Metal and Gothic Literature: Examining the Darker Side of Life (and Death)

This article examines the connections between Gothic literature and the lyrics in Death metal music, specifically the lyrics of Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, and Deicide. The study examined the lyrics for each band’s first 3 albums and their most recent three albums, looking for Gothic characteristics. Further, the study aims to see if bands are changing their focus in terms of lyrics over the span of their careers — especially in terms of the Gothic tenets they incorporate into their songs and how they connect to traditional Gothic texts. This study continues the research begun in the article appearing in Heavy Metal Music in Britain