First Death Metal Band?

faceman

I always thought that Death were considered the first death metal band, but reading a book this weekend, they claimed Possessed was the first death metal band. Granted in the 80's what was considered black metal would be considered death metal now, so genres arent reliable.

opinions?

John

The Osmonds

Pugsley

Napalm Death started a year before Possessed, their more grindcore than Death, but the sound is quite similar.

Karl Hungus

I'd say there's quite a few bands that inspired the sound of Death Metal before there was a scene, so it would be very hard to nail it to one band.

CyberWaste

Death Or Morbid Angel, were probably the more well know starters but probably started underground.

gokgok

Bathory formed the year after Napalm deaths first line up in 82 would they count as an influence or one of the first bands

faceman

Interesting, goes to show how journalists like to make their mark by creating genres and claiming the first bands in each genre.

LightofDarkness

Possessed are credited as the first death metal band, heck they even coined the term as Hellhammer. Although, it's largely debatable as to whether or not Seven Churches is truly death metal or some sort of hyper-active thrash metal. I'm more inclined to believe Death, Napalm Death, Deicide and Morbid Angel played the largest roles in defining what death mteal sounds like.

Alucard II

id class Possessed & Death as the first. people might say 7 Churches didnt quite sound like what we know death metal as, but modern day black metal doesnt sound quite like what it was when it started. there was 2 waves of BM, doesnt mean the music in either era is not black. Possessed were early DM, bands like Death and Morbid Angel went on to refine the sound, and shape it into what we call death metal today.

Sam Hain

Possessed and Hellhammer.