Death Metal Underground (DMU) is the oldest and longest-running metal site on the internet with content dating back to 1988. Its mission includes ongoing inspection of heavy metal music, its history, culture, imagery and philosophy.

Our analysis originates in two ideas: that heavy metal is a form of art and culture, and that the origins of heavy metal can be found in the late Romantic movement in art and literature whose imagery and ideals it carries to this day.

Most people want disposable entertainment that puts no burden of understanding on them. They want something they can project into and then leave without feeling a sense of loss. They want television in audio form. Heavy metal interrupts this process and reconnects distracted people with the life hiding beneath our own mental obstacles.

With over 25 years experience listening to metal, supporting local scenes, writing about metal and interacting with metalheads and bands, our staff — a diverse group representing artists, technical gurus and professional writers — strive to represent metal for what it is, not how it can be marketed.

Contact

Death Metal Underground
PO Box 1004
Houston, TX 77411
editor@deathmetal.org

For review, send:

• Email link to an electronic press kit (EPK) including:
  • MP3 of the full release
  • Large (1200x1200px or greater) cover image
  • Contact information for the band
• Or, physical copy to our mailing address.

Writers

Martin Jacobsen writes the “Analyze it to Life” series where he explores the nuances, details and inner lacework of structure that makes a good metal album. In his spare time, he teaches English and heavy metal in Amarillo, Texas and plays a mean guitar.

Chris Pervelis has been active in the underground since the late 1980s, first as a fan and tape trader, then as a musician in the highly influential band INTERNAL BLEEDING, which first formed in the spring of 1991. The band has released five albums: three on Pavement Music, one on Century Media and one on Unique Leader and are currently in the process of writing their sixth album.

Brett Stevens writes as a freelance journalist who frequently contributes articles, interviews and reviews. In addition to his columns here, he is the sole author of the Dark Legions Archive and The Heavy Metal FAQ. In his spare time, he is an agrarian and woodsman who prefers to wander the Texas woods in the company of canines.

Cory van der Pol writes on metal theory and history. A recovered academic, van der Pol now writes mystery thrillers (under a pseudonym) and spends his time cycling the backroads of Syracuse, NY or fishing with his daughter.

Aaron Lynn is an amateur writer, published poet, and heavy metal fanatic. When not obsessing over heavy metal or writing, he watches horror movies and tends to his parakeets.

Mark Crittenden served as Editor of Death Metal Underground from 2011-2014. A full time worker in Information Technology, Mark became enamored of heavy metal music from early times and has amassed a collection of over 4,000 vinyls which he listens to in a comfy cabin by a lake.

Exhibits

DeathMetal.org is also home to a number of exhibits from the past and present of death metal. They are:

• Zines Historical archive of death, black and speed metal zines from 1984 through 1996.
• LARM A review site run by a user named Chorazaim which had short reviews of late black metal albums.
• Dark Legions Archive the original metal site on the internet, covering releases “of note” from the classic years.