Abysmal Dawn recently released their debut CD From Ashes. The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Charles Elliott after he left Rise. Their sound combines thrash, death and black metal. Elliott is a big death metal fan, and he was gracious enough to give us his list of the most underrated death metal CDs.
1. Gorguts - The Erosion Of Sanity
This is one of my favorite technical death metal records of all time. It's got a good mix between Suffocation style riffing and jazzy Death sounding parts. Obscura is another one that might by underrated but I still prefer this album's more traditional vibe.2. Disincarnate – Dreams of the Carrion Kind
I'm a big James Murphy fan so maybe I'm biased, but this record is amazing. Great leads, visual lyrics and I've never heard a band combine such heavy doom riffing along with technical riffs like this since.
3. Monstrosity – Millennium
Another landmark in technical death metal. This record was so over the top at the time I don't think people were prepared for it. The guitar playing is ridiculously tight and Corpsegrinder is at the top of his game. The most essential of all their albums if you ask me.4. Swallow The Sun - The Morning Never Came
I think this band is loved by the metal press but not so much known by metal fans. In my opinion they renewed my interest in the doom/death scene and are the best of the genre since My Dying Bride. Track down a copy of this one immediately!5. The Forsaken - Traces Of The Past
II like this band a lot and I listened the hell out of this one when it came out. Not sure why this band never quite took off. They're like a more brutal version of At the Gates so I can't see what's not to like.