Melodic Death Metal

Melodic death metal marries death metal’s harsh vocals and aggression to the harmonized, minor-key guitar leads of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The Gothenburg sound defined it in early-1990s Sweden, where At the Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquillity built melancholic, riff-driven songs with more melody and structure than traditional death metal. Vocals are typically mid-range rasps or screams, sometimes with clean singing, and themes lean philosophical and introspective. Its guitar style went on to shape metalcore worldwide.