Six Feet Under

The American death metal band Six Feet Under was formed in 1993 in Tampa, Florida. The band was founded by Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes and Obituary guitarist Allen West. They were joined by bassist Terry Butler, who had previously played with Massacre and Death, and drummer Greg Gall. Since three members of the original lineup were well-known musicians in death metal circles, the band can be considered a supergroup. Their music is simple, groove-based death metal, which is why the term “death ’n’ roll” is often used to describe their style. Their songs deal with themes of death, murder, violence, politics, and marijuana.

Over the course of their career, they have released twelve albums, selling over 370,000 copies in the United States alone. According to Nielsen SoundScan surveys, this makes them the fourth-best-selling death metal band in the United States. Six Feet Under is characterized by mid-tempo, sometimes fast double-bass drum rhythms, fills, and the marching, deep, distorted rumble of the guitar. The vocals, much like on Cannibal Corpse’s first four albums (on which Chris Barnes still sings), are dry, slightly hoarse, and growling... the bass guitar adds to the destructive atmosphere created by the guitars and drums.