death Metal

[Annihilation]

I've recently come to appreciate how much of the best material of this genre originates from demos or EPs:

- Abhorrence
- Cartilage
- Rippikoulu
- Demigod's Unholy Domain
- I'm a big fan of Adramelech's Psychostasia, which I feel is underrated, but all their preceding material is on par with the best of Demigod, if not better:

Human Extermination
Grip of Darkness
Spring of Recovery

[Jim Necroslaughter]

Good call, sometimes it seems bands can't get it together for an entire album, but if you put some of their odds and ends side by side you can still get the same effect e.g. Adramelech and also Imprecation (although not Finnish) is a good example.  Maybe instead of choose your own adventure books, this is create your own album, the band gives you the material and you make the album and the final cuts.  Also Amorphis - Privilege of Evil.

[Annihilation]

This is a tremendous genre. It seems the best of the throwback death metal nowadays is that which is most conscious of  the contributions of the above-mentioned bands. The best Finnish death metal embodies the Lovecraftian vision of man's place in the universe: helpless, in awe of a world he can neither understand or effect. Our fabrications of mind are consumed when faced with a new, awful, strange, and magnificent reality. Revealed are structures of which we have always been a part. Through this fear, we are reunited with the knowledge of our true past and future, with a new respect for the morbidity of life.



A few bands that have received less recognition:

- Pestigore
- Funebre (earlier demos)
- Purtenance
- Vomiturition (select material)

Carnifex's Decadence demo seems to be generally well-regarded in the underground, but the composition seems lacking to me. Too frenetic, low on content.

[Annihilation]

Amorphis - Privilege of Evil.

This is better than I anticipated, thank you for the recommendation. I had never heard this, just going off what else I had heard from Amorphis - it actually is very competent death metal in a darker version of the style Demigod is now remembered for.

[Corpse]

If you want the best of the best, check out Children of Bodom. Best DM band since Death.

(Sorry guys, I just had to!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMK3K3IX0zQ