How to Write Blackened Death Metal Songs

You want songs that hit like a ritual and feel like a funeral pyre in a cathedral. You want riffs that smell like sulfur and melodies that sound like a scream at midnight. Blackened death metal is a brutal hybrid that borrows the tremolo atmosphere of black metal and the technical violence of death metal. This guide walks you from a first ugly riff to a full song that rings in skulls and playlists.

This is written for artists who want to write smarter and faster. You will get practical riff blueprints, vocal coaching that does not make a dentist faint, production advice you can actually use at home, and songwriting workflows that avoid the usual boilerplate. No fluff. No lecture. Just dark, usable craft with a personality that keeps you awake.

What Is Blackened Death Metal

Blackened death metal combines two extreme metal families. From black metal it borrows tremolo picking, icy atmospheres, high reverb, and lyrical darkness. From death metal it borrows low tuned guitars, guttural vocals, complex riffing, and technical drumming. Think of it as two aggressive species mating in a mosh pit and making terrifying but powerful music.

Quick term list so you do not read the rest like a confused archaeologist.

• Tremolo picking Picking the same note rapidly with alternating pick strokes to create a sustained, buzzing texture.
• Blast beat A drum pattern that often uses rapid snare and kick hits to create a wall of sound. It is more than style. It drives intensity.
• Growl Low guttural vocal technique common in death metal.
• Scream Higher pitched harsh vocal common in black metal.
• BPM Beats per minute. The tempo of your song.
• EQ Short for equalization. A mixer tool that adjusts frequencies.
• DAW Digital audio workstation. The software where you record and arrange your song. Examples are Reaper, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools.
• VST Virtual Studio Technology. A plugin format for instruments and effects.

Core Elements to Nail

Blackened death metal is detail heavy. Nail these elements and your song will feel like a living thing rather than a bunch of angry noises.

• Riffs with purpose A riff should have an identity that returns. If it does not make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up the first time you play it, rewrite it.
• Dynamic drums Blast beats are common. Use them like a weapon not a paint brush. Bring them in and out to control tension.
• Atmosphere Reverb, tremolo chords, and ambient layers create the blackened sensation. Use them to make the world of the song feel cold and unforgiving.
• Vocal contrast Growls and shrieks together create narrative tension. Use them to voice different characters or emotional peaks.
• Production choices Tone is everything. A muddy mix kills intensity. Learn how to carve space so each element hits with force.

Riff Building Blocks

Riffs are the language of extreme metal. You cannot fake it. Start with a small vocabulary and expand. Below are riff types that show up in blackened death songs and how to write them.

1. Tremolo Texture Riff

Technique

• Pick a single note or dyad and play it with steady alternate picking. Use eighth notes or sixteenth notes depending on tempo.
• Add chromatic passing notes. Chromaticism gives a snake like creepiness that fits blackened vibes.
• Keep the palm muting light so the tone remains buzzing not stifled.

Example idea

Play an open low string. Tremolo pick while sliding a minor second up on the second measure. Add a sparse high octave tremolo to create a distant bird of prey effect.

2. Technical Death Riff

Technique

• Use fast alternate picking and string skipping. Think in short phrases that repeat with a twist.
• Combine triplet bursts with straight sixteenth runs to make the rhythm feel unpredictable.
• Use diminished arpeggios and diminished scale fragments for a dissonant edge.

Example idea

Play a palm muted chug on the tonic. On the second bar move into a rapid arpeggio that outlines a diminished seventh. Repeat the pattern with a different ending to keep listeners guessing.

3. Melodic Lead Riff

Technique

• Use the harmonic minor scale for a dark, exotic color. The raised seventh gives tension that resolves into minor tonics nicely.
• Use minor second intervals and trills to add black metal tension.
• Layer with a clean or reverbed guitar an octave up to create shimmer.

Example idea

Create a slow melody that steps through the harmonic minor. On the heavy section, double it at the octave with distortion. On the atmospheric section, play it clean with heavy reverb.

4. Chugging Groove Riff

Technique

• Sync palm muted low strings with kick drum hits to create a tight groove.
• Alternate between open low notes and down tuned power chords for contrast.
• Use rests intentionally. Silence can crush as much as sound.

Example idea

Write a four bar loop. Bars one and three are rhythmic chugs. Bars two and four resolve into a tremolo riff. That contrast keeps energy high without exhausting the listener.

Scales and Harmony That Fit

Learn these seven scale attitudes so your riffs sound intentional not like textbook abuse.

• Natural minor The default dark scale. Great for heavy chug and melancholic melody.
• Harmonic minor Adds an exotic tension because of the raised seventh. Great for solos and dramatic chord changes.
• Phrygian Use the flat second. It gives an immediate Spanish or Middle Eastern threat. Perfect for blackened themes.
• Phrygian dominant A hybrid that raises the third. It sounds evil in a noble way.
• Diminished scale Great for tremolo and disorienting lead lines.
• Pentatonic minor Use for simpler leads that need to cut through dense distortion.
• Chromatic Use for tension and transitional fills.

Rhythm and Tempo

Blackened death songs live across a wide tempo range. Here is a practical guide for setting BPM and rhythmic choices.

• Slow atmosphere 60 to 90 BPM. Use slow drums, cavernous reverb, and mournful leads to create dread.
• Mid tempo brutality 100 to 140 BPM. This is where chugs and groove meet blackened tremolo. Most riffing lives here.
• Furious sections 180 to 240 BPM. Use blast beats and tremolo for full throttle assault. Be careful with clarity. Fast sections require tight playing and clear production.

Real life example: When you want the song to feel like you are stomping through snow, pick mid tempo. When you want it to feel like a chase in a haunted cathedral, push the BPM up and use blast beats.

Drums That Tell a Story

Drummers often get the job of moving the earthquake. A few rules make drum writing clear and dramatic.

• Use blast beats sparingly They are powerful. Use them for peaks or to announce a change. If everything is a blast the listener will become numb.
• Play with space Drop drums out to let a riff breathe. Bring in tom fills to change texture. Change cymbal patterns to signal shifts in mood.
• Accents matter Place snare accents on off beats to create infectious tension. Use bass drum syncopation with chug riffs to make the groove heavy.
• Ghost notes Add subtle snare ghost notes to make grooves slump and feel human.

Vocals and Delivery

Vocals in blackened death metal are both instrument and message. You need to be harsh and intelligible enough to serve the song. Here is how to approach vocal writing and performance.

Types of harsh vocals

• Low growl Deep guttural sound. Use diaphragm support. Think of it as exhaling with control not choking.
• High shriek Thin and piercing. Great for blackened passages that need a cutting emotion.
• Hybrid screams A mix of intensity and pitch. Useful for melodic blackened lines.

Writing for vocals

Match syllable density to the instrumentation. If the guitar is busy, give the vocalist space. If the guitar is sparse, fill with rhythmic lyrics. Use chorus sections for a repeating vocal motif or chant that listeners can latch onto live.

Performance tip

Record multiple takes. Harsh vocals vary with throat condition and energy. Stack multiple takes to create a cavernous, monstrous voice. Add a subtle pitch shifted layer an octave below for a demonic undercurrent. This method is a standard in modern metal production and can be achieved with many free plugins.

Lyrics That Stick and Scare

Blackened death lyrics can easily fall into cliché. Use these approaches to be dark without sounding like a novelty tarot reader.

• Be specific Use objects and actions. A concrete image like a cracked rosary or a frost bitten letter is stronger than a generic line about despair.
• Use myth and personal truth Blend folklore with personal or social commentary. The contrast creates depth.
• Avoid obvious satanic filler Unless you have a fresh angle, do not use rote satanic references. Think atmosphere first.
• Write a ritual chorus Short, repetitive, and chant like. Make it a hook people can shout at shows.

Real life relatable scenario

Write a chorus like a text message you would send to yourself at 2 a.m. after a bad gig. Keep it blunt but vivid. It might be one line repeated with a slight twist on the last repeat. That human touch stops the song from sounding like a cardboard horror movie.

Structure and Arrangement

Blackened death songs can be sprawling but they must keep momentum. Use clear shapes and recurring motifs.

Reliable song forms

• Classic form Intro riff, verse, blast chorus, verse, midsection, final chorus. Use the midsection as an atmosphere breaker with clean guitar or choir pad.
• Through composed form For narrative songs. Let riffs evolve and return with variation. Great for epic storytelling.
• Two motif form Create two strong riffs A and B. Rotate them and vary tempo or key to create dynamics.

Transitions

• Use a drum fill to pivot tempo and introduce a new riff.
• Insert a clean interlude under a vocal chant to reset ears before the next heavy section.
• Modulate a half step or whole step up to increase tension for the final chorus or solo.

Tone and Production

Tone is the currency of heavy music. You can have killer riffs but if the sound is muddy you will lose impact. Below are studio proven approaches for different budgets.

Guitars

• Pickups Use high output humbuckers. They push the amp and cut through the mix.
• Amp or amp sim If you do not own a physical amp use an amp simulator plugin. Many modern sims sound very convincing. Dial in tight low mids and scooped lower midrange as needed to avoid boom.
• Cabinet and mic For real cabs use a dynamic mic on the cone and a condenser a bit off axis to capture air. Combine signals for presence and low end.
• Double tracking Record the same guitar part twice and pan wide. Slight timing differences create thickness. Do not over compress at this stage.

Bass

Lock the bass with the kick. In heavy music it is easy to let the guitar steal low frequencies. Use an EQ to carve space. Consider blending a DI tracked signal with an amp sim to keep clarity and weight. Distorted bass layers can help a riff feel more brutal but use them carefully to avoid mud.

Drums

For studio drums either use a real kit with tight mic technique or a modern drum sampler with humanized velocity. Edit for timing but keep some human variation. Too perfect feels fake and cold in this genre.

Vocals and ambience

Double harsh vocal lines and pan aggressively for a monstrous wall. Add reverb on shrieks to push them into cathedral space. Apply subtle delay on certain lines to create eerie echoes. Use room ambience sparingly so it does not wash the mix.

Mixing tips

• High pass guitars Remove below 80 Hz to let the kick and bass breathe.
• Side chain or duck Low guitar body can be tamed by ducking the sub region when the kick hits.
• Parallel compression Use on drums and bass to add weight without killing transients.
• Reference tracks Always A B against a well mixed album in the same genre. This keeps your low end and loudness expectations realistic.

Writing Workflows and Exercises

Writing brutal, memorable songs needs discipline and play. Below are exercises to build speed and quality.

Riff diary

Keep a folder or phone note called Riff Diary. Every time you have a short idea record a 30 second clip. Even if it is only two chugs and a melody. After two weeks you have dozens of seeds. Organize them by mood and tempo and then start pairing riffs that feel compatible.

Two minute riff challenge

Set a timer for two minutes. Write the simplest riff you can. Record it. Do this five times. Then pick the one that makes you grin. Expand that one into a 16 bar phrase and add a counter riff.

Vocal window

Record yourself speaking the lyrics you plan to sing in a quiet room. This helps you find natural phrasing and breath points. Turn the spoken version into a growl. Record three takes with different emotional focus. One angry, one cold, one theatrical.

Tempo experiment

Take a riff and play it at three different BPMs. Sometimes the right tempo makes a riff feel like a revelation. Save a version of each tempo and listen with fresh ears the next day.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

• Too many ideas Keep to a few strong motifs. If your song has ten riffs the listener will not remember a single one. Focus on two or three that you repeat with variation.
• Muddy low end Use high pass filters on guitars, tighten the kick, and make sure bass is present. Check your mix on headphones and small speakers.
• Overused blast beats Use them for purpose. Replace some with half time sections to make blasts land harder.
• Vocal strain If you can only scream properly for five minutes you are doing vocal technique wrong. Learn breathing and placement. Drink water. Rest your voice. Your throat is not an industrial trash compactor.
• Generic lyrics Avoid stock occult metaphors unless you add a personal or cultural twist that gives them meaning.

Budget Gear That Actually Works

You do not need a golden studio to write heavy songs. Here is a pragmatic setup that works.

• DAW Reaper is affordable and powerful. Use it for recording and editing.
• Interface Any 2 input USB interface with good preamps like Focusrite will do.
• Microphones A dynamic mic for guitar cabs and a condenser for ambience are enough. Shure SM57 is a classic for a reason.
• Guitar A guitar with a low tuned setup and high output pickups. If you are broke tune to drop C or drop B on a standard guitar to get low tones.
• Plugins Use a quality amp sim, a good EQ, a compressor, and a reverb. There are excellent free amp sims and reverbs available.

Releases and Live Considerations

Writing a great song ends in two important places. Releasing it and playing it live. Both require practical thinking.

• Single strategy Choose a riff heavy, relatively accessible song as your first single. It is the hook that draws new listeners into the deeper, darker pieces.
• Mastering loudness Metal needs energy but do not squash dynamics to chase loudness. A well mixed song with dynamic peaks hits harder in a pit than a brick wall of compressed noise.
• Live arrangement Simplify for live. Some studio layers will not translate. Keep the core riffs and find a few cues where you can trigger ambient parts from a backing track only if necessary. Practice transitions so no one is counting measures onstage under pressure.

A Songwriting Checklist You Can Use Tonight

1. Write a one sentence core idea for the song. Make it an image. Example: A cathedral clock that never stops and a burnt letter nailed to the pew.
2. Record three raw riff ideas into your phone.
3. Pick a tempo and demo a two riff loop in your DAW.
4. Write a short chant like a chorus that repeats a single phrase three times.
5. Draft one verse with three concrete images and one line that moves the story.
6. Do a basic mix with guitar panned doubles, a solid kick, and a vocal test. If anything feels muddy, carve the guitars with EQ.
7. Play it for one friend who hates you and one who loves you. Note what line they hum and adjust the chorus accordingly.

Song Examples and Analysis

Study songs by bands that blend black and death metal to understand choices. Listen to how riffs return, how vocals change texture, and how atmosphere is produced. Pay attention to song length and where tension is released. Deconstruct one song a week and extract a technique you can use in your next riff.

Quick study idea

Pick a song. Timestamp the first memorable riff. Ask why that riff is memorable. Is it rhythm, interval, tone, or placement in the arrangement? Copy the technique not the notes. Use it to write a brand new riff in the same spirit.

How to Finish a Track Without Losing Your Mind

Song fatigue is real. Use a finish checklist to stop tweaking and ship the song.

1. Lock the arrangement. No new ideas after this unless they fix something broken.
2. Balance levels. Vocals should sit above guitars enough to be present but not dominate.
3. Check mono compatibility. Some listeners will hear the song in mono and important elements should not disappear.
4. Reference another album. If your low end is off compared to a professional track you admire, fix it now.
5. Export a master version and listen in the car, on earbuds, and on laptop speakers. If it works in three of those, you are close.

FAQ

What tempo should I use for blackened death metal

There is no single tempo. Use slow tempos for oppressive atmosphere, mid tempo for groove and chug, and high tempos for full assault. Test a riff at three tempos to find the most commanding pace for that riff.

How do I get a thick guitar tone at home

Double track your guitars and pan them wide. Use high output pickups and an amp sim or real amp with tight low mids. High pass guitars under 80 Hz to avoid clashing with kick and bass. Blend a clean octave or reverb layer in the background for more presence.

Can I write blackened death metal without a drummer

Yes. Use realistic drum libraries with humanized velocity. Program dynamics carefully and leave some micro timing variation. When possible, record a live drummer for final tracking but demos and even full releases can be made with high quality samples.

How do I learn harsh vocals without hurting my throat

Study technique. Harsh vocals use breath control and throat shaping not brute force. Warm up like a singer. Use diaphragmatic support and avoid pushing. Take lessons or follow trusted online coaches who explain placement and safety. Rest and hydration are essential.

What lyrical themes work best

Atmosphere beats shock. Use mythology, personal struggle, political commentary, or natural imagery. Be specific. A single unique image will make a whole song feel real. Avoid purely jokey or camp horror unless you intend parody.

Should I tune down

Lower tuning increases heaviness. Common options are drop C, drop B, or even lower with extended range guitars. Make sure your guitar setup supports the tuning and that your tone does not become too flabby in the low end. Adjust string gauge accordingly.

How long should a blackened death song be

Most land between three and seven minutes. Keep sections purposeful. If a passage repeats without new information, cut it or add variation. Expanded length works for storytelling but only when every minute contains character or development.

What plugins or tools are essential

An amp simulation, an EQ, a compressor, a reverb, and a drum sampler are the core tools. Later add a multi band compressor and a limiter for mastering. Many excellent free and affordable plugins exist so you can get professional sounding results without a wealthy patron.