Deicide are a stalwart of the Florida Death Metal scene, formerly named Carnage, then Amon, and subsequently became Deicide when they signed with Roadrunner Records in 1989. The original lineup consisted of Glen Benton, Steve Asheim, Eric Hoffman and Brian Hoffman.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 1990, and to date they have released 13 albums. They’ve had a number of lineup changes over the years after Benton and Asheim parted ways with the Hoffman brothers, which included Jack Owen (Cannibal Corpse), Ralph Santolla (Iced Earth, Obituary), Dave Suzuki (Vital Remains) and Mark English (Monstrosity).
The band hasn’t been without controversy, largely due to their outspoken frontman Glen Benton, which seems to divide fans of the genre. There is no denying though, that Deicide have produced some savage death metal over the past three (and a bit) decades, firmly cementing their place in the history of the death metal genre.
Their latest release “Banished by Sin” – released on April 26th was widely criticised for the use of AI for the album’s artwork, which is a mere distraction from the absolute beast this album is. Whilst cover art is important, it would be a pity if any true fan of the band dismissed the album on this minor talking point.
The lineup for this album consists of Glen Benton, Steven Asheim, Taylor Nordberg and Kevin Quirion, and the album shows that this iteration of Deicide can indeed produce the quality death metal we’ve come to expect from these veterans.
Overall the album delivers solid death metal riffs with that unmistakable Deicide groove, complimented by Benton’s ferocious vocals and fiery guitar solos. Benton’s vocals have impeccable timing, and he has a knack of allowing the listener to hear certain lyrics clearly, I love the layers of his deeper guttural vocals with the subtle overtones of his higher range, it adds an element of finesse and interest to the listening experience.
The guitars on the album are next level, some of the moments within the solos where the guitar screams at you, reach within and grasp you in an inexplicable way. Asheim’s drumming is so intense and precise, having also watched drum cam footage from him, it is almost unfathomable how absolute and decisive each hit is.
You get an undeniable sense that each member of the band has left nothing behind when recording this album, it does not let up from start to finish.
The beginning of “Faithless” was a pleasant surprise, a short melodic intro, and then into a memorable riff, before the song takes off in true Deicide style. The tempo changes and guitar work on this track are exceptional, and it feels well thought out and deliberate.
“Doomed to Die” gives you an unmistakable 90’s Deicide vibe, although the production of this album is much more fresh and polished than early releases. It works perfectly to bring different instruments to the fore at distinct moments, allowing each to stand out in their own right.
Notable tracks for me are “Banished by Sin”, “Faithless” and “Ritual Defied” – the latter having such an unexpected groove in the riff – it took me by surprise. After several listens, my conclusion is there is not one track that I didn’t enjoy, I don’t feel like there’s any filler on the album. Just when your brain is getting accustomed to the familiarity of a track, they throw curve balls in there in various forms which gives unanticipated gratification.
This album is strongly recommended for Deicide fans (obviously) and fans of not only Death metal, but extreme metal in general.
Deicide: Facebook
Release Year: 2024
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Category: Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by ForsakenMisery
