Deicide is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida. They formed in 1987 with drummer Steve Asheim and guitarist brothers Eric and Brian Hoffman as Carnage, then hired bassist and vocalist Glen Benton and became Amon. They renamed to Deicide in 1989. The band rose to mainstream success in 1992 with their second album, Legion, and is credited as the second-best-selling death metal band of the Soundscan Era, after Cannibal Corpse.
Since their debut album in 1990, Deicide has released thirteen studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums and two live DVDs. In November 2003, their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, were ranked second and third place respectively in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.
Deicide has been called "Florida's most notorious and despised death metal export." The band's first three studio albums, Deicide, Legion and Once Upon the Cross, are considered death metal classics. Deicide is notorious for its lyrics, which cover topics such as Satanism, anti-Christianity and blasphemy. The band's lyrics and the band members' personal lives have resulted in bans, lawsuits, criticism, and controversy from religious groups, political groups, animal rights activists, and the general public. Many band members have been arrested for various reasons.
History Formation and early years (1987–1989)
Original guitarists Brian and Eric Hoffman met drummer Steve Asheim in high school. During this time, Asheim moved his drum kit into Eric's bedroom. They would skip school, and as soon as the Hoffmans' parents left the house for work, they would sneak back in and practice Slayer, Sodom and Destruction covers.
Deicide was officially formed in Tampa, Florida on July 21, 1987, after Brian Hoffman called Glen Benton, replying to an advertisement the latter had placed in a local music magazine. The original bassist, named Ron, was dismissed for not showing up for practice. Hoffman and his brother, along with drummer Steve Asheim, had played together as the band "Carnage", which needed a bassist and vocalist. Carnage played cover songs by Slayer, Exodus, Celtic Frost and Dark Angel.Mudrian, Albert (2004). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Feral House. . pp. 90-91. Within a month, they had recorded the Feasting the Beast 8-track demo in Benton's garage and had started playing the occasional show in the Tampa area.Mudrian (2004), as above. In 1989, Carnage recorded their second demo, Sacrificial, at Morrisound with producer Scott Burns.
Malevolent Creation guitarist Phil Fasciana recalls an early Carnage show being "like Slayer intensified a thousand times", remembering that they threw a mannequin filled with guts from a butcher shop on the floor. Morbid Angel had pit bulls with them that were ripping the meat."Behind the Crooked Cross." Decibel: 72-78. The Hoffman brothers said that they would let the animal viscera sit in the sun all day prior to its use in their stage theatrics.
Roadrunner Records releases (1989–2004)
While still under the name Carnage, Benton reportedly stormed into Roadrunner Records' A&R man Monte Conner's office and slammed the demo down on his desk, belting out "sign us, you fucking asshole!" The next day contracts were issued to the band.Mudrian (2004), as above, p. 162. Benton later partially denied this version of events. He claimed he visited the office but never used profanities. In 1989, the band's name was changed to Deicide at Roadrunner Records' request, due to multiple other bands already using "Carnage" as a band name.
Deicide released their self-titled debut album, produced by Scott Burns at Morrisound, in 1990. Their debut featured re-recorded versions of all six of the Sacrificial tunes that had secured them a record deal. The band did not tour on the album because Benton felt the band was worth more than the sums promoters were offering.
Deicide's second full-length album, Legion, was released on June 9, 1992.
In 1992, Deicide toured Europe with Atrocity from Germany and Gorefest, a Dutch death metal band. In Stockholm, during the Gorefest set, a bomb was discovered on-stage. It exploded in the club where they were playing. The bomb was to the rear of the stage, behind a heavy, fireproof door. The explosion was big enough to deform the door and blow it off its hinges. Deicide played three songs before the police stopped the concert and evacuated the club. At first, Benton blamed that attack on the Norwegian black metal scene, where some despised Deicide's brand of death metal. Many people blamed animal rights activists who were angered at Deicide's lyrics of animal sacrifice.Ekeroth, Daniel (2006). In Swedish Death Metal, Tamara Press, , page 274.
Deicide's third studio album, Once upon the Cross, was released in 1995. Benton shut down expectations that they would be getting less heavy over time, saying, "I tell everybody man, the only things that get soft are butter and shit, man. We're not getting soft."
The band's fourth studio album, Serpents of the Light, was released on October 21, 1997.
The band's first live album, When Satan Lives, was released on October 20, 1998.
The band's fifth studio album, Insineratehymn, was released on June 27, 2000.
Deicide left Roadrunner Records after its sixth studio album, In Torment in Hell, released on July 31, 2001. Benton recalled that Roadrunner Records treated him and Asheim well but hated the other two members. He recounted that they lent him money when he needed it, such as with his first divorce, as well as his tonsillectomy around the time of their first album.
In 2003, authorities detained Asheim and the Hoffmans at the Canadian border due to a misunderstanding, which caused the cancellation of the planned concert in Detroit. Media reports indicated that they were incarcerated on drug and weapons charges, but according to Earache Records, they were held overnight with no charges.
Departures of Eric and Brian Hoffman and middle era (2004)
Eric and Brian Hoffman made their final studio appearance with Deicide on 2004's Scars of the Crucifix, the band's first release on Earache Records. On November 25, 2004, the brothers departed the band due to animosity relating to royalties and publishing. Asheim stated that by this point, he had lost business trust in them, and that leading up to their departure, they could not be relied upon to show up for live performances. A spokesperson from Earache Records stated in a 2006 Blogspot post that the Hoffmans quit while the band was on tour. The spokesperson stated that the band members maintained a correspondence through "legal letters" until it was proven in a court of law that the Hoffmans composed far less material for Scars than they had claimed in their complaint. Earache remained neutral during the dispute. The Hoffman brothers went on to reform Amon. Benton opined that Deicide was stronger without the brothers, claiming they "rode on [his] and Steve's coattails for years."
Shortly after the Hoffmans' departure, former Cannibal Corpse guitarist Jack Owen, and Vital Remains guitarist Dave Suzuki filled the guitar roles. Following the tour, Suzuki was replaced with guitarist Ralph Santolla. Santolla stated he was a Catholic, which had received a small amount of shock and ridicule from some metal fans. In spite of this, Deicide's eighth studio album, The Stench of Redemption, released on August 22, 2006, received positive reviews from critics, who praised the album's guitar work and emphasis on melody.Bowar, Chad. "Deicide - The Stench Of Redemption Review" . About.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011. "With this new lineup Deicide sounds better than they have in years."Prato, Greg. "The Stench of Redemption - Deicide". AllMusic. Retrieved October 25, 2011. "Despite the lineup juggle, Deicide's trademark extreme metal sound has remained intact, as evidenced throughout The Stench of Redemption."Alisoglu, Scott. "DEICIDE - The Stench of Redemption (Earache)" . Blabbermouth. Retrieved October 25, 2011. "'The Stench of Redemption' is sure to become a U.S. death metal favorite among both fans and critics."Herzebeth. "Deicide - The Stench Of Redemption review" . Metal Storm. Retrieved October 25, 2011. "The Stench Of Redemption is one of the most intense experiences in modern metal [and] a masterpiece and it will surely become a classic record in the future;" Benton said, "Jack brought stability, a calm, a stress-free environment for me" after the Hoffmans left. Benton was ready to quit and had started Vital Remains because of them, and he felt that Santolla would not be permanent from the start "because he's just a fucking mess of a human being." On the other hand, he felt that the band was a family with Owen, and he did not want to treat members like hired guns since he did not feel he was better or deserved more pay than anyone else.In January 2007, Benton left the European tour and returned to the United States as a result of legal issues at home. Asheim announced that Seth van Loo, from opening act Severe Torture, and Garbaty "Yaha", from Polish death metal band Dissenter, would replace Benton, starting on January 9 in the Netherlands, until Benton could rejoin the tour. Benton rejoined the band in Paris on January 13.Deicide soldier on without Glen . Metal Hammer. January 9, 2007.Deicide Frontman To Rejoin Tour Encore. January 12, 2007. On May 24, 2007, it was announced Ralph Santolla had left Deicide. Subsequently, he joined Florida's Obituary and appeared on their album Xecutioner's Return as well as the tour. On July 20, 2007, guitarist Jack Owen announced that Deicide would be on hiatus and he had temporarily joined Ohio-based deathrash band Estuary for touring purposes. The band embarked on a Balkan tour, dubbed "Balkans AssassiNation Tour", in October 2007 alongside Krisiun, Incantation and Inactive Messiah. Owen called the tour a "death metal vacation."
By November 2007, Deicide began work on their ninth studio album at Florida's Morrisound Studios. Entitled Till Death Do Us Part, the follow-up to The Stench of Redemption, promised to be the band's "most savage and aggressive [offering] to date", according to a press release. Asheim recorded drum tracks and Benton started recording vocals in December 2007. In April 2008, two songs off the album were posted online. It was released on April 28, 2008. As the record was coming out, Benton considered retiring from music in the midst of personal matters, including a custody battle.
On January 6, 2009, Deicide posted a blog on their official Myspace page saying they had signed a worldwide record deal with Century Media, with Ralph Santolla returning to the band for a European tour. They were said to be working on material for a summer 2010 release. In early 2009, they toured with Vital Remains and Order of Ennead. Guitarist Kevin Quirion of Order of Ennead joined the band in the summer of 2009. In June 2010, Benton revealed that the next Deicide album would be titled To Hell with God. Mark Lewis produced it at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida, and it was released on February 15, 2011.
Santolla left Deicide in 2011, with Quirion returning. Benton explained on Facebook that Santolla did not write anything, was always drunk, threw up in the studio when tracking leads, and made them sound sloppy live. He accused Santolla of not being Christian, and said he fired him in Italy and finished the tour as a three piece.
The eleventh studio album, In the Minds of Evil, was released on November 26, 2013. On October 9, 2014, The Village Voice reported that Deicide had started working on new material for their twelfth studio album.
Deicide toured with Entombed A.D. and Hate Eternal in the spring of 2015.
Recent activity (2016-present)