Writing Deathcore Like As Blood Runs Black (& My First Time Screaming on Camera)
Deathcore has been calling my name lately.
In this week’s episode of Sunday Riff Refinery, I set out to write a 2000s-era deathcore song from scratch. Think As Blood Runs Black meets early Agony Scene. Heavy riffs, blast beats, and of course, my first attempt at screaming vocals on camera.
If you want to watch me build this track and hear the final playthrough instead of reading a blog, check out the full episode here:
Starting With a Riff
The whole thing started on TikTok Live. I had no real plan but felt like writing something heavier, and what came out was a riff that immediately took me back to the golden era of deathcore.
To keep things raw and authentic, I used my Five-Minute Metal Tone on the Quad Cortex and paired it with Stigmatized Productions’ Legion of Doom impulse responses. The tone felt sharp and aggressive, perfect for the direction I was going.
Drum Loops and Harmonies
To keep the creative momentum going, I pulled drum loops from the Loudstack Metal MIDI pack. A few tweaks later, and I was laying down some harmonies to thicken things up.
There’s something about Drop C tuning and palm-muted chugs that feels like home for me in this genre.
Bass Lines and Dingwall Tones
For bass, I broke out my Dingwall and dialed in some grindy tones with the Quad Cortex. This might be one of the last videos I use this bass on before selling it, but it delivered big time for this track.
Screaming Vocals
Here’s where things got interesting.
I decided to try my hand at deathcore-style screaming for the final playthrough. I’m not going to lie, it was rough, and I have no idea if I’m doing it right. But it felt good to push myself creatively and add a raw vocal energy to the track.
What’s Next
This episode reminded me why I love this genre so much. Deathcore is raw, emotional, and just plain fun to write.
Next week, I’ll be building out a breakdown section for this song. It’s going to be heavy, ridiculous, and everything I want in a deathcore breakdown.
In the meantime, if you’re into metal, riff writing, and guitar tones, make sure to subscribe to my channel for more weekly episodes.
Talk soon,
Ryan
Check out the full episode here: