I want one thing straight I’ve been a Deicide fan since day go one, and I’ve stuck with them through the highs (and they were high) and the frankly mediocre. I bought the debut self titled album the month it came out a friend played me "Sacrificial Suicide" and "Carnage In The Temple Of The Damned" and I was a fan for life.
On that first album Glenn used effects on his vocals and they sounded fantastic more than that they sounded dangerous. On the second album he announced in the credits that NO harmonizers were used….yeah he could do the death metal vocals but it was not the same. That album was Legion, it was a good follow up as was Once Upon The Cross, then Serpents Of The Light, after this, things took a turn for the worse the band trod water (sinking even) but I remembered how I felt and persevered.
A deal was inked with Earache, the release date was extended so Glenn could do further work on his vocals (good sign) and what do we have now. THE BEST THING THEY HAVE DONE SINCE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM. The vocals are back the band sound DANGEROUS. Scars of the Crucifix (1st track) could have been taken from that first album, (which HAS NOT dated) F**k your God is utterly brutal and at the same time this band leave a smile on your face, in the way of a job well done. The guitar dual of Brian and Eric are a little more adventurous and the whole album puts Deicide where they should be, back on the top of that rotting pile known as Death Metal.
Not a difficult album like some are but just Damn good music. If you buy it soon you get a free 35 minute DVD, which is effectively a day in the life of. Only let down by the unnecessary removal of a lizards tail on the closing minutes. File along side the other classics such as Obituary’s "Cause of Death" and Morbid Angels "Blessed are the Sick"!!!!
Arathorn
This is defiantly the one to bring the fans back to the fold, I think the vocal work he did last year with Vital Remains had a big influence of Glen and somehow revitalized him. As Arathorn say’s the guitar work is inventive, complimentary and dare I say it, almost Melodic in parts and prove that the guys can really play. I am sure that this will be in both our top 10’s of 2004.