Review: Deicide Still Crush It with Banished By Sin
Love ’em or hate ’em, Deicide have had a massive impact on modern death metal. And this new record, Banished By Sin, immediately came under fire for it’s AI art cover before most people even heard the music. But I am here to inform you that, cover aside, this one still rips.
The record, out April 26 via Reigning Phoenix Music, features founders Glen Benton (bass/ vocals) and Steve Asheim (drums), as well as notables Kevin Quirion (guitars) and Taylor Nordberg (guitars). Benton has opined that this lineup finally nails it when it comes to musical chemistry, and though stories suggest he’s been notoriously hard to work with over the years, it does seem like he’s nailed it with this lineup. This music is heavy as hell and sounds like a band working together rather than against each other.
Right off the rip, opening track “From Unknown Heights You Shall Fall” is a heavy hitter with a solid build-up that then absolutely unleashes the fury. There are some serious riffs right here on the first song. “Doomed To Die” calls back some of the best moments from their classic records and old-school death metal in general. “Sever the Tongue,” one of my favorite songs on the record, is almost tech-death adjacent with its stop-start riffing and intense tempo changes.
The whole record is like that, with dynamic moments and songs that play to the band’s different strengths. “Faithless’ calls in some black metal influence with dissonant riffs and a slower tempo leading into heavy, fast drops. “Ritual Defied” is the best example of what the drummer can do, but it doesn’t skimp on riffs at all either. “Trinity Of None” is my favorite track as a bassist, as the bass really pops on that one. There really isn’t a dull moment on this record, and it kind of takes you through the band’s catalogue and what they can do and have done, but it’s also not afraid to take a few risks.
Overall, I think anyone’s fear with a new Deicide record is that it won’t deliver like the classic stuff, and this one definitely does. When a founding father-level band drop a new album after a long time, everyone is clutching their pearls waiting to see if it passes the vibe test. Despite the obvious, and definitely when it comes to the music, this one measures up.
Deicide recorded Banished by Sin with Jeramie Kling and Smoke & Mirrors Productions in Spring Hill, Florida. Produced by Deicide and engineered by Kling and Nordberg between November 2022 and May 2023, it’s finally seeing the light of day, and we can’t stop spinning it. Regarding the controversial AI art… we don’t love the vibe, but Benton does, and you can read all about what he said here. Some stronger imagery would have been cool, but we have to admit, the music does speak for itself.
Deicide’s Banished By Sin will be released on April 26 via Reigning Phoenix Music. You can preorder your copy today.
