Deicide’s 2018 album, “Overtures of Blasphemy,” is a relentless and uncompromising death metal assault, showcasing the band’s signature anti-religious themes and aggressive sound. Produced by Jason Suecof and featuring both founding members and newer additions, the album delivers a potent mix of old-school brutality and technical prowess, making it a must-listen for fans of extreme metal.
Album length: 37:56
Death metal
September 14, 2018
Century Media Records
2018
AudioHammer Studios (Sanford, Florida)
Jason Suecof
Anti-Christianity and Blasphemy: The album is a relentless assault on organized religion, particularly Christianity. It questions and challenges religious dogma, embracing a defiant and blasphemous stance.
Satanism and Occultism: The lyrics often explore Satanic and occult themes, celebrating the power and allure of the dark side. However, it’s important to note that Deicide’s approach is more about rebellion and challenging societal norms than literal worship.
Death and the Macabre: As with much death metal, the album doesn’t shy away from graphic imagery and themes of death, violence, and the macabre. This adds to the overall dark and aggressive atmosphere of the music.
Social Commentary: While primarily focused on anti-religious themes, the album also touches on broader social commentary, criticizing hypocrisy, corruption, and the abuse of power.
Intensity: The album doesn’t let up, maintaining a high level of intensity throughout. It’s a whirlwind of blistering drums, ferocious riffs, and guttural vocals that will leave you breathless.
Darkness: The album’s atmosphere is undeniably dark, evoking images of hellish landscapes, unholy rituals, and blasphemous acts. It’s a descent into the abyss of human depravity and rebellion.
Triumphant Defiance: Despite its dark themes, the album also has a sense of triumphant defiance. It celebrates the power of the individual to challenge authority, reject societal norms, and embrace their own darkness.
The Album’s Title: “Overtures of Blasphemy,” emerged from a playful exchange between vocalist/bassist Glen Benton and guitarist Kevin Quirion. They were reportedly going back and forth, each saying a word until they arrived at the title.
Inspiration from Everyday Conversations: One of the more lighthearted stories from the album’s creation involves the track “One with Satan.” According to Benton, the idea for the song’s title came from a casual conversation he had with a friend. They were joking about how some people claim to have a personal relationship with divine figures, and Benton quipped, “Well, I’m one with Satan!” This joke quickly evolved into the title and theme for the album’s opening track.
Guitar Lineup Changes: “Overtures of Blasphemy” marks the first album featuring guitarist Mark English, who replaced Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under). English, known for his work with Monstrosity, brought a refined technical prowess to the band’s sound. His performance on tracks like “Compliments of Christ” and “Defying the Sacred” showcases his skill and adds a fresh dynamic to the band’s signature style.
Album Artwork: The cover art for “Overtures of Blasphemy” was created by Zbigniew M. Bielak, an artist renowned for his work with metal bands such as Ghost and Paradise Lost. The detailed and provocative artwork has been widely praised and is considered one of the standout metal album covers of 2018.
Critical Reception: The album received a mix of reviews, generally leaning towards positive. Critics have noted it as a solid entry in Deicide’s discography. Metal Injection described it as a top-tier Deicide album, while others appreciated its consistent brutality and straightforward death metal approach.
Chart Performance: “Overtures of Blasphemy” performed well on several international charts, peaking at number 22 on the German Albums Chart and making notable entries in Austria, Belgium, Finland, and Switzerland. This widespread success highlights Deicide’s enduring popularity in the global metal scene.
Deicide’s 1990 self-titled debut album is a seminal death metal release known for its speed, aggressive vocals, and anti-religious themes. It was recorded at Morrisound Recording and became a controversial but influential work in the genre.
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Deicide’s 2008 album, “Till Death Do Us Part,” is a brutal return to their classic death metal sound, featuring anti-Christian themes and intense musicianship.
Deicide’s 2011 album, “To Hell with God,” is a relentless and blasphemous death metal assault. It features their trademark aggressive sound, with fast tempos, pummeling drums, and razor-sharp riffs. Lyrically, the album continues their well-established anti-religious themes.
Deicide’s 2013 album “In the Minds of Evil”, their eleventh, features aggressive death metal and blasphemous lyrics exploring anti-religion, darkness, and violence.
Deicide’s 2018 album “Overtures of Blasphemy,” produced by Jason Suecof, is a relentless death metal assault showcasing their signature anti-religious themes and aggressive sound.
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