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STRYPER
Deicide
Backroom, November 2

The notion that God -- if there is such an omnipotent being watching over us -- is responsible for all the misery of the world and should be justly hated for this, is the philosophy which drew my attention to the band Deicide. I hadn’t heard any of the ten-or-so albums from this Florida band, but I share their hatred of the religion business and disgust with the government. So I went down to check it out.

Pure is the best word to describe this night. Pure, seething Anti-Christian Heavy Metal. The Backroom steamed with rising anticipation as His followers crowded forth. Beautiful metalheads everywhere – angelic Mexican longhairs in black trench coats and leather, skinhead white boys in their skater duds, and the usual cruelly sparse share of metal maidens and wenches. A wave of fists did rise with the voices of the battle cry, as Deicide mounted the stage.

Anti-Christ-lyricist and vocalist Glen Benton growled and screeched with the presence of the Dark Lord himself. Instant mosh pit. Rapid-fire blast kick drum. Furious shredding leads on guitars built to slash throats. For a while I could not distinguish one song from another, it was one constant face-bash. But it was exhilarating. As far as one-word descriptions go, they are Metal, but the music seems to come straight from their souls, not some trend they’re trying to fit. Their best song for me (the one with the downbeat) was “When Satan Rules the World” – titled after a Jehovah’s Witnesses book. “Dead By Dawn” also had a perfect metal groove – fast but solid head-banger with insane squealing leads.

Glen Benton’s deep, monstrous voice put the lyrics through a garbage disposal and kept them a mystery, but I’d say there’s a pretty good chance they were all about impaling Christian Evangelists on rusty stakes. It’s always inspiring to see someone put our freedom of speech to such good purpose. Take that any way you want. Another thing he did that really turned me on, in a disturbing way, was this thing between songs where he sighs and groans and it sounds exactly like the devil’s voice in the Exorcist when he calmly mocks the priest. It was strangely soothing. I felt purified each time he did it.
The show had its minor irritations. First and worst, the headache machine – an ultra-bright white light flashing in our faces, an obnoxious interruption that broke my communion with the band. The crowd was peaceful and dedicated but closed-up; I could barely make eye contact with anyone, so I didn’t make any new friends. And I’m an old-school metalhead, not a huge fan of the digital battering wall-of-noise drum style; I need to feel a beat. But I felt pure. The overall scenario was one of purity.

The guys of Deicide have to be the most stunningly handsome satanic metalheads I’ve laid eyes on, and they had a real, no-bullshit presence. They appear true to their message, motivated by no other influence. I went backstage to ask them how serious their message is -- and to get a gander, as ordered, at the notorious upside-down cross branding on Benton’s forehead. There, as he made a rock wall his throne, I noticed nothing on his face but a glow of purity. Glen Benton, a gruff but princely gentleman with a charming habit of spitting half his drink across the room as he speaks, put it to me plain and simple.

Benton: “I write anti-Christian music. Any religion established as a business, I’m against it.”
R&R: Me too. Those of us with no jobs still have to pay property tax, while the multi-million-dollar pervert corporations that call themselves churches pay no taxes. What else do you want to tell us?
Benton: We’re all sober and we had a good time.
R&R: You even smell pure. How do you smell so good after getting off stage?
Benton: It’s called taking a shower every day.
R&R: How come every link to your band is broken? Is your message being sabotaged?
Benton: No, it’s just a bunch of broke motherfuckers who can’t keep their websites up.

Down to earth and to the point. I couldn’t come up with any more questions worthy of the man who personally relays the voice of Satan, so I left it at that. “Deicide” literally means the murder of god, right? I thought I heard someone squealing over the din…

In honor of Mr. Benton, I went across the street to Taquerias Arandinas and ate cow’s tongue. By the way, they’re cheap, hot and open till 3:00 a.m.

- Beky Hayes

DEICIDE

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