The Groove

The greatest death metal artists of all time

50 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Death

United States of America · 1984–1998 · death metal

39.861

Why this number?

The full board

Opeth

Sweden · 1990– · progressive metal 26.974

3 Bolt Thrower

United Kingdom · 1986–2016 · death metal 14.484

4 Morbid Angel

United States of America · 1983– · death metal 13.737

Behemoth

Poland · 1991– · death metal 13.346

In Flames

Sweden · 1990– · melodic death metal 11.579

7 Nile

United States of America · 1993– · death metal 10.284

8 Gojira

France · 1996– · death metal 7.493

9 Blood Incantation

United States of America · 2011– · death metal 7.380

10 Entombed

Sweden · 1989– · death metal 5.902

11 Sepultura

Brazil · 1984– · metal 5.872

Amorphis

Finland · 1990– · progressive metal 5.645

13 Obituary

United States of America · 1988– · death metal 4.734

At the Gates

Sweden · 1990– · melodic death metal 4.499

15 Amon Amarth

Sweden · 1992– · melodic death metal 4.346

16 Cannibal Corpse

United States of America · 1988– · death metal 4.267

Dark Tranquillity

Sweden · 1989– · melodic death metal 3.631

18 Crematory

Germany · 1991– · death metal 3.600

Therion

Sweden · 1988– · symphonic metal 2.800

20 Tomb Mold

Canada · 2015– · death metal 2.775

21 My Dying Bride

United Kingdom · 1990– · doom metal 2.726

22 Carcass

United Kingdom · 1985– · death metal 2.617

23 Children of Bodom

Finland · 1997–2019 · melodic death metal 2.300

24 Possessed

United States of America · 1983– · death metal 2.280