Formed in 1989, Deicide are responsible for shaping death metal at every level. When I first came across them I really wasn’t sure what to think of them, as I felt that metal was being taken into an area I personally wasn’t interested in, and slammed their 1997 album ‘Serpents of the Light’. But, over the years my musical tastes have broadened considerably, and in my fifties I now listen to music that may would consider too extreme for their tastes. Over the last decade I have revisited Deicide, and have discovered that I was a little hasty some 20 years ago, and that the band have consistently produced very good albums indeed. Glen Benton is still there of course, as is drummer Steve Asheim, as they have been ever since they formed Amon all those years ago. Guitarist Kevin Quirion has been joined by newcomer Mark English, and the band have yet again produced an album which is a solid example of the genre.

Interestingly, Benton has returned to songwriting, something that hasn’t happened since 1992’s ‘Legion’, with opening track “One with Satan,” “Compliments of Christ,” and “Consumed by Hatred,” the rest of the guys fleshed out the remaining nine tracks. “When we started the writing process,” says Benton, “I said to the guys, ‘This record doesn’t have to be boring, going-nowhere grind-all-the-time death metal. Let’s really focus on the quality of the songs, I wanted them to write tasty licks and catchy hooks this time. And let the vocals give it its definition.” No-one could ever imagine that this was anything but Deicide, Benton makes sure of that, but this is an album that actually contains a great deal of variety and styles. They never really slow it down of course, but there are times when it is more power metal than death, and these changes allow the music to breath and give the listener the opportunity to recover from the attack. If ever an album was meant to be played at 11 then this was it, and Asheim shows that he has lost none of his power and attack over the last 30 years, still pummelling the skins like an album. This may not make them any new fans, but all those who already enjoy Deicide will find that this album is one of their most disparate for a while, and all the better for it.

Rating: 8/10

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