Reviews for Deicide - The Stench of Redemption:
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After guitarists Eric and Brian Hoffman left Deicide in late 2004 on less-than-amicable terms, many speculated about the future of the band. After all, Glen Benton had filled the vocal spot for "Dechristianize", the 2003 album by Vital Remains, which led many to believe the band was losing steam. If anything, losing the Hoffmans seemed to breathe life into the beast. "The Stench of Redemption" is Deicide's most impassioned, vicious, incendiary effort in a LONG time, and is perhaps their best album since "Legion". "Scars of the Crucifix" was a return to form of sorts, but this one easily blows it away. New guitarists Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (ex-Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach) play their asses off on this, and the guitar leads and solos are much more prevalent (and better) than on past Deicide albums. Song structures are much better and sound fresh, compared to Deicide's last few albums, where everything was, to be frank, redundant and by-the-numbers. The guitar leads sometimes reach epic proportions, as can be heard on the skull-fucking closing cut, "The Lord's Sedition". Beginning with the sound of fires burning, a lone, moody clean guitar intro starts things off before the song explodes into an orgy of effervescent rage, with Jack and Ralph playing off each other effortlessly, the leads intertwining and spiralling into oblivion until all hell breaks loose and the song explodes into a hellish battering ram. Glen's vocals sound better than they have in years on this release, his growl even more guttural and his high-pitched shriek even more horrific and disgusting. A killer, solid production helps the band to relentlessly hammer their hatred into your ears. Just about every song on this album is excellent, and if anything, the Hoffmans leaving is what the group needed to redeem themselves. So, if you had given up on Deicide after their last two abysmal records for Roadrunner, go out and buy this. Deicide are back.

Review by: BirthBeneathEarth



When longtime Deicide guitarists Eric and Brian Hoffman departed the group in 2004, many speculated about the band's future. After all, Glen had explored a venture outside Deicide (providing vocals for Vital Remains' "Dechristianize" in 2003), leading some to believe he was becoming disinterested in his main project, and Deicide's last two albums on Roadrunner were subpar, haphazard affairs. Their debut for Earache, 2004's "Scars of the Crucifix" was generally well-received by fans, yet the band's inner tensions became much more evident when the Hoffmans left the band suddenly in November 2004 in the middle of a tour.

But, if anything, their departure seems to have signified a fresh start for Deicide. "The Stench of Redemption" is, by far, the most impassioned, enthusiastic, and just plain vicious effort from the group, possibly their best since "Legion". The opening title track opens with explosive power chords and maniacal blast-beat drumming and tears your throat in two. The addition of axemen Ralph Santolla and Jack Owen seems to have breathed a new life into this 19-year-old beast. The musicianship is noticeably much improved and guitar leads are much more prevalent, most evidently on the closing cut, "The Lord's Sedition", where the two guitarists play off one another and the song reaches epic proportions before pummeling your eardrums. Glen's trademarked double-tracked vocals sound better than they have in years, and he sounds noticeably pissed. Seems like the Hoffmans leaving was the creative kick in the ass the band needed. Even though longtime Deicide fans will know this all by heart, there are some subtle changes in the band's sound, like the aforementioned abundance of virtuoso leads and the dark, moody "Desecration". "Homage for Satan" is very reminiscent of early Slayer, and the last song, "The Lord's Sedition" is notable not only for being their longest song to date, but also for the melodic, even somewhat melancholic, clean guitar intro. Overall, this album is the sound of a re-energized Deicide and should please both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Review by: reduced_to_ashes



.......at last they come back........GRRRRRRREATTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review by: o



since legion this is the most fuckin good work of deicide .... deicide rules this world!!!

Review by: hugorgoroth



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