Why do death metal bands use complex words

[Bassistcali]

I realized they always use big and complex words as their titles and lyrics...any specific reason they do this?I.e suffocation does this a lot

 

[Lesfunk]

To show they're smart...

 

[ShredderMaximus]

Technical vocabulary + technical music

 

[LoudBadBass]

Invalid Link Removed (from Invisible Oranges):

Like other forms of English, Death Metal English is a tool kit. It can be used well or poorly; Vastum use it quite effectively. You can employ Death Metal English in other realms, but it’s designed to make death metal lyrics sound more brutal. Why do DM bands write this way? Perhaps because a few early tastemakers chose to, and everyone else just followed along. Perhaps because all those lengthy words resonate nicely in the front of your face when you utter a death growl. Perhaps because its ponderous diction mirrors the blocky nature of the music. My best guess is that death metal bands use Death Metal English because it’s innately awesome.

The page also has a genre guide for converting regular English into Death Metal English:

Normal English: “Commuting to work”
Death Metal English: “TRANSPORTATION OF THE WAGEBOUND UNTO THE NEXUS OF PERPETUAL QUOTIDIAN ENSLAVEMENT”

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Yeah...normal English paled compared to that "wagebound" shiite!

 

[hrodbert696]

I kind of figured the genre is supposed to have lots of "epic grandeur" to it, and the elaborate vocabulary and latin or pseudo-latin terms are supposed to give it that imposing air. Death metal songs about taking your baby to the high school dance - woo woo - wouldn't really have the same atmosphere.

 

[Bloodhammer]

Because the divulgence of malevolent lexical condemnation of the vitiation of flesh is the replete fascination of the indisposed.

 

[lokikallas]

Carcass-
Necroticism (descanting the insalubrious) is a great example of this. I read the lyrics with a dictionary, and the lyrics were actually quite clever once you figure out what the hell they mean. For example, decanting the insalubrious means to sing about the macabre.(basically)

Most of the time it's just to avoid the lyrical cliches that slayer and venom had already exploited years before.

 

[StayLow]

^ Ironically it's Carcass that wrote this straight-up genre-defying hit single with lyrics anyone can relate to:



Without emotion, your heartstrings played
Strummed and severed to the tune of a tragic serenade
A tragic chorus
Without emotion, your heartstrings break
Snapped and severed to the tune of a tragic, sad-cliche
No love lost
When all is said and done
There's no love lost

 

[StayLow]

Invalid Link Removed (from Invisible Oranges):

The page also has a genre guide for converting regular English into Death Metal English:

Thanks! I literally did laugh out loud err... verily didst I convulse in spasms of expulsive joy.

 

[lushba]

"Inherently structuralist, death metal can be recognized by its "post-human" perspective, seeing the world through biology, history, warfare and mythology instead of the "I/me/mine" viewpoint of a modern society."

There you go.

 

[Stinsok]

They is real smart.

 

[Baird6869]

Maybe a large percentage of little death metal heads got Big Word a Day Calendars?

That or most death metal musicians went to school for all that fancy book readin'.

 

[fraublugher]

^ Ironically it's Carcass that wrote this straight-up genre-defying hit single with lyrics anyone can relate to:

No bassist on that recording ?

 

[Awesome Sauce]

Am I the only one who keeps picturing some jacked up metal head, in all his resplendent glory, daintily sipping a Grande Mocha Latte in the front window of a Starbucks; notebook in his lap, half-rims on his nose; intensely studying a Thesaurus?

Anyone? No? OK, then. Carry on.

Rob
10001110101

 

[SirMjac28]

Because the divulgence of malevolent lexical condemnation of the vitiation of flesh is the replete fascination of the indisposed.

You took the words right out of my mouth

 

[kleinenenten]

^ Ironically it's Carcass that wrote this straight-up genre-defying hit single with lyrics anyone can relate to:



Without emotion, your heartstrings played
Strummed and severed to the tune of a tragic serenade
A tragic chorus
Without emotion, your heartstrings break
Snapped and severed to the tune of a tragic, sad-cliche
No love lost
When all is said and done
There's no love lost

Metalheads can write beautiful stuff!

As for the "book readin'", I actually did go to school as an English major and am a huge metal fan (of all varieties). A lot of metal has very interesting viewpoints/arguments/lyrical structures and bases. They deserve more credit than they get for lyrics! Vocals, are of course often in the way of understanding the lyrics, but I'm amazed at what I can understand when I try! Of course, I have years of experience understanding metal vocals, and on more than a few cases have looked up the lyrics.

 

[Haji]

My only real beef with death metal these days is that it's completely unintelligible, and there's so much of that style out there it's gotten boring. I have no math skills at all; but I'm reasonably good with words. I just like it when the lyrics can be understood. All the good bands ended when thrash lost its popularity.

 

[TonyP-]

^ Ironically it's Carcass that wrote this straight-up genre-defying hit single with lyrics anyone can relate to:

I would like to hear that type of music without that F-in Vocal style...

My God...

Add a someone that is not trying to sound like a pathetic demon (IMHO and just mine) like a Rob Halford or Dio like aspect and it I think this would have a wider audience.
Again...IMHO

 

[Haji]

Its out there, its just harder to find. Take a look at Demon Hunter. It's got aspects of the deth metal style, but the vocals are actually understandable.