Very odd, my returning to metal as of late...

Death metal amongst the goth crowd is nowadays considered somewhat of a taboo topic that generally invokes jokes about middle aged metalheads, spandex, and most often than not, the vocals.
Death metal, since the early 90s has indeed become something of an artless, unmusical self-parody with a lot of boring bands creating the same boring, comical, mosh-pit stomping, tough guy posturing rubbish, quick to turn most people off.

There was once upon a time, however, when it was regarded as a DARK musical genre, especially back in the 80s, when groups like Celtic Frost, Death, and Morbid Angel would be sporting their big hair, eyeliner, and Christian Death T-shirts. Bands like Entombed, Amorphis, Darkthrone, and Necrophobic were releasing truly morbid, miserable slabs of truly GOTHIC music.
Carcass' first 2 albums were heavily supported by John Peel in the UK, also noteworthy for his support and promotion of the early goth/industrial scenes.

Entombed playing Wave Gotik Treffen 2000 was even a testament to the earlier darker roots of a now-stale genre.

Anyhow, one of the inspirations for this genre was my friend asking me to be the singer/main songwriter of his embryonic death metal band, and I said yes, despite my other 3 bands being diametrically opposite genres(dark ambient, old-school industrial, goth/darkwave).

Anyhow, the kind of stuff he likes is "melodeath" like new Carcass, Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy etc and there is no way in HELL I'm fronting a Children of Bodom band!!! Therefore, I've been trying to find some of the older, darker death metal albums to show him the kind of death metal I prefer to make.

I've started with some early Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower, Amorphis, Necrophobic, Incantation, old Entombed the first Death Album, first Carcass album, etc.
I'm looking for stuff that has much more of a dismal, atmospheric, oppressive, and truly DARK atmosphere, with doomy riffs, demonic vocals, chaotic production values, and an overall haunting and EVIl vibe.

I know it may not be the taste of many here, but additional suggestions would be welcomed. I haven't listened to the genre for aeons.

While it isn't neccesarily atmospheric, I still to this day have a grudging respect for Grave's second album "You'll Never See". While it may sound rather cliche these days, at that time it was likely a true monster to behold. For Death Metal, the songs are rather well written and the riffs are just fantastic. I actually still have the thing floating around here somewhere's.

I don't quite know if it's the kind of thing you're looking for, but I always considered it an underrated classic myself. I'd recommend the bands 1st and 3rd albums as well (though nothing much beyond that), but "You'll Never See" is worth it at least.

Been quite a while since I listened to Death Metal, so if I think of any other names I will post them.

Yes, Grave are definitely a good one!! early Tiamat as well, in fact, that whole early Swedish death metal scene have a nice sense of dark melody!!

I also should add Blood Ritual-era Samael, even though they were considered "black metal" by lyrical content and scene affiliation. That meaty, evil guitar tone and vocal style are definitely death metal!!

Also maybe some of Hypocrisys work? Not only did they have the balls to incorporate synths into their music (which is largely unheard of for a Death Metal band), but they stopped doing every song as an anti-god anthem and started making songs about aliens and what not. And all in the vein of their own atmospheric Death Metal.

Dang now I miss Death Metal too, lol.

It's been a while since I listened to Fields of The Nephelem, but they'd be atmospheric, wouldn't they?

As far as the rest goes...you've listed anything I could've suggested and more so nothing I could add, really. Don't know if you'd be interested in something like Dead Horse. They're a well known band in the Houston(hell Texas!) Metal scene. They're not around anymore, but they were one of the bands I listened to when I was 13, besides Mordib Angel, Cannibal Corpse, GWAR and all that.

Yeah, Dead Horse were an old grindcore band, in the Napalm Death/Carcass vein??

Fields of the Nephilim are one of my top bands of all time, of course, but they are definitely one of the undisputed top innovators in GOTH ROCK! Therefore, atmosphere is a given
I also love the Zoon album by Carl's Nefilim side project, but it's much more towards a different style of goth-flavored industrial death metal that I love.

Actually tonight, I'll be DJing at my friend's metal bar tonight doing a death metal DJ set with a "debut albums only" rule, as 70% of all old school death metal bands tend to end up sucking after their debut album(Cannibal Corpse and Obituary being prime examples). Anyhow, my friend will be there and hopefully understand my musical point of view.....

Anyhow, here's my PL:

Darkthrone - Soulside Journey
Morbid Angel - Immortal Rites
Immolation - Those Left Behind
Death - Zombie Ritual
Incantation - Golgotha
Cannibal Corpse - Edible Autopsy
Autopsy - Ridden With Disease
Obituary - Bloodsoaked
Deicide - Dead by Dawn
Suffocation - Infesting the Dead
Entombed - Left Hand Path
Carcass - Oxidized Razor Mastication

Looks like a damn good list. Shouldn't be any complaints from the patrons.

What about Doomy stuff like Paradise Lost, Catherdral and My Dying Bride?

Out of many other bands I've sampled, My Dying Bride stood out. I think it could definately be included on the "Darker" list, because the band puts a lot of effort into actually inspiring emotion, rather than whopping a drumset as hard and fast as possible. As for "old school" I'm not sure, they were formed in 1990, so maybe they are a bit late for that.

I've been curious about old school death metal for a long time, and this list may help me get started