Back in October 21 of 2006, which happened to be my birthday, Deicide had come to New York to promote their latest album at the time, The Stench of Redemption, and I had the misfortune of missing the show. Since then, I had always wondered what a Deicide show was like and what would I expect. Three years later that time finally came and I was going to see Glen Benton up close and personal!
REGAIN THE HEART CONDEMNED - The first band up was a strange combination of dudes. Taking their cue from legendary Norwegian black metal band Mayhem, the five-piece band had four of its members looking and dressing like normal dudes, more like rejects from a deathcore band, and the singer dressed in corpse paint and Jesus Christ regalia. Much to my surprise, the crowd seemed to enjoy the dark theatrics as the singer pours cornsyrup, designed to look like fake blood, from a plastic skull all over himself and grumbles incoherently into the mic. I wasn't impressed, plain and simple. Better bands can pull it off without seeming cartoonish or the least bit ridiculous. Bands need to rely on their music and lyrics to reach people, not kindergarten-style Halloween costumes and fake blood. Set Grade: C
MARTYRD - In every bill there is always one band that sticks out. Sometimes it's because they're better than the other bands, and they bring a certain kind of finesse and skill than the others don't have. In this case, it's playing the wrong style of music! This is supposed to be a night Satanic death metal, and a band like Martyrd brings to the stage an 80s pop thrash/NWOBHM-influenced style more suitable for throwbacks trying to regain their former glory. (In fact, their next big show will be with 80s thrashers Metal Church.) And since I've seen these guys many times before, playing the same songs in the same way, there isn't much else to say. At least they moved up from show openers to second billing. Set Grade: C
VITAL REMAINS - Perhaps one of the nicest group of guys ever to front a death metal band, there's the massive bodily frame of guitarist Tony Lazaro, who towers over anyone, and renowned drummer of extreme metal Tim Yeung, who, upon having a casual conversation with, is a lot more brighter and humble than he looks. Sonically, the band is brutal and the crowd is definitely feeling the vibe of danger. Pits are getting crazier behind me as bodies are falling onto the stage. At one point, VR frontman Scott Wily attempts to pull me onstage so that I can jump back into the crowd and take some people out. On another night, I may have done so, but I was not going to lose out on havin the evil Mr. Benton perform before me. Still, Vital Remains do a good job is rustling up some fire from the crowd of angry spics around me and leaves ample room for Deicide to lay waste to all in attendance. Set Grade: B
DEICIDE - I often wondered what the evil monster that was Deicide was like in the 90s when the genre was still new. After all the news reports that Deicide were responsible for an Italian boy's death and bomb scares in Europe, as well as Benton's antipathy toward his fans' safety, I was actually a little scared. This dude actually branded his fucking forehead with an inverted crucifix in devotion to his Satanic beliefs! This guy is the real deal! Instead of having THAT guy come out onstage, we got an older, fatter, and visibly tired Glen Benton putting on a show. Aided by former Cannibal Corpse guitarist Jack Owen, weasely-faced drummer Steve Asheim, and a fill-in for guitarist Ralph Santolla, who has touring commitments with Obituary, Benton put on a good, but otherwise typical, death metal show that you can find at cheap dive bars in Brooklyn. So unmoved was I by the lack of evilness that I heckled Benton with: "I heard you were evil!" which prompted the perturbed Benton to threaten me by kicking my teeth just to see how evil he can be. And while I was smiling and laughing at this old man's "threat", I couldn't help but think that he was probably very serious! It was one of the most scary/awesome moments I've ever gotten from a band member at a show. Despite the visible age in their music and playing, Deicide made my night and the three year wait was worth it. Set Grade: B+
AFTER THE SHOW
I quickly snatched the slit of cardbox (a reference to Christ, perhaps?) that Deicide's setlist was written on and quickly stuffed it in my pants right when the final note had finished. I even shook Benton's sweaty hand, who seemed to have forgotten my earlier heckling. The setlist: Deicide/Dead by Dawn/Once Upon the Cross/Scars of the Crucifix Death to Jesus Desecration When Satan Rules His World Serpents of the Light Bastards of Christ They Are the Children of the Underworld Holy Deception Oblivious to Evil Homage for Satan Kill the Christian Sacrificial Suicide Surprisingly, there were no songs off the new album Till Death Do Us Part. Outside the venue, I spoke with and met with each band that performed, finding it very easy to talk to Tim Yeung, Tony Lazaro, and Jack Owen. Steve Asheim was also accomodating, even if he did look a little hurried. When Benton came out, however, he beat a hasty exit without any smiles or stopping to take pictures or sign autographs with the fans outside. Fortunately for me, I got to take a pic with Benton before the show! He's much shorter and not as scary as he looks and tries to appear in public. I won't lie, but that ruins it for me now. Deicide has become a band of old and tired men!
Overall Show Grade: B
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