“Gothenburg metal,” a.k.a. “melodic death metal,” takes its name from the scene originating in Gothenburg, Sweden in the 90s. Unlike traditional death metal, the Gothenburg style features “more melodic guitar riffs, melodic solos, and acoustic guitar work than death metal. It also contains more comprehensible lyrics as well as coherent singing along with traditional death growl vocals.” The Gothenburg style has been a big influence on the so-called New Wave of American Heavy Metal – bands like Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, Unearth, etc.

So, here’s a sampling of the Gothenburg sound:

In Flames, “Take This Life”:

Dark Tranquility, “Focus Shift”

At the Gates, “Blinded by Fear”