Review Summary: DAAAA BAAAA DAAAAA!!!!
Whenever someone asks me to describe Deicide's debut collection of songs on a disc and/or tape, I always give them the same analogy; "Deicide is like the Stephen Hawking of DM, both leading pioneers in their craft, but at the end of the day they're both retarded. However, much like Mr. Hawking himself, this album challenges the old addage
"never go full retard". "Deicide" is completely spastic but m/'s hard at the same time to create a trvly vnique death metal experience.
The first notable aspect of this album and Deicide in general is their "vocalist" Glen Benton. Whether it be his personality, the inverted cross tatoo on his melon, the definitive riffing style or his "vocals", this guyis the center of the band. Everyone else is pretty good but this guy basically chews the *** out of every soundbyte
emitted from this LP. He's also completely insane to the point it's genuinely hilarious and sad at the same time. This might've had a detrimental effect on lesser dm bandz, but its clear Bellendton was driven to madness by his obsession withSatan which is pretty m/ so pos.
I should talk about the music too.
Opening with Lunatic of God's creation, you immediately get Deicide's evil tech-y riffing style which is similar yet strangely different from all other dm. The next thing you will definitely notice is the vocals. They are rediculous to the point where "Lunatic of God's Creation" becomes "LOOONATARRRK OV GAARDS CREEEEASHAAAAA". HOWEVER, the riffsare both hard and trve, and the songwriting both tight and moist.
The highlight, apart from Lunatic, is prob "Dead by Dawn".
If ever you wanted one song to sum up Deicide, it is this one. It's a joke but awesome at the same time. Featuring some of the catchiest dm guitar work around, it plows through as an obvious homage to Evil Dead 2, until we get to the best moments
of the album; Benton trying his darndest to say "dead by dawn" but only managing an unreasonably comical "DAAAA BAAA DAAAA". But if that wasn't enough for you we are later hit by Benton's legendary line of completely silly fluff:
"Blasphermate Me". What does it mean? Where did it come from? The answer to both probably lies somewhere betweem amphetamines, satan and deteriorating mental health, but you'll either be banging the crap out of your head or laughing it off.
I honestly don't even know if there's other actual band members. Benton prob photo shops them in to personify the voices in his head. But if there is, they're all solid yet unremarkable. The only genuine downside I find is that the constantly choked hi hat is annoying and the drums are a little to in your face in terms of mixing. Apart from that its all Benton baby.
For all the crap I put on this, it's all meant endearingly. It's stupidity juxaposed with it's legitimate quality create a dichotomy of enjoyment. Its gorged itself on it's own Satanic Kool Aid to the point of parody, yet retains a genuinely impressive death metal musicianship and song writing. So you can enjoy it as an evil af dm record or as a bit of silly fun. This is why its a record any death metal fan can enjoy. Put it on, bang your head with a wry smirk and hail santa.
