Dismember

• Genre: Death Metal

About

Ahhh, Swedish Death Metal. Dismember were among the genre's early practitioners, dishing out raw, pulpy clumps of hard-rocking noise on albums such as the landmark Like an Ever Flowing Stream (1991). Their direct, angry sound -- a contrast to some of the more technical and/or evil-minded bands in the genre -- is hallmarked by savage vocals (more screamed or yelled than growled) and melodic, dirt-dwelling guitar riffs, the latter a foundation of the "Swedish sound." Some have criticized them as clones of fellow countrymen Entombed, and while that judgment is harsh, there are similarities. Unlike Entombed, however, Dismember have stuck to Death Metal, sometimes leaning in a cleaner, more "commercial" direction (as on the 1997 EP Misanthropic), yet generally sticking close to their original style, faced with the tough challenge of trying to relive old glories.

- Will York