Death grunt - Definition

The death grunt (also called death growl or death vocals or, derisively, "Cookie Monster vocals") is a vocal style typically employed by death metal and grindcore bands. It is commonly a low growled or grunted sound. Typically the vocals are difficult to decipher, especially to the untrained ear. Some vocalists, however, are capable of grunting ferociously, whilst keeping it all intelligible.

It is said that it was first done by Kam Lee when he was with Death/Mantas in 1983/1984.

Death grunts are also employed by doom death metal and some gothic metal bands, but commonly in a somewhat more accessible way.

Key Artists

• Mark 'Barney' Greenway (Napalm Death)
• Lee Dorrian (Napalm Death)
• Martin van Drunen (Pestilence, Asphyx, Bolt Thrower, Comecon)
• Sylvain Houde (Kataklysm)
• Dave Ingram (Benediction, Bolt Thrower)
• Kam Lee (Massacre, Death)
• Darren Moore (Mourning Beloveth)
• Frank Mullen (Suffocation)
• Chris Reifert (Autopsy, Abscess)
• Chuck Schuldiner (Death)
• Bill Steer (Carcass)
• John Tardy (Obituary)
• Jeffrey Walker(Carcass, Blackstar)
• Karl Willetts (Bolt Thrower)
• Lord Worm (Cryptopsy)
• Sven aka Svencho (Aborted)
• Mike Lofberg (In-Quest)
• Mikael Åkerfeldt(Opeth)
• Ian Campbell Neuraxis