How to Write Deathcore Songs

You want riffs that feel like wrecking balls and breakdowns that clear rooms instantly. You want vocals that sound like a throat punching a Ford and drums that make people forget their knees. Deathcore is wild, theatrical, and oddly precise. This guide gives you the riffs, rhythms, words, and production moves to write songs that hit like a collapsing stage. It is practical, blunt, and hilarious when appropriate because nothing says human like screaming about doom while ordering pizza.

Everything here speaks plain. I will explain industry terms and acronyms and give real life examples so you can actually use the information. By the end you will have a workflow to write deathcore songs that crowd surfers will thank you for and club owners will silently fear.

What Is Deathcore

Deathcore is a heavy music style that blends death metal intensity with hardcore energy. It features downtuned guitars, low end focused riffs, blast beat or double bass drums, and breakdowns meant to be physically violent for dancing. Vocals range from guttural growls to high screams and sometimes pig squeals. Lyrically deathcore can be dark and violent or emotionally sharp and personal. It often borrows the technical brutality of death metal and the rhythmic punch of hardcore punk.

Relatable example

• Imagine a backyard barbecue where the grill collapses into the neighbor's inflatable pool. That sudden, catastrophic moment is what a good deathcore breakdown feels like to a listener.

Core Elements of a Deathcore Song

• Riffs that combine palm muted chugs and tremolo picked dissonance
• Breakdowns that emphasize rhythm and low end over melody
• Groove and syncopation that make people move their shoulders like an earthquake
• Vocals that alternate between low gutturals and high screams to create dynamic contrast
• Drums that move between blast beats, double bass patterns, and halftime for breakdowns
• Production that gives the low end weight and keeps the mix tight so the riff hits like a fist

Writing Deathcore Riffs

Riffs are the skeleton. A bad riff is a limp skeleton. A great riff has personality. It tells the listener what kind of chaos they are in for. Start with tuning and tone then move to rhythm and melody.

Tuning and tone

Common tunings in deathcore include Drop A, Drop B, and various seven string tunings. Drop tuning means the lowest string is tuned lower to allow heavy chugging power chords on one finger. If you do not have a seven string, downtune a six string so the bottom sits low and thick.

Relatable example

• Think of tuning like cooking a steak. If it is raw it tastes wrong. If it is overcooked it becomes mush. Find the tuning that gives the meatiness you want without mud in the mix.

Tone matters. Start with a high gain amp model and back off the bass and presence if the sound becomes murky. Add a tight low mids presence. Use a noise gate to keep chugs tight. Use a cabinet impulse response that has a clear low end and punchy mids.

Rhythm and syncopation

Deathcore riffs often rely on rhythmic variation more than complicated scales. Play with rests and unexpected accents. A simple chug end phrase that hits on the offbeat can sound massive if the timing is locked with the kick drum.

Practical riff recipe

1. Choose a root note on the low string and palm mute it for four bars like a machine gun.
2. Add a tremolo picked dissonant melody on higher strings for color. Use tritones, minor second intervals, and chromatic slides.
3. Finish the phrase with a syncopated open low string hit timed with kick drum double hits.

Play it slowly and make sure the drummer can physically hit the accents. If a riff sounds good at 70 beats per minute but collapses at 180 the band will be sad and the crowd will be confused.

Dissonance and note choices

Dissonant intervals create tension. Use the tritone, minor second, and flat ninth intervals as color paints. Chromatic runs work well between heavy chug sections. Harmonic minor and phrygian dominant modes can add an exotic flavor when needed.

Real life example

• Picture someone stepping on LEGO bricks in the dark. The shriek and discomfort that follow are the audio equivalent of a minor second. Use that feeling sparingly to avoid listener fatigue.

Breakdowns That Make People Scream

Breakdowns are deathcore showstoppers. They are the moment the song stops being an argument and becomes a physical event. A great breakdown is clear, punchy, rhythmic, and strategically placed.

Types of breakdowns

• Half time breakdown where drums move to halftime feel and guitars chug on the one
• Slam style breakdown that emphasizes low palm muted chugs with slow, crushing feel
• Technical breakdown that uses rhythmic complexity and odd accents to surprise
• Groove breakdown that uses syncopation and space so the crowd can actually jump

Halftime means the perceived pulse slows down while the tempo stays the same. That creates a massive heavy feeling. The kick drum usually hits on the one and the snare on the three in a 4 4 bar when a song goes to halftime.

Relatable example

• Think of halftime like switching a car from first gear to crawl. The engine becomes ominous and heavy and your body responds by wanting to stomp or bounce.

Breakdown construction checklist

1. Reduce polyphony. Fewer layers mean a heavier punch.
2. Lock the guitars with a low kick drum for each accent.
3. Create call and response between guitar chugs and drum hits for that moment of crowd choreography.
4. Add a short melody or squeal lead to give the ear something to remember.
5. End the breakdown with an impact hit or a drop to silence before a return.

If you craft the breakdown like a mini song within the song the crowd will remember it. Use dynamics. Add a quiet build before the slam. Let tension breathe. Do not just pound for eight bars. Make it meaningful.

Drums in Deathcore

Drums are the engine. They dictate feel and shape the groove. A strong drum performance can make a mediocre riff sound monstrous. Focus on feel and clarity.

Blast beats, double bass, and grooves

Blast beats are very fast alternating hits between snare and kick with cymbal hits on top. They create an unrelenting wall of sound often used in death metal sections. Double bass pedals allow drummers to do rapid low end pulses under grooves. Groove patterns with syncopated kick drum and snare accents are what make breakdowns danceable.

Definitions and example

• Blast beat. A fast drum pattern that alternates snare and kick rapidly. Imagine your heart if it had a heavy caffeine addiction. Use it for chaos sections.
• Double bass. Two foot pedals on the bass drum. It allows rolling low end pulses under riffs. Think of a machine making a steady industrial heartbeat.

Writing drum parts

When writing drums for deathcore, start with the skeleton. Map where blast beats, grooves, and halftime will sit. Make sure accents match guitar chugs. Program or record simple versions then refine fills and ghost notes for pocket and groove.

Pro tip. Not every fill needs to show off. The most memorable fills are those that arrive right before a breakdown and create anticipation.

Vocals: Growls, Screams, and Pig Squeals

Vocals in deathcore are instruments of texture and emotion. Learn the basics, protect your voice, and write parts that serve the song rather than dominate it.

Vocal types explained

• Low guttural growls. These are deep and throat heavy. They create an subterranean feeling.
• Rasp screams. Higher pitched than growls. They cut through dense guitars.
• Pig squeals. A high pitched squeal that sounds animalistic and abrasive. Use sparingly because they are intense.
• Clean singing. Occasionally used for contrast. Clean sections can emotionally land lines and give the listener relief.

Real world safety tip

• Always warm up and learn safe technique. Screaming incorrectly damages vocal folds. Think of it like lifting heavy weights. Use proper form or you will injure yourself. If a scream hurts, stop. Hurt does not equal authenticity.

Writing vocal parts

Use contrast. Let the verse breathe with low growls and have the chorus or title line delivered with a higher scream to cut through. Place a pig squeal as an ornament on an intense lyric rather than a constant feature. Space is your friend. A long sustained growl over a simple riff can be more effective than constant words.

Lyric writing

Deathcore lyrics can be metaphoric, gore oriented, political, or personal. Decide the emotional target first then choose imagery that matches. Concrete images hit harder than abstractions. Even if the theme is apocalypse, mention specific objects like "rusted hospital bed" or "zipper of a coffin" to ground the language.

Song Structure and Arrangement

There is no single path for structure. Deathcore songs can be compact or sprawling. The goal is momentum and surprise. Use form to guide energy and to give the listener something to hold onto.

Common structures

• Intro → Verse → Blast → Chorus/Breakdown → Verse → Chorus → Breakdown → Outro
• Intro hook → Verse → Pre breakdown build → Breakdown → Bridge → Final breakdown → Outro
• Verse → Chorus → Verse → Breakdown → Bridge → Outro

Keep intros short and potent. A long intro can kill energy. Give the listener a motif that returns so the song feels coherent. Use bridges for contrast. A clean guitar and atmospheric vocal line before the last breakdown can make that breakdown feel like destiny.

Transitions that feel natural

Transitions can be drum fills, a short silence, a single guitar squeal, or a cymbal swell. The most effective transitions are those that signal a change in energy. A one beat rest before a breakdown can feel devastating. A filter sweep under a blast beat can create electronic menace.

Production and Mixing for Maximum Brutality

Deathcore production must deliver low end weight without becoming a muddy blob. The trick is balance, separation, and emphasis on transient clarity.

Guitar and bass relationship

Use tight EQ. Roll low mids on guitars if the bass sits in that range. Let the bass guitar or low synth occupy the sub frequencies under 80 Hz. Give guitars presence in the 800 to 2 000 Hz range for bite. Use a DI bass reamped through a bass amp for definition and a sub synth layer for chest shaking low end.

Drum processing

Drum triggers and sample reinforcement are common. Replace or layer kick drums with samples that have a strong attack and a controlled body. Snare samples should have a sharp snap to cut through heavy guitars. Use parallel compression on the drum bus to glue hits without killing dynamics.

Vocal chain

Compress hard enough to keep vocals present. Use EQ to remove mud and add presence. A light saturation plug in or tube emulation can give growls weight. Add reverb and delay sparingly. Short room reverb helps place vocals without washing them out. Use automation to bring screams forward on key moments.

Mixing tips for clarity

1. Sidechain low synth or bass sub to the kick to prevent frequency clashes.
2. Use multiband compression to control harsh high mids in guitars, especially around 2 000 to 4 000 Hz.
3. Pan harmony guitars wide and keep low end mono to maintain power in club systems.
4. Use reference tracks to match tonal balance. Pick two commercial songs that hit the vibe and compare levels and tonal shape.

Lyric Writing with Teeth

Deathcore lyrics should match the music in intensity and specificity. Avoid pure shock value unless it has meaning. Use metaphor, but make it visceral.

Techniques

• Use strong verbs. Let the body act rather than the emotion exist.
• Place a sensory detail in each verse line. Smell, texture, sound, and sight create a shockingly vivid landscape.
• Repeat key phrases as a ring phrase to help memory. Repetition in deathcore can be hypnotic when the music changes around it.
• Write the title first. The title is the anchor and informs the phrasing and cadence of the chorus.

Real life writing drill

1. Set a timer for ten minutes and write the dirtiest, most cinematic image of a scene that matches your song emotion.
2. Pick three objects from that scene and build four one line images using action verbs for each object.
3. Find a phrase from those lines that nails the theme and build a chorus around it using short, shouted lines that fit the riffs.

Arrangement Examples You Can Steal

Compact Slayer of Rooms

• Intro 8 bars. Motif with tremolo picked minor second melody.
• Verse 16 bars. Low chug riff with intermittent blast beat fills.
• Pre breakdown 8 bars. Build with tom work and rising dissonant squeals.
• Breakdown 16 bars. Halftime chugs and kick hits. One short lead squeal as punctuation.
• Bridge 8 bars. Clean guitar and whispered vocal line.
• Final breakdown 24 bars. Add extra accents and a sudden stop. One bar silence then final hit and outro riff.

Epic Doom Roller

• Intro ambient 12 bars with reversed guitars and stretched synths.
• Riff build 16 bars. Gradually add drums and bass until full wall of sound.
• Blast section 8 bars. Full speed aggression for contrast.
• Massive breakdown 32 bars. Use space and dynamics. Add a choir texture under the last half.
• Outro. Slow down and let the last chord dissolve into noise.

Recording Tips

Record with a plan. Heavy music thrives on commitment. Record scratch tracks to get arrangement and then replace parts with tighter takes. Use buses for guitars, drums, and vocals to maintain control over the mix.

• Record guitars with multiple takes for doubling and panning. Keep one centered DI reamp for low impact.
• Mic the kick with a dynamic and a condenser or use a sub mic if the room supports it.
• Record vocals in passes. Get a clean lead, aggressive layer, and some ad libs. Stack when needed.
• Edit tightly. Tight tempo is essential for headbanging cohesion. Use quantization carefully to keep feel.

Collaboration and Band Dynamics

Writing deathcore is often a group sport. Know your role but keep options open. Riffs come from guitars. The drummer owns the groove. Vocalists shape the lyrical phrasing. Producer or engineer will make choices that change arrangements. Keep ego in check and aim for what serves the song.

Real world scenario

• When your drummer suggests moving the breakdown back by two bars you might feel attacked. Try it. If the song hits harder, you owe them a beer. If it does not work, explain why calmly. The point is to create something that lands in a mosh pit not prove who wrote the most riffs.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Too many notes. Fix by simplifying. A heavy riff with space will hit harder than a cluttered riff.
• Breakdown burnout. Fix by using dynamics and contrast. Not every section can be the breakdown.
• Muddy mix. Fix by carving space with EQ and separating low end duties.
• Vocal strain. Fix by learning technique, warming up, and resting. Replace parts that physically hurt to sing.
• Poor transitions. Fix by creating short cues or one beat rests to signal changes.

Practice and Writing Workflows

Make writing efficient. Use templates, riff libraries, and quick demos. Create a folder for riffs and label them by tempo and key. Record every idea even if it is ugly. You will be shocked how often a rough take becomes the final hook.

1. Warm up instruments for ten minutes to avoid broken strings or bad tone decisions.
2. Record a drum scratch at the tempo you want and loop it.
3. Spend twenty minutes exploring a new low string riff. If nothing lands, switch tempo or mode.
4. Lock a riff and write a vocal line in ten minutes. Do not overthink. First instinct often has attitude.
5. Build one breakdown per writing session. That is enough to hone your slow violence craft.

Legal and Release Tips

When you get to release, register songs with your performing rights organization. Upload stems for streaming platforms in the required format. Consider hiring a mastering engineer who knows heavy music. DIY mastering often loses the low end or adds too much harshness.

Real life example

• If you release a single with a weak kick you will hear it on the first club play. Someone will DM you a video of the sound system collapse. That is bad for your band and the sound tech. Fix it in mastering.

Playlist and Promotion Ideas for Deathcore Bands

Create content that shows energy. Live videos of breakdowns, behind the scenes of recording distortion pedals, and short clips of drum takes are highly shareable. Use high quality audio clips for streaming services and punchy artwork that matches your band identity.

• Clip a twelve second breakdown with a caption challenge and ask fans to duet or recreate a move.
• Share a riff writing session as a raw take to build intimacy with listeners.
• Offer stems or a breakdown pack for fans to remix. It creates engagement.

Action Plan: Write a Deathcore Song This Week

1. Choose a tuning and set a template at 180 beats per minute and one at 90 beats per minute for halftime sections.
2. Write three eight bar riffs in a row. Pick the best two and arrange them into verse and chorus roles.
3. Craft one breakdown with a clear rhythmic hit on every bar. Keep the first four bars simple, then add an extra accent in bar five to surprise the listener.
4. Record a drum scratch and test riff timing. Adjust riff accents to match kick hits for maximum punch.
5. Write lyrics using the ten minute cinematic image drill. Pick a strong line for the chorus and repeat it as a ring phrase.
6. Record quick vocal passes. Focus on phrasing and dynamics rather than perfect tone. Stack the chorus screams later.
7. Send a rough demo to one trusted listener. Ask the single question. Which eight bars made you want to move?
8. Polish the part that earned the vote. That part is your headline for promotion.

Deathcore FAQ

What tuning should I use for deathcore

Common deathcore tunings are Drop A and Drop B. Seven string guitars are popular because they give extra low range. If you only have a six string, downtune to a lower standard that keeps string tension alive. Test different tunings and choose the one that gives low end without sounding muddy on your speakers.

How do I write a breakdown that hits hard

Keep low end focused and rhythmically clear. Use halftime feel, lock guitar accents with the kick, create space between chugs, and add one or two small melodic or lead squeals to anchor memory. A very short rest before the final hit increases impact.

How can I scream without damaging my voice

Learn technique from a qualified coach. Use diaphragmatic support, control airflow, and avoid squeezing your throat. Warm up before sessions and cool down after. If a technique hurts, stop and reassess. Vocal health is a long term investment.

Should I use many breakdowns in one song

Use breakdowns strategically. Too many breakdowns dilute their power. Aim to place one or two memorable breakdowns that the song builds towards. Use other heavy techniques such as blast sections and riff changes to maintain intensity.

What scales work best

Minor pentatonic, natural minor, and phrygian modes are common. Add chromatic runs and tritone intervals for dissonance. Focus on rhythm and interval choice more than scale complexity. A simple note with great rhythm is better than a technical run with no groove.

How do I get my riffs to sound tight

Practice with a metronome, record tight scratch tracks, and edit timing. Use a noise gate on the guitar tracks and ensure the drummer locks to click or to a consistent internal tempo. Tightness is a combination of performance and editing choices.

What production choices make deathcore sound modern

Use tight amp simulations or well miked cabs, reinforce low end with synth subs, sample reinforce drums, and use modern mastering that keeps loudness without crushing dynamics. Clean automation and surgical EQ make the mix sound modern and heavy.