Musical Ramblings: Deicide dominates death metal
Deicide — Stench of Redemption
Can a death metal album from a veteran group that's been around the block compete with today's young bands? Oh hell yes! Let's take a look!
Perhaps the title of the new Deicide CD is a slap in the face of the Hoffman brothers (who both played guitar in Deicide since it's inception), who had left the band on bad terms with founder/vocalist Glenn Benton. It couldn't have come at a better time because, although I've been a fan of Deicide's music (not their lyrical content), I really haven't gotten hyped about a release from these guys in a long time. In fact, I didn't even pick up their last two releases.
When I heard an early copy of their newest CD, Stench of Redemption, I couldn't believe my ears. Thanks to former Cannibal Corpse guitarist, Jack Owens and former Iced Earth guitarist, Ralph Santolla, joining the fold, this has got to be one of the most hard hitting, brutal and fantastic death metal albums of all time.
The riffing of these two guitarists is simply amazing. I thought that when Owens left Cannibal Corpse, he was going to be concentrating on more melodic, softer music. Thank goodness that perhaps the shackles or long term commitment that Cannibal Corpse have left Owens, because he seems to have a new found love for death metal.
Like I said, I've never been a fan of Deicide's lyrics. I mean, there's only so much anti-Christian lyrics that you can write before you just think, “Ok, Glenn, write about something else for a change.”
At least with most death metal, lyrics aren't something I focus on because I view the vocals as their own separate instrument and how they blend in with the brutal music at hand.
Usually I can pick a song or two that simply stands out on a disc and advise you people to check them out. Unfortunately (in a good way), I can't do that with this CD. Every single song rips and the CD is one of my precious “front to back” plays.
I will say that Benton's vocal delivery is the most fierce one he's every put down while the drumming of Steve Asheim continues to question what is possible with death metal drumming… it's just unbelievably tight and accurate. Do pro tools have anything to with that? Perhaps, but pick up their live CD, “Where Satan Lives” and hear what this guy can do live.
If you don't like death metal, this release will do nothing to change that, but for those metal heads that are out there and perhaps have given up on extreme music or Deicide itself, do yourself a favour and get (or sample) this disc. Although most death metal discs don't make into my top five of the year, I think this one actually has a chance. It's brutal, diverse and a hell of a kick in the nuts.
Can a death metal album from a veteran group that's been around the block compete with today's young bands? Oh hell yes! Let's take a look!
Perhaps the title of the new Deicide CD is a slap in the face of the Hoffman brothers (who both played guitar in Deicide since it's inception), who had left the band on bad terms with founder/vocalist Glenn Benton. It couldn't have come at a better time because, although I've been a fan of Deicide's music (not their lyrical content), I really haven't gotten hyped about a release from these guys in a long time. In fact, I didn't even pick up their last two releases.
When I heard an early copy of their newest CD, Stench of Redemption, I couldn't believe my ears. Thanks to former Cannibal Corpse guitarist, Jack Owens and former Iced Earth guitarist, Ralph Santolla, joining the fold, this has got to be one of the most hard hitting, brutal and fantastic death metal albums of all time.
The riffing of these two guitarists is simply amazing. I thought that when Owens left Cannibal Corpse, he was going to be concentrating on more melodic, softer music. Thank goodness that perhaps the shackles or long term commitment that Cannibal Corpse have left Owens, because he seems to have a new found love for death metal.
Like I said, I've never been a fan of Deicide's lyrics. I mean, there's only so much anti-Christian lyrics that you can write before you just think, “Ok, Glenn, write about something else for a change.”
At least with most death metal, lyrics aren't something I focus on because I view the vocals as their own separate instrument and how they blend in with the brutal music at hand.
Usually I can pick a song or two that simply stands out on a disc and advise you people to check them out. Unfortunately (in a good way), I can't do that with this CD. Every single song rips and the CD is one of my precious “front to back” plays.
I will say that Benton's vocal delivery is the most fierce one he's every put down while the drumming of Steve Asheim continues to question what is possible with death metal drumming… it's just unbelievably tight and accurate. Do pro tools have anything to with that? Perhaps, but pick up their live CD, “Where Satan Lives” and hear what this guy can do live.
If you don't like death metal, this release will do nothing to change that, but for those metal heads that are out there and perhaps have given up on extreme music or Deicide itself, do yourself a favour and get (or sample) this disc. Although most death metal discs don't make into my top five of the year, I think this one actually has a chance. It's brutal, diverse and a hell of a kick in the nuts.
