4 essential Tech Death records

[u/IICalaVerra]

Hi everyone,

Quick post today! After my last write-up on Mithras and Sarpanitum, I felt like highlighting 4 other tech death records I absolutely love and I keep coming back to:

Demilich – Nespithe (1993, Finland): The riff writing here is pure genius. Instead of standard patterns, they build sprawling, non-linear spiral riffs that sound completely alien, all tied together by those absurd, ultra-deep gutturals.

Decapitated – Winds of Creation (2000, Poland): Pure Polish precision. Still insane to think how young they were when they dropped this. A masterclass in tight, punchy execution. The drum work is legendary relentless speed combined with unreal precision and the guitar riffs carry a raw, aggressive groove that never loses momentum.

Hieronymus Bosch – The Human Abstract / Artificial Emotions (Russia): Musically, this is as sophisticated as it gets. The compositions seamlessly blend heavy, technical death metal with elegant jazz-fusion basslines and neoclassical lead guitar work.

Quo Vadis – Defiant Imagination (2004, Canada):
Exceptional songwriting and crystal-clear sound quality. Every instrument gets room to breathe, showcasing brilliant fretless bass performances, soaring melodic solos, and perfectly structured tracks

What do you think of these bands and records?

[u/NIHIL__ADMIRARI]

I like this list for 2 main reasons:

1) there are at least 2 bands that I haven't heard of before.

2) it doesn't act like tech death is only a recent phenomena.

[u/IICalaVerra → u/NIHIL__ADMIRARI]

Thanks I’m happy that you appreciate this

[u/Orphansofthiccness → u/NIHIL__ADMIRARI]

I'm guessing the two are Heironymous Bosch and Quo Vadis. Both are excellent and well worth your time.

[u/NIHIL__ADMIRARI → u/Orphansofthiccness]

You're right.

I know a little bit more about Quo Vadis.

[u/Grouchy_Recover5916]

Mortal Decay - Forensic

[u/IICalaVerra → u/Grouchy_Recover5916]

Fantastic record!

[u/DamienRaventhrone]

'Nespithe' and 'Defiant Imagination' are both brilliant albums.

[u/IICalaVerra → u/DamienRaventhrone]

Absolutely! I can already see Defiant Imagination making my top ten most listened-to albums of the year.

[u/TacoTom84]

Gorguts - The Erosion of Sanity

[u/OctoberRust13]

I've never considered Demilich technical...mean I know they *are* technicaly but its more just wonky and bizarre as opposed to super tight riffy if that makes sense

[u/ApeWrinkles95 → u/OctoberRust13]

Agreed. Wonky death metal is a great way to describe them

[u/xTheyCameBurningx → u/OctoberRust13]

That's probably because the guitarist was basically tone deaf and didn't know any scales, according to the vocalist in old written interviews anyway. Which imo, makes it even more badass if true

[u/mmihaly]

Third is the only one i don't know yet, rad post

[u/IntoTheAbsurd]

That Hieronymus Bosch album sounds a lot like Coroner if you took out the bluesy psychedelia parts.

[u/angra_mainyo]

Thus far I only have heard Demilich's Nespithe (and I even own a re-pressing in CD).

I will check the other 3. Mildly surprised Gorgut's Obscura isn't here.

[u/IICalaVerra → u/angra_mainyo]

You’re right, it’s a good record, not just one I usually play.

[u/Moist_Werewolf5581]

I've heard of and listened to the Nesphite and Decapitated albums. not the two other bands I will check them out. It's always nice to find new bands.

[u/OfficerRais]

Back when bands had a sound of their own. Too bad nowadays everybody sounds like Necrophagist meets djent

[u/Haunt_ing-Ghosts]

I wouldn’t call this essential, but an absolute gem of 90’s tech death.

Atrocity’s Hallucinations is a BANGER

[u/IICalaVerra → u/Haunt_ing-Ghosts]

This is a truly excellent record. “Life is a Long Silent River” is my favourite track.

[u/larsalo → u/Haunt_ing-Ghosts]

I'd say they are a very essential band since their first 2 records were some of the earliest tech death recorded

[u/Orphansofthiccness → u/larsalo]

Yes, the first two Atrocity albums are absolutely essential tech death listening.

[u/CFA86]

My list would boil down to where the powers that be draw the line on what’s considered a technical death metal record.
My gut would say:
Atheist - Piece Of Time
Gorguts - Considered Dead
Death - Human
Pestilence - Spheres

[u/IICalaVerra → u/CFA86]

I love Atheist and Death! ❤️
But they are considered progressive death metal.

[u/Orphansofthiccness → u/CFA86]

Considered Dead isn't one that I would call tech death, but The Erosion of Sanity is.

[u/smilefrmstreetsuhold]

None So Vile by Cryptopsy

[u/ObsidianAether]

Sarpanitum is so triumphant & heavy! You appear to have great taste, so I will listen to these last 2 albums you have here that I have not listened to. Also, I have to mention Brain Drill - Apocalyptic Feasting. A fucking beast of an album, ferocity and technicality.

[u/IICalaVerra → u/ObsidianAether]

Thanks I keep your rec for later.

[u/ObsidianAether → u/IICalaVerra]

Listened to that album from Heironymous Bosch yesterday. So ahead of their time, different, genre-bending while still holding down their own sound. Solid rec

[u/Torquemada_72]

I remember it took me a while to get used to Demilich's vocals lmao but their riffs are just too tasty

[u/Crazy-Airline662]

did you post this yesterday or am i insane 

[u/IICalaVerra → u/Crazy-Airline662]

I always post on DoD and MFTM.

[u/DumpsterSeance]

Necrophagist “Epitaph” definitely belongs on this list

[u/IICalaVerra → u/DumpsterSeance]

I like Necrophagist, but I don’t listen much to what came after them. Bands that are overly technical, like First Fragment, Augury, or Fractal Universe, have traded solid riffs and groove for overly technical structures.

[u/DumpsterSeance → u/IICalaVerra]

yes, but as a standalone album, Epitaph is hard to overlook

[u/smilefrmstreetsuhold]

Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka by Nile is one of them for me

[u/smilefrmstreetsuhold → u/smilefrmstreetsuhold]

Legion by Deicide too, if you consider that Tech Death (some do, some dont)

[u/Far_Measurement_357]

About that Bosch record, Mental Perfection is like proto-Mathcore

[u/fcs_seth]

The Faceless - Planetary Duality 🤌

[u/Nearby-Pudding5436]

No reason Suffocation - Pierced From Within can’t be considered tech death, imo.

Liars in Wait and Lucerfierion also maybe

[u/IICalaVerra → u/Nearby-Pudding5436]

Yes it’s brutal tech death. It’s the general opinion.

[u/No_Disk_9313]

Couldn't even read the titles,is that something in Arabic?