I have some difficulty to distinguish between DEATH METAL and BRUTAL DEATH METAL..... if there is a DEATH METAL that is BRUTAL it means that there is also a DEATH METAL that is less BRUTAL....... more GENTLE....... and I don't understand, because the brutality is a basic feature of DEATH METAL, in general......... if it's not brutal it is not DEATH METAL..... it's THRASH....... anyway........ my top five:

SUFFOCATION - pierced from within
CANNIBAL CORPSE - tomb of the mutilated
DEICIDE - once upon the cross
MORBID ANGEL - domination
OBITUARY - cause of death