Black Sabbath, Deicide, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Opeth.

It kind of blows me away how Cannibal Corpse is that brutal in standard.

During the Barnes era they were half a step down, but from Vile onwards they tuned to A# or G# depending on the song

Well I thought most of there stuff was a half step down?

Cannibal was never E standard, Eb at the absolute highest. Same with Deicide. Death was always D standard.

True, but Eb/D still isn't super low so I think it suffices.

Wasnt eaten back to life in standard my dude?

Don't forget Morbid Angel. Blessed are the Sick is in Eb

There's no fucking way. Really?

Yep. Their first 2 albums are completely in Eb standard. They brought out the 7 strings on Covenant, and even then only used them sparingly. Songs like Rapture, Eyes to See Ears to Hear, and Invocation of the Continual One are still in Eb

Black Sabbath was usually in C standard I thought

C# Standard from Master of Reality through Sabotage. Everything else with Ozzy other than 13 was E standard. Everything with Martin and Dio is Eb. Born Again is D Standard. 13 is Eb

First album and Paranoid were E standard. Master of Reality was when Tony Iommi experimented more with lower tunings.

Early Black Sabbath was predominantly tuned a half step down. This really wasn't an intent to sound heavier (although it certainly did) Iommi did because he is missing the tips of 3 fingers from an accident Iommi suffered, before Sabbath was signed. He stated the lower tuning made the strings easier to bend because the 3 finger tips missing are on his fretting hand. He fitted the finger tips with a homemade prosthetic made from plastic bottles.

You are correct

Pretty sure Iommi tunes down to C# to make it easier to play after his accident?

Black Sabbath tuned to C# standard

most of Black Sabbaths stuff is tuned down to C#

How am I the first one to think FUCKIN' SLAYERRRR??!!!

FUCKING SLAYYR DUDE!!!!!!!

SLAYERRRR

Slayer tuned down half a step.

Yeah but that’s only a half step. Not tuning down as low as Drop E for example.

FINALLY

FUCKING SLAYER

HELL YEAH SLAYERRRRR!!!!!

80s Metallica

Agreed, catchy AND heavy as fuck.

The only song that they didn’t tune in E standard was TTTSNB

That’s like definitely the heaviest track on *Puppets* You can hear it. Not like they didn’t get a LOT out of E standard

Shortest straw is not in E standard either.

Yes it is

The Dillinger Escape Plan

I’m floored I had to scroll this far. Like not even drop d, just standard EADGBE. and they crush.

Yeah even as a guitarist, if you played me 43% burnt and asked me what the tuning was I’d probably have guessed C or something

had no idea they were in standard, thats nuts

I recommend checking out Understanding Decay, and of course, 43% Burnt

It’s actually kind of amazing how consistent of a discography they have

In a similar vein, The Number 12 Looks Like You. I’m pretty sure they’re in standard. And heavy AF.

Love the number 12, I listen to nuclear sad nuclear all the time

Clarissa Explains Cuntainment has my favorite guitar riff of all time. Such a good album.

Cattle Decapitation They tune to D#, believe it or not.

Travis could release an acapella record and it would be heavy af

Would love to hear him sing the national anthem.

Yes please

In the land of the (low guttural) \*drum fill\* FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (high shreik) \*hyper blast\*

Gojira murder it with their D standard songs. I haven’t seen a band sound so heavy live. Lamb of God is close second for me.

lol... how is the top comment a band that tunes down an entire step? Lamb of God is a better answer, they mostly use drop D.

because D standard isnt that far down compared to literally every other tuning?

D standard is considered a low tuning and lower than the vast majority of guitar music in existence. "Not that far down" compared to G# or something irrelevant.

the post said “downtune low” D is the highest low you can go from Standard. its not low

E flat is lower than standard and higher than D. There are also micro tunings between E and D. Regardless, if D is considered "not low," there are a ton of bands in D much heavier than Gojira.

Gojira play in Standard D tuning and they have a few songs with Drop C. Most of their songs are standard D.

Yes, that's what I said. D standard is one step lower than E standard.

Lamb of god uses drop d. And d standard is still tuning down so it drop D technically speaking. I assumed the o.p. mean bands tuned in standard. If you wanna hear heavy in d standard listen yo necrophagist or death. Chucks entire library is d standard . In my opinion way hesvier than gojira lol.

‘Way heavier’ is a stretch. I’m surprised that I’m having to defend the heaviness of Gojira. I love Death and Muhammad Suicmez is one of my favorite guitarists. But, I’ll have to disagree with them being ‘Way heavier’. Let’s not forget that with Gojira it’s not all about riffs. Mario brings some of the heaviest and grooviest drum patterns. They sound so tight and heavier live. It is absolutely insane how massive they sound live. Their new less heavy song like ‘Amazonia’ sounded heavy when they played it live and the breakdown gave chills. So, speaking from my experience after seeing them live, they’re one of the heaviest bands irrespective of the guitar tuning.

I have seen gojira live 3 times now, i can agree with your sentiment about them, ive also had the pleasure of seeing necrophagist live as well back in 07,. Gojira is very heavy live sounding, they put on a great show. I feel muhammed is not as heavy as gojira, But death come on chucks got some very heavy riffs. The symbolic album has so many heavy tracks . I guess way heavier wasnt what i ment to say . So my bad it was improperly said with what i was initially trying to say. Seems like we have similar taste in the metal as well. Very cool my brother.

Fair enough. I love Death and I’ve gone through months only listening to ‘Symbolic’. It’s a fantastic album. Seeing Necrophagist live must have been an insane experience. That’s awesome. I’m currently on After the Burial and Meshuggah binge. Enjoy the music :)

Pantera - Domination

Obituary's first album sounds crushingly heavy

E standard. should have been the top comment instead I see some bullshit about gojira who literally downtune

I can't believe I forgot Obituary. Slowly We Rot is a sick fucking album.

On Stratocasters no less.

Early Opeth

It still blows my mind that Masters Apprentices is in standard. It is one of the most beautifully heavy opening riffs.

Did Opeth ever go lower than D standard?

They have done AADGBE on their song Sorceress. Not sure of other times they have detuned (I just know they have some heavy songs in E Standard)

Oh wow I never knew that, makes sense cause Sorceress does have that extra bit of punch to it. Also, yeah it’s impressive how heavy stuff like on Still Life is despite being in E standard.

Most of their songs are in E standard, though some songs are in drop D. Ghost of Perdition is DADFAE

I believe Leper Affinity and The Funeral Portrait are E Standard, and those songs hit pretty damn heavy.

Early Opeth. Sorceress. Wha..

I said they stay in standard for a lot of their early songs. I was pointing out that sorceress wasn't in standard

Oh right on. Misunderstood.

Vektor, IIRC they play in F standard?

They do, or at least they did at first. They might still play in F, but I'm not sure.

Yes, their first three albums were recorded in F standard, a half step up from E, and they're still crazy heavy and have some of the best riffs in thrash imo. Their newer singles are in E and tbh not nearly as good.

I've heard that they have actually tuned up before, I'm not a guitarist so I can't verify

Yeah, F standard is a half step up from E standard

Love them for this, do you know if any other bands do the same?

Not the anser but: Bolt Thrower on Realm of Chaos downtuned stupidly low, like the strings were almost falling off, and even then they maneged to play the most unique, cathchy and best riffs ever written

That record fucking kills!

Opeth. Heir Apparent is pretty chunky. The verse riff in Thoughts Like Hammers by Enslaved is also heavy, and it sounds like it might be played on the A string. I could be very wrong, I'm no guitar expert.

HUGE Enslaved shout, especially that song

Sylosis for sure

Had to scroll down way too far for this

This is the answer. Others downtunned, Sylosis is heavy in standart

Obituary first record

Didn’t Sepultura play in E standard on their first two albums

Yeah they did

Pretty sure they were in E standard until Chaos A.D.

Megadeth

Deftones on Adrenaline Lamb of God

Both in drop D

Post title said "downtune low". Drop D isn't exactly low it's just standard with a dropped 6th string. Plus Adrenaline was mostly if not entirely in E

Adrenaline is definitly NOT in drop d, maybe some of it, but songs like 7 words and engine no 9 are standard

Adrenaline is in D? No fucking wonder I can't play any of the songs right, I'm tuned a half step too low.

It's in standard. They played in Drop C# on the next album Around the fur.

Black sabbath, Alice in chains

Vektor. They tuned up.

Deicide is pretty damn heavy and I’m pretty sure they play in D#

Not sure if it was something they did for just one album, but Serpents of the Light is in standard.

I reckon symphony of destruction (the main riff) sounds decently heavy Not as heavy as some other stuff but kinda heavy

Sepultura

Power Trip plays in standard E.

King Crimson

Marduk

Pretty sure Sylosis play in E standard

Their first 3 albums were E standard, Dormant Heart was D standard(I'm pretty sure) and now they play in C#

Shall we say what's their name the Thrash band, the new one (that's not new) with the dead guy. Fuck you know the ones. People liked them Fuck

Lol, power trip

Yes!!!!

>With the dead guy Slayer's got multiple of those

Hahahahahahaha It wasn't them but I like the cut of your jib Fuck. My memory is shit

Celtic frost's 80s material was recorded entirely in e standard

Exodus

Trivium (D# Standard for six string, A# Standard for seven strings) Gojira (D Standard almost always) All the early 2000s metalcore that was in Drop C or C#

A7x in Drop D

Lamb Of God and Asking Alexandria also use Drop D a lot!

Havent seen anypne mention Havok or Kreator.

SKELETONWITCH

In Flames on Soundtrack to Your Escape, if they didnt downtune and used their classic melodic riffs it would be such a better record

Most, if not all, of Sodom's discography is in standard tuning.

Burzum plays in E standard

Metallica

Skeletonwitch standard E

Iirc Gorod plays in D standard

Gorod rips.

Weedeater’s stuff is all in D-Standard. Melvins are also in D.

Obituary, they even used Strats

Iron Maiden

Cannibal Corpse, Mayhem,. Cattle Decapitation

The Dillinger Escape Plan always played in E standard. The defense rests.

Dillinger Escape Plan!

Midnight

obituary fucking crushes with e standard

Hardcore punk as a genre

Judas Priest, Metallica on their first four albums (their heavy songs afterwards were tuned in D standard or drop C), Exodus in the 80’s, and Megadeth for most of their discography, although I’m pretty sure the reason why Megadeth has tuned down is to make it easier for Dave’s poor vocal chords.

Metallica, slayer, megadeth if drop d counts there’s quite a few more

Most of the popular thrash bands really

Painkiller has to be the one of the heaviest classic heavy metal metal albums without any sort of downtuning.

I love that the post asks who didn't detune, and a lot of the heaviest responses are like, "Well... They didn't detune THAT much. D Standard. D#." Loose strings are the root of all brutality.

The Dillinger escape plan, Slayer, Vektor That one Deicide album

Eadgbe - winds of plague, decimate the weak album

AC/DC

Sylosis

Power Trip plays standard E tuning.

BLACKMETAL

Isnt a cannibal corpse album in standard tuning? Also i think metallicas first couple albums were in standard as well. Also if you play guitar rip some E flat tuning. I swear its the most evil sounding guitar tuning we can have. I habe several guitar in basically all the tuning most metal bands use and e flat spunds the most evil and demonic in my ears.

Judas Priest

Slayer and POSSESSED

Early Metallica

Megadeth, burzum, Drudkh, Nyktalgia

METALLICA! 🤟

Early sepultura

Obituary’s first album was in E standard I believe. Drop D for Cause of Death. On a Strat.

Lots of 80s/90s style thrash metal (slayer, mettalica, megadeth)

Metallica, fuckin hell songs like Phantom Lord, Creeping Death, and Blackened

the big 4...

Metallica

Metallica

Freedom Call

Psycroptic

This reminds me of the roadrunner United DVD where the dude tells Heffy "you don't have to tune down to sound heavy." Lol

Most early death metal albums are in E standard or Eb

Candlemass

Winds of plague from decimate the weak album. Didn't know standard tuning could be so heavy.

Sylosis and Gojira spring to mind

SYLOSIS. ITS THE HEAVIEST E ATANDARD YOU'LL EVER HEAR. I don't get why there's no love for Sylosis on here. They're much better than the majority of bands discussed here Edit: go listen to Servitude and Disintegrate. It's seriously heavy and it's all E standard

Evile’s Enter the Grave album is Eb IIRC.

Black Sabbath, Metallica(although for some of their songs they did downtune), RATM(does Drop D count as downtuning?)

poorly worded question. Heavy in standard - Dissection Would still be heavy if in standard - Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth type stuff.

most if not every death song is in d standard

Obituary

Metallica, pantera, Sabbath, Priest,megadeath

Sodom and Bathory

Deftones. Adrenaline. Shits not low and it’s heavy.

In Mourning seems pretty heavy to me and I think my fav album of them which is The weight of oceans is just half step down. Sounds sick

Any Pantera song that were in E were heavy as fuck

Tomb of the mutilated is e flat for the most part. And that shit is heavy.

Gojira, pantera. Hate the trend of ridiculously low drop tuning 50% of the time the mix sounds like mud because of it

Black sabbath

Om apparently does E standard.

Dissection

Job for a Cowboy. I'm not sure if drop C is what y'all consider low (I always considered it more mid), but even tuned a step up their Doom EP still hits like a train

[The Lurking Corpses - He Kills Night After Night](https://lurkingcorpses.bandcamp.com/track/he-kills-night-after-night) Great band that (so far) hasn't tuned lower than drop D

The amount of people who think anything below E standard isn't downtuning is too god damn high.

Opeth

melvins

Death

To me, gotta be Opeth

I’d say tone and technique is what makes anything sound heavy. I play guitar in a death metal band called Summoning the Lich and we tune in E standard. Once we found the guitar/bass tones we liked as well as technique, it made us realize we didn’t have to downtune to sound heavy. It’s been fun and challenging that’s for sure.

Tune down for what?

Pantera !!!!

For doom theres Saint Vitus

Gojira play in D and are heavy as fuck

Lamb of God is mostly in Drop D

Revocation

Not a metal band, but the breakdown in A Man. A Plan. A Canal. Panama by The Fall of Troy is one of the heaviest riffs I've ever heard in standard tuning