Deicide, Stench of Redemption
There’s nothing like booting your two guitarists to reinvigorate your band. After years of struggling in mediocrity and turmoil, that’s exactly what Glen Benton did. He booted the Hoffman brothers after several albums worth of less than stellar material and brought in new blood. He brought in as replacements guitarists Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (ex-Death) to bring new life to the band. And bring new life is what they did. This is by far the best Deicide release since… well since Legion to be perfectly blunt.
The two new members of the band not only reinvigorate, but add to Deicide’s take on death metal. Their playing and composition add layers of dynamic sound not previously attained by the band. With newer melodic elements and a guitar interaction between that two that astounds, there’s no telling where Deicide will take their new sound.
While Owen and Santolla both bring a newness to the band, the original members of the band also seem to be more alive. Benton’s vocal delivery is the stuff of lengends, sure to leave urine stains in many church pews. Drummer Steve Asheim is a madmad on the drums, pummeling speakers with earth shattering blasts.
The Stench of Redemption
The title track of the album starts us off on a ride into the stinkinb, rotting bowels of hell. The blasts from the guitars and drums are fast and powerful. Benton’s vocals flow like blood gurggling from a crushed skull. There is a groove to the song that goes beyond the stereotypical death metal blasts. The new guitarist influence is already felt with a more melodic structure to the riffs and solos.
Death to Jesus
The flow continues with a huge melodic riff right from the start of “Death to Jesus.” Asheim’s legs are doing some damage on the double bass throughout this one. I haven’t enjoyed a Deicide album this much is quite a long time.
Desecration
“Desecration” starts with a slightly lighter intro before getting into the meat of the song. It’s a less thrash drivin song which keeps the album fresh and non-repetitive. The solo at the 3 minute mark is insane!
Crucified For the Innocence
The chaos that can only thrive in hell is mimiced pretty damn well on this one. The higher end screams accompany Benton’s deeper delivery perfectly. Asheim’s drums have got to be falling to pieces with the beating he’s been giving it through this album.
Walk With the Devil in Dreams You Behold
I love the flow and groove to this one. It’s headbanging goodness. The solos in the first half of the track are shredding. All of the riffs through this album seem to build upon the previous ones. The 4 minute mark presents to the listener something entirely different for long time Deicide fans — melody and a controlled aggression.
Homage to Satan
Easily a fan favorite, the catchy chorus on “Homage for Satan” truly makes it a classic. Saying anything else about this song would only diminish it’s impact. Buy the album.
Not of This World
Unbridled chaos and aggression are unleashed with this track. This is one of the fastest songs on the album. It’s just non-stop evil with pounding blasts from the drums and maniacal riffs from Owen and Santolla.
Never to Be Seen Again
An eruption of death metal goodness greets the listener when this song starts up. You’ve got to give it up to the Deicide boys for producing crushing track after crushing track.
The Lord’s Sedition
“The Lord’s Sedition” weighs in at almost 6 minutes in lenght — a near epic for Deicide. It’s chock full of everything the band has become with the addition of Owen and Santolla. It’s dynamic, melodic, theatrical, and devestating. The listener is left believing that track is an instrumental for just over two minutes before all hell breaks loose. The build up was worth the wait as Benton growls as if his life depended on it. There are more original, scathing solos in this one song than in the last couple of Hoffman driven albums.
Black Night
The final song on the album is actually a cover of Deep Purple’s “Black Night.” I’m not entirely familiar with the original, but I’m damn sure it never sounded like this. It’s a great closer for this album as well.
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It seems that all the big hitters in this genre were out to reclaim the crown in 2006. Both Cannibal Corpse and Deicide released seminal albums that are sure to be classic and top candidates for album of the year. Deicide however struggled with a huge line-up change and still delivered one of their best albums in many years.
Favorite Tracks:
Just about all of them.
Additional Notes:
This is the first Deicide album without the Hoffman brothers.