Deicide / Destinity

It feels shorter than the two years that passed since anti-Christian death metal phenomenon Deicide possessed the Underworld but tonight they return to instil their brand of old school death metal into the London faithful. Surprisingly, there are still tickets available at the door for this mid-week affair, perhaps due to the deluge of metal shows coming up in March and the overhanging fear of Deicide's reputation of liberally cancelling shows.

France's Destinity have been toiling away since 1996 but remain relatively unknown in the death metal stratosphere. Providing the audience with a contemporary strain of death metal, heavy with Gothenburg-style melody and thrash metal decoration, the five-piece's efforts leave the audience receptive but not particularly enthusiastic. Perhaps it is the symphonic metal keyboards that divide opinion. Nonetheless, the stage presence employed by the Frenchmen is a persevering one, endeavouring to deliver a memorable show.

The gig may not be sold out but sweat crawls off the surface of the Underworld's walls as Florida death metal icons Deicide grace the stage to a congregation barking ovation. Opening with the modern yet muscular 'Homage for Satan' from the highly lauded 'Stench of Redemption', the venue explodes into a flurry of split beer and flailing hair. This opener is proceeded by a barrage of older fan favourites, including 'Dead By Dawn', 'Once Upon the Cross', 'When Satan Rules His World' and 'Serpents of the Light', bristling with the blueprints of Floridian death metal that spawned countless imitators over the years. Of course, the latest album 'To Hell With Your God' is fairly represented with a number of choice cuts, such as 'Save Your', 'Conviction' and 'How Can You Call Yourself a God?'. Although the audience reaction is far more subdued to the later material compared to the classics, the disdain and indifference these songs are usually met with is undeserved, with their modern approach and variation in rhythms and tempos.

The quartet is austere and formidable on stage, largely ignoring the standard fare of excited crowd surfers and stage invaders. The sound is commendable for the venue although not perfect, with the guitars nearly swallowed by walls of sound. Benton's vocals sound as violent as ever, backed by Steve Asheim's take-no-prisoners drumming.

Given the cult of personality surrounding the individual, frontman Glen Benton comes across as a pleasant entertainer, the inverted cross scar burnt into his forehead now barely visible on stage. A member of the audience arriving at the show dressed as Jesus complete with a crown of thorns is complimented by Benton who proclaims, "We're keeping you in business," after Jesus claims he does the same for Deicide. His mettle is however tested by an intrepid camera man whom Benton threatens with violence for "fucking us." Shortly after his rabid reaction, the vocalist excuses the man with the comment, "It's okay. You can fuck me."

The setlist is a delectably lengthy one, with the second half of the gig showcasing staples 'Dead But Dreaming', 'They Are the Children of the Underworld' (a most apt decision considering the venue's name) and 'Sacrificial Suicide'. The curtain-calling number summons an eruption of appreciation and a final surge of the mosh pit with the opening notes – 'Lunatic of God's Creation'. A punctuating end, the band thank the audience and vacate the stage. Given how early the night is, the crowd are unsure as to expect an encore. Unfortunately, they are disappointed as the house lights fade in and the appeased metallers wander into the night for a beer before heading home.

Yet another Deicide gig in London that goes by without cancellation and a live show is a solid reminder why death metallers' fervour for this four-piece is entirely justified. Here's to more Deicide shows at the Underworld very soon!

FUTURE GIGS

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