Dean Attempts to Learn | Necrophagist: Epitaph

I spent some time learning sections of this song about 6 months ago and put it up for members of the channel. I have since paused the membership program on the channel, so here it is! This is me learning this song very early on in the process, I have since learned the rest of it and I'm pumped to show you the cover video we've been working on!
2023 TOUR DATES!
ARCHSPIRE EUROPE 2023
Aug 03 - Velenje (SI) @ Metaldays
Aug 04 - Munich (DE) @ Backstage *
Aug 07 - Dresden (DE) @ Reithalle *
Aug 08 - Kraków (PL) @ Kwadrat **
Aug 09 - Warsaw (PL) @ Hybrydy ***
Aug 10 - Schlotheim (DE) @ Party San
Aug 11 - Jaromer (CZ) @ Brutal Assault
Aug 12 - Bremen (DE) @ Tivoli #
Aug 13 - Kortrijk (BE) @ Alcatraz
Aug 14 - Schweinfurt (DE) @ Stattbahnhof %
Aug 15 - Bochum (DE) @ Matrix %
Aug 16 - Tilburg (NL) @ 013 #
Aug 17 - Dinkelsbühl (DE) @ Summer Breeze
Aug 18 - Spital am Semmering (AT) @ Kaltenbach Open Air
Aug 20 - Carhaix (FR) @ Motocultor
(w/ Shadow Of Intent, Within Destruction & Cytotoxin)
** (w/ Fit For An Autopsy & Within Destruction)
*** (w/ Signs of the Swarm)
(w/ Converge & Dying Fetus)
% (w/ Dying Fetus)
ARCHSPIRE JAPAN 2023
Oct 05 - Osaka @ Socore Factory
Oct 06 - Nagoya @ Imaike 3Star
Oct 08 - Tokyo @ Cyclone
Oct 09 - Tokyo @ Cyclone
ARCHSPIRE AUSTRALIA 2023
(W/ Ingested & Werewolves)
Oct 11 - Brisbane @ The Zoo
Oct 12 - Canberra @ The Basement
Oct 13 - Sydney @ The Factory Theatre
Oct 14 - Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel
Oct 15 - Adelaide @ Lion Arts Factory
Oct 17 - Perth @ Amplifier Bar
ARCHSPIRE U.S. 2023
(Supporting Periphery)
Nov 04 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Nov 18 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

[@DeanLamb]

Ignore the babble at the beginning, and enjoy me struggling! I've since gotten much better at these riffs, you're seeing really the first few hours of me learning this track. It's really hard!

[@auto1nfanticid3]

I'm not a member though.

[@replicated]

@@auto1nfanticid3 no one is no more

[@XeLYoutube]

delicious

[@lilgimpo]

thank you for doing these dude, gets the inspiration going

[@auto1nfanticid3]

Dean have you ever considered that the way you hold your pick might be holding you back? I'm sure you've heard of BERNTH, I learned his method of holding a pick (i used to hold it like you do) and it made a huge difference in terms of speed and control. just a thought, obviously your method works well enough for archspire but changing your grip might be just the thing you need to push your playing to the next level. I played for 15+ years using the same grip as you and was able to change it within the span of a week so I don't think you'd have much trouble shaking muscle memory even if you end up not liking it.

[@thefrugalgearhead2005]

The fact that Muhammed wrote all this, and does vocals while playing it is mind blowing.

[@dorsia6938]

And he's a mechanical engineer. Dude must be extremely hard working.

[@longshanks5531]

I saw them live with Neuraxis at the Pound SF in the early 2000s… I got backstage and got to talk to him and drink a pabst blue ribbon with him, he’s a short guy too, really chill… I also saw Decapitated there, dew scented, and Vader

[@user-uk9er5vw4c]

@@dorsia6938 everyone in tech death metal is a nerd

[@dorsia6938]

@@user-uk9er5vw4c for sure but I still think it's pretty rare you get someone doing mech eng at a level enough to get employed by a major German auto manufacturer and that good at guitar/song writing/vocals to create one of the most iconic tech death albums ever. I'm doing electrical eng at the moment and I really struggle to make time for music, let alone write, record and release some of the best metal music in that period. I have no idea how he did it. Must just be a genius or something.

[@ToxicTerrance]

He was pretty young when he wrote all of it too. Super crazy

[@mstergtr]

Learning Necrophagist you feel so good about learning a tricky measure/riff....and then it never happens again the rest of the song

[@gs970]

So true lol

[@ryanh1892]

"alright cool, I've got 0.03% of the song DOWN!"

[@vxdcra]

relatable 😂 ​@@ryanh1892

[@mariuseggertsson5065]

Hearing these riffs slow and hearing all these little details and intricacies just shows how far ahead Necrophagist were and still are

[@metal_ernest]

And it's only half of the guitar part! All the songs are composed for two guitars, each doing very different things...it's absolutely insane. I've got Muhammed's tab book and trying to follow the riffs is like trying to decipher an alien language. So it's amazing to me how memorable and hummable those cryptic riffs are, which I can't say for the vast majority of tech death. Archspire is one of the few that can do that, albeit not really in the Necrophagist style. Deadborn from Germany pretty much nailed the Necrophagist style (vocals and all) on their first couple of albums.

[@roach5606]

​@@metal_ernestcheck out the band "Fuck you and Die" they've gotten the closest to the necrophagist sound imo

[@flashpointatom]

@@metal_ernest +++ Its a symphony! only for earphones =)

[@metal_ernest]

@@roach5606 Thanks! At first I listened to their first album and thought "huh??? not even close!", but then tried their second/final album and was like "ohhh, yep, there it is!" Haha. Just wish the vocalist wouldn't have used the annoying deathcore-ish screamo style sometimes. And they add a lot of other influences, more than Deadborn did, like some black metal riffing, comical keyboards / video game theme stuff, etc. I still feel like early Deadborn is the most similar to Necrophagist, but FYAD is pretty neat too. 🤘

[@ProbablyNotAChicken]

@@metal_ernest i've been getting into Origin lately and they're very hit or miss, but when they hit they've got that hummable tech death going on where it's both "what the hell is going on" and "i know exactly how to head bang to this"

[@Khaozreigns]

I don't think Archspire has ever included a cover on an album, a Necrophagist cover would be amazing on the next album.

[@user-uk9er5vw4c]

that would be sick!

[@yungplague5534]

Incoming tech9 cover

[@longshanks5531]

Be awesome

[@TrealFOET]

THIS 🙏🏾

[@planetdrinker5385]

Nope. Covers break the flow and cohesion of the album.

[@theepicslayer7sss101]

i can't imagine how hard it was for the guy who covered this song in clarinet! (both parts plus solos!)

[@666aftershave]

Haha that dude rulz

[@Derbearltd]

My friends hate when I pull up that song. Lol

[@Z0mb13moon]

Necrophagist riffs sound so heavy hitting with just 50% speed, that puts the stuff in a completely different atmosphere.

[@gummymetal8084]

Thanks Dean, I love this type video. It takes me back to the "Dean Attempts to learn" videos : ) It would be cool to see more, especially something that you came into cold.

[@awguitarroom8033]

Dean attempts to learn : Polyphia

[@randywilbur3189]

I got to talk to Muhammad during the summer slaughter tour. Super nice dude. He told me "the new album will make Epitaph seem like kindergarten metal." I pray he will release it someday. I still believe!

[@jamieperry3731]

​@@SunBroJohnny hopefully he at least uploads the album one day when the record deal is over.

[@deadiwtd1858]

​@@jamieperry3731i hope so, knowing its finished, id like to heard those last few tracks

[@jamieperry3731]

@@deadiwtd1858 I'd do anything to hear it. It seems from when someone ran into him a few years ago that his main trepidation regarding releasing the 3rd album is that he doesn't want to tour anymore or be in a band, so hopefully he may realise that fans would be beyond overjoyed with just the 3rd album uploaded online without the band reforming at all or doing any shows.

[@deadiwtd1858]

@@jamieperry3731 if he doesent want to tour its fine, id honestly be Happy with just that

[@TrealFOET]

I saw them live at summer slaughter tour too when they were headlining i wanna say in like 07-08.. im so glad i got to see them live just in case Muhammed never releases another album 🙏🏾

[@MetalAsunder]

Muhammed Suiçmez is an amazing guitarist and writer. Thanks for the episode of DATL.

[@ipwnIRLyah]

pretty sure Christian Münzner of obscura wrote most of this album

[@peterphooko1441]

@@ipwnIRLyah Muënzner only wote around half the solo's on Epitaph if I remember well

[@tinflesh]

@ipwnIRLyah Christian wrote about half the leads, some bass riffs and only first half of SIT riffs. Muhammed wrote all the riffs and songs plus the drum parts note by note confirmed by Hannes' recent interview

[@zhiedeath]

​@@ipwnIRLyahnope Muhammed Suicmez wrote 2 album full and for the epitaph Munzner just only wrote half of the solo

[@DG-qv8ge]

most? lmfao no@@ipwnIRLyah

[@monolog7396]

Its amazing how much that album have shaped tech death

[@longshanks5531]

The first album probably more

[@debotoxgod6878]

@@longshanks5531 epitaph is from the first album

[@longshanks5531]

@@debotoxgod6878 no, the first album released in 1999 was called onset of putrefaction, the second album in 2004 was called Epitaph and there is a song on the album called Epitaph

[@DeclanTrippier419]

@@longshanks5531 I think Epitaph had a much greater impact on modern technical death metal than Onset did. Still a great album but Epitaph really set the standard for modern neo-classical influenced tech death.

[@patrickmurphy2443]

Its because epitah he had members playing the instruments onset he did everything himself which is truly more mindblowing

[@korgullironclad1149]

I'm nowhere near the technical level you are so I am amazed by the things you do. I've never learned a whole song all the way through. I've been content to play riffs over and over and just make up my own songs and play them (so I guess technically, I know those whole songs LOL). Part of the reason I've never learned a whole song is that I'll get stuck on a part that seems impossible and let the frustration win. Seeing you similarly struggle but push through really motivates me. Thanks bud. Stay Tech.

[@Ali_0h]

Try some death songs, fun to play and not too hard.

[@casp2150]

This is how i started out too. Eventually you'll get to the point where you can play some easier songs all the way through

[@Isador7]

Identifying the riffs/areas you struggle with for a specific song should show you the exact areas/techniques you need to learn or practice more on to improve! When the frustration hits, I always just take a break and come back to that one section the next day (even if it's a single measure) and go over it over, and over, and over again until it finally comes through! I've found often for stuff like that, usually a section may seem especially difficult because there's a technique that makes it easier you haven't learned and aren't using.

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

It was written and performed on 25.5 inch scale length guitars, you're correct

[@gregharder2765]

I'll double my gas money donations at shows if the band ever busts out a full song cover or two of Necrophagist. All the love!

[@coleholcomb]

One of my all time favorites! I spent many hours practicing this song when I was younger, thanks for sharing your process.

[@justin.hombach]

Covering Necro stuff is always the beautiful mixture of fun and frustration 😂😂

[@geetarwithnick7712]

I missed dean attempts to learn! Its how i found your channel when covid started and is how i found archspire :))

[@thebayconator97]

I've been learning this one for about 2 weeks and I'm almost done! what a coincidence that you're learning it too. thanks for the content!

[@umu5037]

Have you been learning the solo too?

[@thebayconator97]

@@umu5037 I have! it's a very fun solo to play once you get the sweeps down

[@umu5037]

@@thebayconator97 I see, I want to learn a Necrophagist song yet I'm intimidated by speed and sweeps, I'm not scared of dense patterns because I've been playing stuff like mathcore and math rock for a year and helped me to get a certain technique yet I feel I'm lacking of experience in tech death and I barely can play death metal. In the near future I want to start with Culinary Hyperversity because I really want to start playing Necrophagist but I barely have 2 years playing so I'm giving time while I improve

[@thebayconator97]

@@umu5037 it's definitely intimidating at first lmao I've been playing for over 10 years and it still gives me trouble. I'd encourage you to dive right in! take a shot at culinary hyperversity and see where you're at, just start super slow. very often I recommend beginners to learn stuff from later Death like flesh and the power it holds or flattening of emotions because the speed is much more manageable. best of luck, have fun!

[@witheredmedia]

wow nice job! there aren't many necrophagist guitar covers on youtube for a reason...

[@jorgerodman6922]

I love this, it shows no matter how excellent you are still gotta practice hard to get to where you want to be, good luck man

[@gs970]

Do their live reactions!! It would be nuts!! It always blows my mind how they play live so effortlessly

[@ElPresidenteKhan]

I just learned you play in Archspire. Sick! Love y’all’s work! Subbed.

[@pourliver]

Every few years or so I revisit Necrophagist, and holy fuck that shit is hard. The string skip alternate picked part at 8:40 is the kind of thing I can't pick with strict alternate picking, but have no issues with up-stroke on the low string.

[@jd_flick]

this really slams down how practice makes perfect. videos like this are excellent

[@CoreyAllgood]

I haven't wanted to hit you up for the student thing, but the beginning raises a good question. You said "I spent a morning," and "I spent an afternoon." While I know that there's not really a hard set practice time, what on average does a morning/afternoon of practice/learning look like for you? An hour? 4? thanks for the video Dean! I've missed this format!

[@DeanLamb]

A session is 2 hours max. Definitely depending on the topic, but I won’t push myself to cram more than 2 hours of learning in one session, otherwise I’ll get diminishing returns. These Epitaph learning sessions were probably 1.5 hrs each. The song is surprisingly simple, in terms of how many unique sections there are, I was surprised.

[@CoreyAllgood]

@@DeanLamb thanks bud! Content like this inspires me to practice improvements, so I really appreciate ot

[@technicaldeathmetalhead]

@@DeanLamb Diminishing returns or "Diminished to B"? 🤔

[@synhet84]

@@DeanLamb Surprisingly simple for Dean = Surprisingly hard for us mortals. lol

[@rosekennedy9744]

This is such a great video. I love seeing your learning process.

[@spike6385]

Would love to see you tackle something like Finite by Origin

[@user-uk9er5vw4c]

hell yeah, laser sweeps are coming!

[@eugenesis8188]

Yoooo. I really like the videos with you and Claire. But I also really like these. Please make more.

[@hc3550]

I actually heard from a good source the new Necro album would drop when the new Tool album comes out. Catch y'all in 2031.

[@tonyschue5665]

As a drummer the strugglebus is real

[@stiiizygotmediiizy3625]

I have been waiting for you to cover this one!!! you just made my day dean thank you!

[@SatanSplainer]

So glad you started doing this again! It helps us a LOT!

[@Raichulula]

I really enjoyed these videos. Always made me wanna push myself more.

[@ImmaculateEric]

Whats up Dean! just discovered Archspire a few weeks ago. New favorite band!!! Love the content and really hoping to see you guys in ATL on 4/14!!!

[@jamieplatt1243]

Nice to see you learn stuff you want to learn ♡♡

[@norbertremsei]

Thanks Dean, loved it! I have the official tab book of the Epitaph album but never learned whole songs, only sections. Maybe I'll give this one a try!

[@johnathonklinedinst5889]

I'm so excited to see you guys in Baltimore in 2 months since I missed you last year.

[@awguitarroom8033]

Always good to see you posting Dean 🤘🤘🤘

[@tylerallerton1857]

What a monster of a guitar track. Muhammed Suiçmez is out of this world

[@Agte1234]

Freakin wonderful band and job by you Dean!I would enjoy it to see you try the most hysteric, complex, technical and interesting riffs by Converge and Dillinger Escape Plan!

[@SuperTimtation]

I miss seeing these! Btw.. Hats off to how fast you process his riffs!

[@ori2085]

My favorite series!

[@treewisemenllc7281]

This makes me happy 😁

[@hehebwoai3056]

Holy shit! This is how i learn songs too haha thanks for sharing. Now i don't feel insecure with the initial slopiness.

[@HeavyMetalLegend217]

I'd love to see a follow up to this. Cos it's such an awesome song. You did great. You can tell this man loves dark souls game. Only plays the most challenging. It's insane to me that the singer not only does the vocals but plays that shit on guitar aswell. Not to mention he does half of the solos.

[@666aftershave]

Fromsoftware shredding

[@brutesmagootes3996]

This was such a fun watch. I love it when you do these videos! Seeing you attempt this reminds me why I have never tackled this song. 🤣

[@linksysKOW]

i've been trying to learn this song for 15 years... good luck dean!

[@j.pabloquinche3283]

You must be disabled if you didnt at the first year lmao

[@JeffreyEpsteinberg-hx8ds]

Lol what^ Maybe after 2 or 3 years of everyday practice for a newbie, but one year is insane

[@andybarker5687]

Love Love Love Necrophagist. Story telling on guitar

[@adacarsal]

Dean, Would love to see you guys in Minnesota this spring! Waiting to get a date in south Canada in April!

[@deathmetaldownhiller7874]

Dude this song has been a lifelong struggle. Sit down to it for a few days, take a few weeks off. Lather, rinse, and repeat. Can play it through, as long as I play it through in 20 different sections.

[@vishalnagaraj5343]

Muenzner's parts are the hardest imo, it's so impossible to play consistently each time

[@CasualT840]

You’re a great player.

[@MaRsw1]

I've never really gotten into tech death. I only listen to Necrophagist and Archspire in this genre I think

[@Creature1009]

Check out the faceless and the zenith passage and Soreption

[@StillbjornOne]

LIke @Creature1009 said. The Faceless "Planetary Duality" is one of my favorite albums of all time.

[@bloodstaindeyes0420]

awesome to watch u grind thru, would love to see some tbdm!

[@zurabozeman8996]

Every song in album is sick !! Love necrophagist. We want new album suicmez !!

[@technicaldeathmetalhead]

Would love to see Gorod's "Bekhten's Curse"

[@chiquita_dave]

I second this, that would be so fun to see

[@Jjsssssss]

Love this type of content

[@XeLYoutube]

empowering for all guitarist to learn and not fear mistake and not be perfect, awesome complicated riff with weird note time position are great they take forever to get bored with check my free crap metal music and feel great about yours lol

[@Arminized]

Thanks Dean, this is such a fun cover. The composition and performance was topnotch on Epitaph. The music is sick, delicate and even mathematical at times! Anyways I categorize Archspire as one of the pillars of TDM beside the mighty Necrophagist!

[@homunculusprime647]

"How do they play this live?" Exactly what everyone says about Archspire, lol.

[@Veeto]

2:05 when the click happened for every four beats i was like... theres no way a human does that to themselves

[@fufication]

impressive man. i was humming along for the 1000th time. you got it

[@lessthanthreemetal]

This album was written by robots. It is too technically perfect to have been written by humans.

[@justinkroboth360]

This is so fucking good, Dean. Like, this is beautiful content as both a musician and someone who loves Necrophagist. My brain can't even visualize the finger positions of some of these chord structures. I'll stay back here with my "working on ...And Justice For All chops". 😅

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

Hellyes!!! Such a good song. Question- why don't you have a 6 string for stuff like this? Would give your hand a break and probably be easier to play just in context.

[@TheFlacidFlamingo]

Would your band have any interest in playing a Necrophagist cover live? Or do any covers at all?

[@pawe7780]

Papa Dean! Give Archspire a shot, they're quite good, you might be able to play some of their stuff!

[@tophertaylor68]

Oh Cananda!

[@Paragonpariah]

Bout time you covered this

[@justintime2031]

I am subbed....however I'm here for the Necro🙏

[@mattwhitfield9850]

Hey Dean thanks for posting this, great idea on releasing formerly members only vids!! \m/ Have you ever learned Born by Nevermore? If not that would be a sick video!!

[@DG-qv8ge]

love this so much man

[@AdrianBellue]

This was one of the first songs I dedicated to learning to play and sing at the same time when I was 16!

[@cgoodiefunk]

very cool

[@justsomeguy2564]

Band suggestion for Dean attempts to learn, Martyr. Anything from Warp Zone or Feeding the Abscess.

[@Refresh5406]

Necro is the GOAT

[@gregmccourt4730]

Does that axe have gold sparkle? Awesome!

[@vxdcra]

hell yea

[@rocesboyanthony5343]

Watching someone so good a guitar learning and seeing the struggles is encouraging. P.s. thoughts on epiphone mkh origins 7?

[@tomtomthebear]

Would love an episode like this with frantic disembowlment

[@whatmattersmarshall]

Closest band/musician to necrophagist that’s still playing is David Davidson/Revocation. Legend.

[@andrewtucker1548]

you learned in an hour what took me two days. fucking savage

[@ZEPEH-46N2]

Dean, do you like Nile? Would be SICK to see you try and learn one of their more technical tracks! Papyrus is fast and also only 2-3 minutes long :)

[@Mani_Cash]

Master this and in addition sing with it. Mind blown....

[@GangsterPizza]

You're brave man, I'm afraid to even look at the tabs

[@mikewifak]

I’m thinking of getting Guitar Pro mostly just for learning tabs. Are the files for this type of song eh hrm…. Easy to find?

[@FernandoDornelles4321]

it's takin gme 2 years to play this on my acoustic guitar, still not even close

[@isaiahscott5243]

You should do a playthrough of Seven Crowns and the Oblivion Chain????

[@1sheldon]

There’s an official tab book that’s free btw

[@DiamondLifer]

You should learn “The Cost of Catching Your Breath” by We Are The End. I’ve never seen anyone cover their unreleased metal blade material. It’s non stop riffage. Shame it was never properly released.

[@smokebillowin]

When you get the new guitar? I like that head stock

[@commisargamerson1666]

Will you ever do that one person teaching slot again? How would one approach it without being buried by other comments and story replies?

[@odoylerules1435]

Dude i got un-subbed by youtube. Thats weird. I like your channel you help other players get better which is cool. This is an awesome band. Necrophagist is crazy good at guitar. I can only play more simple riffs myself. Like more chug heavy riffs with bar and power chords. Which i think still can sound very cool. But this band is way above most peoples skill level. Very cool video. Im a visual learner also, i like to see people play with their hands and try to copy there hand movements. I dislike tabs for this reason.

[@JWTechn1qu3]

It’s bald bob ross teaching us that happy little accidents are a part of the process.

[@guillotinedeath]

Wish them and Spawn of Possession reunite to tour

[@666voyager666]

I miss necrophagist almost as much as i miss deans live streams...

[@cz875]

I gotta ask, what is your signal chain? Amp, pedals, post? I love this tone!

[@christianmichael3120]

“How does someone play this live?!l” and he’s doing vocals at the same time lol. Wtf

[@LukeG_Eire]

That red guitar in the background looks sick. Is it a custom? What's the make ?

[@kaynesantor8136]

It's cool to see you using the old axe. Is that home for you? You taking that on tour? I imagine you would have to, just incase.

[@DeanLamb]

Nah that one stays at home. I have two brand new builds for 2023 touring :)

[@devvilboyy676767]

I think we've all been here before. " I feel confident enough. *1 hour in* Fuck this shit." And to kick your confidence even lower he did all of this while singing! I'm just... ugh!