Till Death Do Us Part

Fans were surprised, and somewhat disappointed, that 2008’s Till Death Do Us Part didn’t revel in the satanic imagery that had long been Deicide’s stock-in-trade. While the lyrics and cover art (adapted from a 16th-century Hans Baldung painting) might not refer specifically to anti-Christian themes, the album qualifies as a genuine exorcism. It was written in the wake of singer Glen Benton’s bitter divorce and ensuing custody battle. Benton later called this a “revenge record,” and within these songs you can feel him expunging every last ounce of a very personal form of frustration and anger. Many of the songs delve into vintage speed metal and end up sounding more like fits of rage than the locked-in grooves of older Deicide albums. That’s not a bad thing: “Angel of Agony,” “Hate of All Hatreds,” and “In the Eyes of God” offer some of the most thrilling moments of the band’s career. While the music is fueled by immediate feelings of anger, it also displays some incredible musical development in the form of the introductory and closing instrumentals, both written and played entirely by drummer Steve Asheim.