Deathcore is an extreme metal fusion genre that combines the characteristics of death metal and metalcore and sometimes hardcore punk. It makes use of death metal riffs and blast beats, as well as metalcore breakdowns. Deathcore gained most prominence within the southwestern United States, especially Arizona and inland southern California (mostly the Coachella Valley), which are home to many notable bands and various festivals.

Deathcore combines death metal characteristics such as blast beats, down-tuned guitars, tremolo picking and growled vocals with metalcore characteristics such as breakdowns. The genre is usually defined by breakdowns and death metal riffs or metalcore riffs played in the usual death metal tuning. Like in other extreme metal fusion genres, deathcore guitarists down-tune their guitars to give their music a heavier sound. Deathcore bands may also employ guitar solos as well.

Low growls and shrieked screams are common vocalizations. Some other techniques that deathcore vocalists have used include what is known as pig squeals. However, the use of pig squeals seem to be abandoned as a deathcore band progresses with newer material. Sung vocals in the genre are extremely rare and most deathcore bands have never used them, but the idea has been experimented with by a few bands such as All Shall Perish (in the song "Awaken the Dreamers") and Oceano (in the song "Incisions").