Most bands of this sort consist purely of guitars and drum, often two [rhythm guitar]?s, a bass, a drum set, and a singer. The bass player often doubles as singer.
A subset of death metal is 'symphonic' or 'melodic' death metal, where much more attention is paid to melody and harmony, often using synthesizers or other non-standard instruments.
See also [Cannibal Corpse]?, Obituary, [Napalm Death]?, [Children of Bodom]?, [Cradle of Filth]?, Dimmu Borgir, Kreator?, Sodom?, Coroner?, Syllogism?.