11 Criminally Underrated Extreme-Metal Bands | Revocation Bandleader Dave Davidson's Picks

[@kurtallen12]

Dave Davidson is such a likeable guy. He's a fantastic musician, he's a killer live performer, very personable, and he really appreciates other great musicians. Awesome rec list here

[@mackend17fan1]

Just saw Revocation in Montreal on friday. I had no idea what to expect ive never even heard of the band but goddamn did they blow me away. He is an incredible frontman and performer. Something is strive to be as a guitar player and lead singer. The band Alluvial that was on the bill was also incredible!

[@tuckerbrown9334]

Is he gonna be the metal community's new favorite nerd now that Trevor is gone?

[@psychedelicfright85]

If you've seen Freddy got Fingered, then his name also makes you smile lol

[@sole__doubt]

The weirdest thing about Dave is I love everything he does EXCEPT his music. His guitar playing skills, his taste in clothes and sneakers, and his knowledge about music and metal is incredible. I just dont like tech death at all.

[@caseypeck1501]

The Miasmatic Necrosis tee says it all. This man knows what’s up

[@axiomgr33ne]

Great band!

[@EASM90]

Nah, he names some whack bands man I was hoping for better based on his Miasmatic Necrosis shirt

[@paveantelic7876]

@@EASM90 whack bands like thantifaxath and dodecahedron? L

[@AnthonyFlows77]

Love Extol ae getting some love especially for their older albums !! Heck Yeah !! 👍

[@MoCarcass]

Anata - I have always wondered why these guys have remained relatively unknown, even in the extreme metal scene, as those last 2 records are pure genius and I listen to them all the time. Criminally overlooked and underrated. 🤘

[@daniellynch3099]

I remember them!shit I think from a pit or metal maniacs

[@marcus2239]

Indeed same with Desecravity and Kronos.

[@AdolfStalin]

Same here, they're one of my favorite technical death metal bands

[@TheLotusEater725]

Seriously, The Conductor's Departure is one of the greatest albums of all time. Nothing sounds like it.

[@assjuice_]

Gorod as well

[@psycold]

Extol's Undeceived has been one of my favorite albums for a long time. Amazing stuff.

[@QuincyKane]

Extol is a favorite of mine too!

[@danielcolvin1611]

Yep, legendary album, definitely underrated these days

[@poolsofbloodinyourstomach]

@@danielcolvin1611 look who it is

[@onewhitepony]

Same. Got into them back in 2000 or early 2001..from production to music it still stands so strong

[@deanii3993]

Saw them perform at a Christian coffee shop right around when they dropped that album. All I could think was how they should be playing arenas with their amount of talent.

[@d4ndro1d3]

Finally a metalhead with actual metal recommendations (and good ones) and not rock or other stuff. Good job!

[@patrickbutler1715]

If you don't already check out The Thralls of Metal with Necrotic Nick & Co. .... the man is a metal encyclopaedia with a really varied taste

[@d4ndro1d3]

@@patrickbutler1715 Thank you!

[@eclat4641]

Yay!!

[@sole__doubt]

I think my whole problme is that I love death metal, but I cant stand tech death at all. The changeups drive me crazy, just when I get into the groove it changes drastically. I guess Im too old for that stuff. Love Dave though, hes such a great guy and they were awesome live too.

[@listonrice5230]

So happy to hear Extol on the list! One of the most unique sounds in metal I've heard.

[@AlisterTate]

Double Dave’s got some choice cuts on here. Abhorrent’s Intransigence is such a killer album, was stoked to see that mentioned first.

[@moneybaggjo6234]

Hell yeah, i was actually just listening to the record before i watched this video. Killer tunes

[@BordersoftheJosh]

Great Extol shoutout! I love Extol and have been championing them for years.

[@thetsar7384]

I’ve seen Extol twice. Their earlier stuff was way heavier but the new stuff is so technical, it’s insane. Love those guys.

[@QuincyKane]

I love Extol as well!

[@guitearist]

Extol fucking rips.

[@QuestionThings123]

Remember back in '99 when my cousin first introduced me to Burial. Before that I never even listened to metal. Been hooked ever since. Undeceived is still their best imo though, that album was and still is an amazing one and inspired so many other great bands to come

[@thebiolithic]

Seen Extol twice as well -- once after Undeceived and once right after Synergy. From windmill hair to clean vocals to blasting out to dual guitar harmonies they had a show to see

[@onewhitepony]

I got into them in 2000 or early 2001 with the Undeceived record in hs. From production to music still sounds so strong! I had a friend introduce them to me along with Underoath back when they were a blackened death metal band (yup look up Cries of the Past and Act of Depression records)

[@VIGLounge]

So glad Anata is getting some love. The Conductor's Departure is one of all-time favourite albums!

[@MoCarcass]

It's one of those where as a metalhead you want everyone to know about it and are baffled that more people don't know about it at the same time. A real gem.

[@brennuvargr4638]

@@MoCarcass Same with 'Elvenefris' by Lykathea Aflame! Another band who supposedly wrote a follow-up to this one, but which also got shelved for some reason. Do love 'The Conductor's Departure', though. The riffs on 'Complete Demise' are stupidly cool!

[@jimmybags1494]

Literally discovered them after hearing dave talk about them, what an INSANE band

[@brennuvargr4638]

@@jimmybags1494 Check out Lykathea Aflame, yo. 'Elvenefris' by LA fuckin' r00000lz!!!

[@heyimgoingtoplaysomegames]

Martyr!! Fuck yeah, Dave. Dan Mongrain’s guitar work is so inspiring on their three albums. It’s just overwhelmingly colorful and creative. Dan also recorded lead guitars on From Wisdom to Hate, by Gorguts. Anyone looking for more insane metal licks from him, definitely check that album out. He helped add a swirling jazzy element that only Mongrain can come up with.

[@themadmattster9647]

When Piggy died I used to post on blabbermouth that if Voivod continued they should pick Mongrain as replacement

[@mark_afterdark]

Love the Extol mention. One of my favorite bands of all time and absolutely underrated, no one has heard of them it seems like. Every single one of their albums is so damn good. They’re all a different flavor too, they pushed themselves each album to do something different and it pays off big time.

[@BartholomewHunt87]

WOW shout out to Extol! First time I have seen someone give them props. IMO their best track is Undeceived with the chilling violin intro and lyrical subject matter.

[@QuincyKane]

Yeah, Extol is amazing!

[@grassrootsflshp]

Love "Extol" and so glad it made the list! One TDM band that I think is criminally underrated too is "Ouroboros" from the Land Down Under. Give it a listen and be amazed!

[@lukefarmilo7762]

Love the Thantifaxath shout out. Sacred White Noise is one of the best black metal albums period

[@SamBrockmann]

Extol is amazing. Glad they got a mention.

[@mechcamify]

Dude, Extol! Such a killer band. Awesome to see them get some recognition here.

[@passionateintrovert]

I totally back Thantifaxath and Extol. Great bands who aren’t on a lot of people’s radar. Extol’s Undeceived is the best one to check out if you’re new. Very good progressive and melodic death metal.

[@QuincyKane]

Extol is so fantastic!

[@zacharyseibert4526]

Anata - The Conductors Departure, is my favorite Tech-Death album of all time. So fuckin good!

[@Jakster840]

It's an obscene and unforgivable shame that the new album that they were working on, "Greed Conquers All", got shelved/canned/sucked into a black hole.

[@Talvalin]

​​@@Jakster840 Fuck Wicked World / Earache for that shit. A terrible end to an excellent band.

[@ShredworthyDave]

I remember coming across this anata album on pandora many years ago. I was hooked ever since!

[@abefroman_sausagemane]

Dope Noisear shoutout, outrageous musicianship and absolutely furious, way underrated.

[@richardlagberg8258]

This has to one of the best "recommended-videos" ever done! So many great band (which is most important of course) and then a funny, clever dude presenting on top of that

[@mayankpahuja1876]

Thank you for this, my playlist is gonna be really loud and grimy for a few weeks.

[@johntiter2825]

HOLY SHIT MAN! I thought I was the only person who knew about Cosmic Putrefaction. So glad that Dave knows about him. It's fucking awesome.

[@donniehoffman4738]

I got the last size L long sleeve of Splendor Withers I could find anywhere, it's a treasure

[@EerieExpeditionEnigmas]

Whoa, this is a great list, I will definitely be checking out the bands I had not heard about.

[@matthewlewis8106]

Yeah, I saw Extol years ago at a Seattle bar so small they didn't have a stage, just an open spot on the floor. They brought the energy for sure. So good!

[@apoplexiamusic]

I clicked as fast as i could when i saw the cover of Martyr’s Warp Zone in the thumbnail ❤️ You can definitely hear their influence in Dave’s riffs and composition. Also Dan Mongrain plays in Voivod currently so, you know… killer musician

[@doughsnakes]

Hi Dave. I met you briefly on the tour bus when you guys toured with Voivod in Seattle 2019. I went to Berklee too. And I love Martyr. Wish I had gotten to talk with you more. Thanks for the video - great job

[@bultronlagore4932]

Some of my favorites when it comes to next level brutality and technicality: BENEATH THE MASSACRE ARCHSPIRE OPHIDIAN I RINGS OF SATURN (Not the newest instrumental album but albums like Gidim) FIRST FRAGMENT ORIGIN BEYOND CREATION THE FACELESS SPAWN OF POSSESSION (R.I.P.) CYTOTOXIN NECROPHAGIST (R.I.P.) VIRAEMIA List of underrated older bands from different metal genres: -NOSTROMO -CANDIRIA (Check out the album Surrealistic Madness. There older material is so much better than the newer stuff) -PIG DESTROYER -BURNT BY THE SUN -MR. BUNGLE -ZAO (Older Zao like the album When Blood and Fire Bring Rest. These guys were the biggest heaviest Christian Metal band back in the 90’s and very early 2000’s) -LIVING SACRIFICE -THE RED CHORD -TODAY IS THE DAY -CEPHALIC CARNAGE -CRYPTOPSY -A BLACK ROSE BURIAL (Excellent Horror Metal) -DYING FETUS -MISERY INDEX -SYL I need to stop or I never will 😂. Here is a link to one of the greatest Zao songs that has probably given many people neck issues from headbanging hard. This is an absolute banger so just give it a chance. This is 90’s Metalcore done right plus these dudes were a Christian band (I’m not a Christian but this music is sick and this whole album is a banger and ahead of it’s time ). Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/np2xoWZuesiIh7c

[@BlastHands]

So glad to see Anata and Extol getting a shout out

[@teguhadiw]

Finally hear someone describe Anata as I feel about their music. This band deserve more recognition in the rest of the world.

[@TheDudebro3000]

Great list, and so glad Extol got a shout. Their album’s Undeceived and their self titled are flawless. I wonder if he knows about the Extol side projects called Fleshkiller and Våde… both amazing in their own right as well.

[@z0phi3l]

Checking out Våde, Fleshkiller is really good, so high hopes for this one too

[@QuincyKane]

Extol is so great; I love those albums as well!

[@thebiolithic]

The guys are so prolific. Lengsel, Absurd Squared, Schaliach, Benea Reach, Fleshkiller are basically the guys from Extol

[@QuincyKane]

Glad to see Extol getting a shoutout; they're one of my favorite bands! I love their 2013 Self-Titled album (as well as just about everything they've done, haha)!

[@damiansuken]

Extol is pretty Good. Burial is a total masterpiece 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@JohnUstaris]

Dodecahedron has been one of my favorites, so glad Dave mentioned them. Love everything they’ve put out, and was pretty bummed to hear about their vocalist passing a few years back

[@antoined.4033]

You should check out the composers new band Autarkh. It picks up where Dodecahedron left off, but with Autechre rythms

[@lonewizzard8456]

Dodecahedron---a phenomenal band

[@keel6826]

Awesome choices, thank you for expanding my library. I will add Dragged into Sunlight as one of my favorite criminally underrated extreme projects. Changed my view on metal.

[@lordfresca]

Hatred for Mankind is a masterpiece.

[@keel6826]

Also Mortician

[@metalidads]

Thanks for this Dave! Hello from METALIDADS 🤘

[@michaelschlueter246]

super excited to see the anata shoutout!!! i never see anybody talk about them, one of my favorites!

[@randomguitarnote8887]

Excellent! Making a playlist of all these on my way home, gonna play it shuffle while i fight some randoms on tekken7 😜

[@ZakkiLowe]

Yeah, Dave and I could be friends. Great taste in music. Abhorrent, Cosmic, and Dodecahedron. 🤘 RIP Michiel from Dodecahedron. Anyone who is just now discovering Dodecahedron, since the death of Michiel, the other members are now playing in Autarkh and Ulsect. Check em out.

[@Oxdrum34]

Damn, sad news to me.. Been a big fan of Dodecahedron for years. Their self-titled along with Kwintessens influenced me greatly. Know of Ulsect; shares members with the late, great Textures. Will look into Autarkh.

[@Martin-dc4kh]

Hopefully they get some more reputation now. "Kwintessens" is beyond awesome. Brutal, twisted and atmospheric

[@alexposilkin9683]

Kwintessens has been a favorite of mine the past few years. And now Autarkh is putting out some electro industrial mind bending stuff. Previous to Dodecahedron is Exivious, which is like a metal jazz fusion band. Michel Nienhuis is the common thread through all these bands. He does some great work.

[@Oxdrum34]

@@alexposilkin9683 Interesting that Stef Broks, drummer for Textures, plays on Exivious’s debut as well. I suppose the world of jazz metal fusion is pretty small lol

[@alexposilkin9683]

@@Oxdrum34 Textures is really amazing too. Seems like some really great music comes out of Tilburg. Too bad they’re all defunct. Stef Broks’s play through videos are quality.

[@davidjlosi]

Rocking a Miasmatic Necrosis shirt 🔥

[@theadamblock]

Conductor's departure has some of the best melodies I've heard on any album. Also, come on earache records...

[@fredlaroche6969]

Martyr... one of my favourite band and I can't help hearing Dan Mongrain's Influence in Dave's playing

[@a.azazagoth5413]

Being from Rochester I have seen Kalibas many times and live they are super sludgy, muddy band. Eric Burke is an awesome guy. In the early 90’s when I was 14 Eric was in a brilliant band called Matrikhore and he was so cool giving us opening slots to my band that was very green and not even close to the technical brilliance of Matrikhore and later Lethargy. Such a great musician and person.

[@biorythmicshifter]

I concur on Anata. Amazing band…

[@WillowtipRecords]

4 of 10 bands with releases on willowtip.

[@aplus1080]

🤘😡🤘 now check out Harakiri !!!

[@simondoAF]

Hey Tippy

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Thantifaxah and Cosmic Putrefaction are an amazing shout! Would love to hear more music from Thantifaxah...

[@pnigalion5675]

New Thantifaxath is coming out this year!

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

@@pnigalion5675 LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOO TY

[@viktorkos1893]

I could get used to hearing Dave's picks on monthly bases. Even of older albums, or simply what comes to his mind.

[@seanc2208]

I wish dave would do more metal suggestion videos. His knowledge makes me want more

[@eclat4641]

I agree

[@MilkyHorrn]

Some interesting picks. Will definitely check these bands out

[@raddkahnengels]

I’m fucking STOKED he put Martyr on this list- what a great band

[@franlovelsimic8421]

Very happy seeing Dave shout out Extol, Dodecahedron, Thantifaxat, Martyr and Cosmic Putrefaction! Somehow felt he would know and adore Martyr and he is right, Dodecahedron's drummer plays in Our Oceans, a jazzy proggy fusion banger of a band. Will check out the ones I don't know for sure! Finally someone legit knowledgable on here and with some deep cuts.

[@renatonunez-melgarp2066]

you should check Authark, dodecahedron band member project

[@thinkpad20]

I knew some of these (Abhorrent, Anata, Visceral Bleeding, Dodecahedron, Martyr) but a lot of new ones too! I can tell Dave and I share a lot of common tastes so I’m definitely gonna check them out! 🤘

[@jasonmacqueen1017]

EXTOL Yes highly underrated

[@theadamblock]

One of my all time favorite bands. The three main offshoots from extol are great too: fleshkiller, Azusa, and mantric.

[@jasonmacqueen1017]

@@theadamblock agree all of those are great, I also dig Hrada Peter (vocalist) project. Its very chill

[@theadamblock]

@@jasonmacqueen1017 I'm happy to hear he's doing something. And that style is probably good for his health too.

[@mathias8627]

Martyr is incredible, missing out if you haven't heard them

[@cerveshred]

Theory in practice Gorod

[@firststep7750]

I love this series!!!!There are so many bands out there it's impossible know about all of them.

[@denisherry]

That's sooooo cool to have new to check, thanks!

[@JusteSimon88]

Last album of Haunter and Dormant Ordeal are amazing too... Two band who needs so much attention. Clairvoyance, Ceremony of Silence, misantropæ, if you love you metal dissonant and original! And a last one... Altars - Paramnesia, can't get enoug of it.

[@СтасВысочин]

I like the way he is speaking out about music he likes. Good video, thanks

[@yogxoth1959]

Dave Davidson is amazing. Both at being a great guitar player and being a great guy!

[@sebastianvonp1467]

Dude, great hidden gems! ANATA should return. Saw them when the toured with Dismember and Psycroptic.

[@thinkpad20]

Damn what an amazing lineup. Glad you got to see them

[@thebiolithic]

I saw Anata with Psycroptic too, back to back brutal sets. Can't remember who else played that night -- old man fog I guess

[@Regular_Pigeon]

Props for repping Miasmatic Necrosis. I have the same shirt :)

[@roaddogrob9102]

Thanks for the fun vid.

[@williamarseneau3961]

Nice to have some Martyr on the thumbnail!

[@hobojungle1]

Good call including Extol on there. Their latest album (2013) rocks ass too. For whatever reason it’s not on Spotify though.

[@Charles_Anthony]

Buy the CD

[@hobojungle1]

@@Charles_Anthony don’t have a CD player.

[@RÅNÇIÐ]

5:08 "Please tell me Synergy is spelt how I think it's spelt." Thinking the exact same , man. 😂

[@michaelsantangelo7997]

Cool video. I'll be checking out some of these bands. I would add to the list Lost Soul from Poland. I don't think they've ever toured the states.

[@tubandt84]

Martyr!!! I remember in around 2006/7 when i got into Necrophagist and all that tech death stuff i also found Martyr. I was blown away, awesome and especially "Virtual Emotions", that intro-riff is still in my mind. I'm soo glad they return.

[@joeyuzwa891]

Love the miasmatic necrosis shirt

[@noveltycross1]

Extol is one of my favorite bands

[@psychedelicfright85]

I've had a split of Kalibas/Rune split for 18 years. Both underrated as hell. Anata is another favorite of mine.

[@jbsmetal8419]

Dave and Metal blade doing great stuff with the PR for the new album.

[@guybuddy1]

omfg Thantifaxath is so good... Thanks Dave and Revolver!

[@JediGuy1000]

Just poured a heaping pile of metal into my playlist thanks Mr Davidson

[@jasonweddington3782]

awesome to see some love going to extol!

[@Quantum973]

Hell yeah Dodecahedron was a killer recommendation. Good list Dave!

[@contraband100]

Anata's The Conductor's Departure is amazing! I really wish they weren't on hiatus.

[@ianetheridge496]

Nicely done! Great interview.

[@romaincassignol]

Dave has (of course) a very good taste in technical extreme metal...i'm sure he could have also mentionned the almighty Incurso by Spawn Of Possession !

[@sleepypp101]

"criminally underrated" if anyone underrates Spawn, I have a five pound bag of rocks they can eat

[@luizaliboni666]

Amazing picks also I'm gonna steal his miasmatic necrosis shirt 😐

[@marchanson169]

Sounds like he gravitates to the same type riffing I do. Technical, but always an element of groove to it. I think he would enjoy the band Serocs.

[@kevex3929]

Dave Davidson is a legend. Nuff said.

[@UroboricNate]

Great list, the disrespect not shouting out his ex bandmates band Artificial Brain though.

[@batardglouton5455]

Exactly what I was going to say. Weird. Probably didn't leave in good terms, or maybe he just assumed they were well known? With Martyr on the same list I doubt it.

[@thousandpound1994]

Some legitimately great recommendations here!

[@zacharyseibert4526]

Extol - Burial, is a fuckin masterpiece!

[@nazarf1884]

Dont forget Fleshkiller!

[@mattlombardi54]

Dave is now one of the legends he talks about, since he’s so humble I don’t think he realizes it lol

[@FesteringGhoul]

Glad to see an underground band like thantifaxath on here! Good job!

[@calebbean1384]

I knew about Anata back before Revocation even, back in the high school days around Conductor's Departure, didn't get to Revocation til a couple years ago ha

[@EricBurnetMusic]

Martyr for the win! Quebec represent! Honestly, it's a tragedy that their stuff is off the streaming platforms right now. I don't understand why. Great list overall.

[@tingachhakchhuak6083]

Extol shouldn't be underrated...they should be known by every Metalhead...

[@henrik640]

I'm so happy he mentioned Anata. They are so good.

[@alu.304]

Ne Obliviscaris and Allegaeon are the biggest under the radar bands on the Tech Metal Genre 🤘🏻

[@coreyroberts47]

Allegaeon is the shit

[@donniehoffman4738]

Is NO under the radar?

[@luis_swlr]

I always heard some influences from martyr in revocation and I love that

[@brandonsmith3510]

Nice Miasmatic Necrosis shirt

[@mattstiglic]

Going down the black metal rabbit hole is one of the best musical experiences of my life. Was never interested in the genre until the last 2 or 3 years, and its been an amazing sonic joyride.

[@freddurst386]

Man I am obsessed with Psudoku. Definitely criminally underrated. Like nothing I've ever heard before

[@JohnSmith-zs6pm]

A few of my favorite underrated metal bands are: Origin, Soreption, The Zenith Passage, and Darkane.

[@replicatedmetal]

Saw Visceral Bleeding live many years ago when they were on tour opening for Cryptopsy and man those guys were ripping riffs all over the fretboard and the drummer had a unique style where he was leaning towards the drumkit when he was doing blast beats, those guys and Anata were truly on the forefront of what has become modern technical death metal as we know today and yes criminally underrated, great list!

[@tonytoofast]

Hey have you guys heard Weezer? Pretty technical brutal caveman shizz.

[@brandtcarroll9316]

Gorenoise is too much, I can't handle Weezer

[@cardgamesandotherthings9734]

Man Weezer wishes they were brutal obviously you haven't heard Aqua that shit slams

[@brandtcarroll9316]

@@cardgamesandotherthings9734 Weezer slams? 😆

[@arnodk2852]

I love their song 'Crack Pipe'

[@vladtheinhalerYT]

Too heavy for me. I always have to switch to Cryptopsy after attempting to listen to Weezer, just for something more relaxing.

[@my_milkshake117]

So happy to hear Dave shout out Thantifaxath \m/

[@JosephSaintClair]

Old school, OG extreme band - Sadistik Exekution 🤘🔥🤘