Anyways, it's time to mention the usual Stockholm death metal groups. For those unfamiliar, the scene got it's kick start with Entombed's 1990 debut album,
Left Hand Path, embracing the trademark "chainsaw guitar" sound that's associated with Sunlight Studios and producer Thomas Skogsberg. After a second album,
Clandestine, the group took a detour into a much more palatable, blusier sound known as "death n' roll".
Wolverine Blues gave the death metal community a severe shock, and the usual cries of "sell-out". Entombed still carry on down the aforementioned path today, but for those looking for an entry into the Stockholm scene,
Left Hand Path is an obvious, but just as excellent choice. Also worth nothing is a compilation of their demo tapes when they were known as Nihilist from 1987 to 1989, simply titled
Nihilist. For those curious about the name change, the band had increasing differences with bassist Johnny Hedlund. Rather than simply forcing him out, the band took a non-confrontational approach and simply broke up Nihilist, reforming a few days later (without Johnny) as Entombed. Hedlund would go on to form Unleashed, another excellent death metal group.
Other close compatriots to Entombed are Dismember (ex-Entombed drummer Nicke Andersson designed Dismember's logo and played most of the leadwork on their debut album), whose 1991 debut,
Like an Everflowing Stream is one of the best examples of the genre. Unlike Entombed, Dismember has stuck firmly to their original sound to this day. Nothing after the debut stands up it, to be honest. A common flaw with this scene is that many of the groups had a habit of making some excellent works and spiralling off into a slew faceless imitations.
The aforementioned Unleashed stood apart from the scene with the use of Viking imagery and lyrics (one of the first to use them as well), as opposed to the usual death/gore/horror fare.
Across the Open Sea,
Shadows in the Deep and
Where no Life Dwells are all fine examples of the genre.
I'm sure many of you know of Therion and their brand of symphonic metal. The general consensus of Therion is that they evolved to something better in their career and that their early death metal works are the immature results of a group struggling to find their (well, really just Christofer Johnsson's) creative voice. I'd like to disregard that thought and recommend
Beyond Sanctorum as truly epic, fantastic death metal. And, to indulge in a cliche, it's a surprise to know that it's the same band.
These releases should be fairly easy to obtain. If you're hungry for more, look into God Macabre, Unanimated, Necrophobic, Afflicted and Darkified.
Now, some viddies.
Dismember - Dreaming in Red A "death ballad".
Entombed - Left Hand Path
Unleashed - The One Insane
Oh, and Six Feet Under are loltastic.