Deicide
When Satan Lives (Roadrunner)
by Tim Den
It would be wrong of me to even try and criticize Deicide. After all, this is the band that single-handedly kept the subject matter of Satanism alive in death metal without being laughed at, as well as the creative force behind the most crushing death metal album of all time, 1992’s Legion. From the tight riffing (with every note accented by the drums, of course) to the doubled vocals of Glen Benton (the high/low growling “harmonies” that would quickly be stolen by the likes of Cannibal Corpse and every black metal band), Deicide always did it the best. No band has ever matched up to the intensity, the cleverness, or the down-right nasty grooves of this band. Need more convincing? Then take a listen to the new live album by these servants of the goat.
When Satan Lives is 17-songs, 56+ minutes of pure adrenaline. Captured live at Chicago’s House of Blues, Deicide unleashes flawless perfection, number after number, barely allowing the slam dancers any chance to catch their breath. Classics such as “Sacrificial Suicide” and “They are the Children of the Underworld” sound better than ever, while newer material like “Blame it on God” and “Father Baker’s” could easily give listeners a seizure from pleasure. Evil has never been so much fun.
Having the production sounding almost exactly like their last studio album, Serpents of the Light, Deicide injects new spirit into old songs by giving them that crisp-yet-grinding touch that has made their newer material so listener-friendly. The thin-but-still-shredding guitar sound has made the songs tighter, clearer, and definitely slicker. It is so much more accessible to listen to, that you can almost put it on at social gatherings. Now that’s good death metal.
However, I do have one major complaint: Deicide’s continuing refusal to play songs off of Legion. Only “Dead but Dreaming” is present here, which makes me furious. What about “In Hell I Burn” or “Behead the Prophet (No Lord Shall Live)” or “Holy Deception,” which is possibly their best song ever!!?? Let’s hear more of these beauties next time, please.
All in all, this is a must for fans and non-fans. For those who have never witnessed the prowess that this band yields, When Satan Lives is a good introduction (sort of a “best of”). For those who already own all their albums, you need this just because it’s so damn good. If anything, this live album shows why Deicide will always be the exception in a genre that has already resigned itself to, um, “death.”
(902 Broadway 8th Floor New York, NY 10010)
