Deicide

Deicide is often regarded as one of the greatest death metal bands of all time. Their self-titled debut album is among the best-selling death metal albums of all time, possibly the best-selling death metal album if you consider sales figures from the pre-Nielsen Soundscan era. Deicide was released in 1990 through Roadrunner Records, and this album is easily proof as to why Corey Taylor didn't want to take Deicide out on tour with Slipknot.

Deicide is no Slipknot as the listener is taken through 33 minutes of some of the most groundbreaking death metal for its time. "Lunatic of God's Creation" displays a crazy barrage of intense drumming and guitar riffs which shows that Deicide knew what they were doing when they made their debut, unlike Cannibal Corpse. "Sacrificial Suicide" is like a dark and edgy version of "Immortal Rites" that contains a wicked guitar solo by Eric Hoffman. "Dead by Dawn" is the album's biggest song as it's spooky atmosphere would make it a perfect song choice for Halloween parties, coupled with an eerie guitar solo by Eric Hoffman. The title track is an example of where Glen Benton's extreme hatred towards religion and Jesus are used in Deicide's lyrics. The creepy and Satanic "I rule this world" lyric drop followed by Brian Hoffman's guitar solo make this song even better.

It's very clear that Satan is the main lyrical focus of Deicide as lead vocalist and bassist Glen Benton utilizes a rather haunting death growl that would make grandma cry. Benton's title-only chorus in "Dead by Dawn" is solid proof of this statement. The Hoffman brothers Eric and Brian knew that guitar soloing is in their blood as each solo they perform is among their very best with "Oblivious to Evil" being notable for their sole trade-off solo on Deicide. The delivery of Steve Asheim's blast beats are as fast as a gatling gun with "Blaspherereion" and "Carnage in the Temple of the Damned" being arguably his fastest drum performances on this album. I know that Legion was heavier, but this is a more significant album within Deicide's discography.

Not only a significant Deicide album, but also one of the most important death metal albums of all time. If you ask a metalhead about Deicide, chances are that they'll consider it an essential album for a metalhead's collection. Songs like closing track "Crucifixation" are widely influential to the point that it possibly puts Deicide up in the Top 10 greatest death metal albums ever made. If you're a guy who mainly listens to mallcore like Slipknot and need a more understanding statement of what death metal is, Deicide is a good start. It's not just good for beginners, it's legendary.