Deicide
To Hell With God

February 2011
Released: 2011, Century Media
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Demonator

Was there anyone who actually fell for Glen Benton's meanderings about his imminent retirement a couple of years ago? Thought not. Never mind the fact that "full-time devil-worshiping death metaller" on the old resume isn't exactly going to open all that many doors on the work-a-day circuit, but as anyone who cared to follow Deicide after their highly acrimonious split with the brothers Hoffman would attest, their last two records sounded not only as though the fires were back in their bellies but as though things were just getting started. Simply put: they CAN'T quit now.



Consequently, the subtly dubbed TO HELL WITH GOD, Deicide's first offering for Century Media turns out to be a rather more taut affair than either STENCH OF REDEMPTION or TILL DEATH DO US PART. With drummer and chief songwriter Steve Asheim performing dual duties alongside Benton in the producer's chair, the opening onslaught of the title tracks sounds leaves little question over whose responsible for the din emanating from the speakers, but interestingly gags the tuneful aesthetics of the band's last two offerings almost entirely. Jettisoned also is the (admittedly) veiled introspection that daubed Glen's lyrics on TILL DEATH DO US PART. Instead, it's auto-pilot time on expressing discontent with the man upstairs, while a soundtrack singularly focused on wanton aggression provides the backdrop.



Still, that's no bad thing - not when every player is so strikingly on form. Benton, for one, turns in his best vocal performance in years; typically guttural but, for a change, solidly enunciated. Ralph Santolla and Jack Owen are as reliable as ever, granted the streamlined assault they're engaged in requires them to be less showy than they're capable of being.



But the real kudos needs to go to Steve Asheim and not just for his ability to turn a drum kit into a weapon of mass destruction either. For a group damned by critics for their lack of consistency, he's successively bucked the trend for a third time with a collection of brutal and memorable cuts. Held to close scrutiny, they may not be the pinnacle of the band's discography but they certainly go down like a fine wine all the same.

Deicide
To Hell With God

March 2011
Released: 2011, Century Media Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Metal-Rules.com UK Team

Deicide; A band whom need no introduction in the death metal scene. After a lengthy career spanning 24 years and vomiting 10 records out including the two masterful classics LEGION and the self-titled DEICIDE,they are back after 3 long years with their eleventh release entitled TO HELL WITH GOD.



This thrashy, yet violent follow-up to TILL DEATH DO US PART takes on the more raw mid-era style of Deicide's work. Unlike its two predecessors, TO HELL WITH GOD is a lot less melodic and a lot more raw in nature with blistering titles such as "Save Your", "Hang In Agony Until You're Dead" and "Servant of the Enemy". In essence, TO HELL WITH GOD is a marriage between SCARS OF THE CRUCIFIX and TILL DEATH DO US PART which will have fans of the mid-era (as well as the recent) begging for more!



The only thing I felt lacking in this release was surprisingly that of Glen Benton's vocals, as he always gives a pretty strong, compelling performance, which is not quite the case heard here, but as far as the musicianship is concerned... a tremendous performance! The speed and precision remains effective, interesting and sounds tight and powerful through out.



Overall, TO HELL WITH GOD will never touch what they did in the early 90s,

but nevertheless a strong contender for something so early in 2011. BRUTAL STUFF!



James Ford

Deicide
To Hell With God

March 2011
Released: 2011, Century Media
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: JP

The first thing that popped into my head when I read the title of the new Deicide album TO HELL WITH GOD was, “Is Glenn even aware of the Stryper album with the title, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL?” My gut feeling Benton doesn’t know about the Stryper album, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did know and choose his album title in relation because he is clever enough to make it work.



So here we are with Deicide’s landmark 10th album. I don’t care what genre you are in, ten albums is a milestone by any standard. What could I possibly say about Deicide that hasn’t been already said? You’ve heard it all before…Legendary, notorious front-man, pioneers, 80’s Florida, terrorists, suicide pact, lame albums, line up trouble, label trouble, big come-back, super-group, killer albums, Glenn for President, evil, death, satan, blah, blah, blah…oh yeah and the branded upside-down cross in the forehead. Maybe Glenn should hire me to ghost-write his autobiography!



Somehow in my infinite lameness, I missed TIL DEATH TO US PART which is odd because I’ve supported Deicide from the beginning. I have (or have heard) every album except the previous one, so I don’t have a frame of reference if it is better or worse, although the legions are divided on the quality last one as is usually the case. Onto the matter at hand, TO HELL WITH GOD is pretty frickin’ awesome.



New label (again) and the same line-up again and the consistency and quality shows. Once again the band applies the ‘leave them wanting more’ philosophy with the standard ten tracks at just over half an hour. Cool album cover art this time as well. The production is really good, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a poor production on a Deicide album.



For whatever reason I just can’t get past Santolla being the guitarist. I associated him with the melodic act Millenium for over a decade and then that real cool solo album he did, but now he is the elite Death Metal guy. Weird. Regardless of his pedigree, he rips, he shreds and he brings the firepower to the album. There are lots of great solos on the album. I especially enjoyed the mini solo on the opening of ‘Angels Of Hell’. Vocally Benton is still pissed off about everything. I think if he and Paul Speckman ever did a duet project the planet would implode under the sheer weight of the combined hate. Guttural, low and brutal he does another fine performance.



Deicide continue to set the standard for the style, the sound and the intensity for classic Death Metal. TO HELL WITH GOD is a welcome addition to their long and revered catalogue.