Late last year, death metal veterans Deicide did something that was very typical of Deicide: they released the bloody, blasphemous music video for “Bury the Cross…with Your Christ” a few days before Christmas. For anyone familiar with Deicide’s history and band mastermind Glen Benton, it was absurdly hilarious and completely expected.
Whether he's offending the Christian right or extorting a corrupt concert promoter, Benton has never been one to hold back his personality or uncompromising beliefs. That's why his creative vehicle, Deicide, continues to endure after emerging from the Florida death metal scene decades ago. He doesn't let anyone stand in his band's way.
The group's latest album, Banished by sinsees Benton and company on a new label, Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), and with a renewed spirit and optimism. Benton himself has called the album a return to the band's “'90s style” in both sound and creative process, and reflected on the LP as a turning point in his life. A crushing 12-song effort, Banished by sin It’s as wicked as ever, not to mention sonically rewarding – the effect of raw, organic production. Calling it a “return to form” implies there was some prior decline, but it sure sounds like the work of inspired individuals.
We recently spoke with Benton about the making of the album and his own journey over the past few years. As the band kicks off a headlining tour in North America (get tickets via Ticket Master either here), read our interview with Benton below.
Let’s start at the beginning of the album cycle, when last year, during the holidays, you released the video for “Bury the Cross…with Your Christ.” It seemed to cause a stir, in typical Deicide fashion.
The whole idea with the body of Christ and all that shit, [director] David Brodsky had a lot to do with that. If you give people money to do something, they will do it. [laughs]And we had a great time. We wanted to make a video making fun of all this and I think we did a pretty good job. It was fun, we had a great time doing it.
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