Just as with a new year come old beginnings – so do old dogs (but not old wolverines) relearn old tricks.

 

By the mid-90s, old Swedish death metal had been lost to 2nd wave black metal, neo-thrash, and groove metal (a.k.a. death ‘n roll). The big 3 of Entombed, Dismember, & Unleashed kept on, but only a handful of newer ones appeared in that period (Vomitory the best notable exception). Melodic death metal rid itself from the “death” part after ATG and others disbanded, and just became “Iron Maiden with harsh vocals.” Arch Enemy & Amon Amarth happened. ABBA and Europe might as well have taken the opportunity to reunite earlier.

 

It took members from bands that had themselves broken from death metal (Katatonia, Opeth, Edge of Sanity) to launch Bloodbath – who quickly taught a new generation how to recognize the thick Sunlight guitar sound.

 

Then numerous bands that had originally started in the late 80s and early 90s but had either disbanded early on or never released more than mere demos, followed suit and resurrected their carnage. Probably the best at this were Interment and Evocation, but others lesser known did just as well – reforming to continue where they had left off. The 2008 book on Swedish death metal helped for sure. Even the old melodic bands returned – but they hold different relevance.