Deicide – Once Upon The Cross / Serpents Of The Light
Deicide – Once Upon The Cross / Serpents Of The Light
Cherry Red Records
Release Date: 20/01/23
Running Time: 58:48
Review by Rick Eaglestone
8/10
Deicide unleash another unholy alliance with “Once Upon The Cross” and “Serpents Of Light. Where to even begin, title track to CD1 1995’s ‘Once Upon The Cross’ even now with a lot more in their discography, still remains my all-time favourite Deicide track – which considering it contains the bass heavy ‘When Satan Rules His World’, which again is still one of my go-to tracks.
Admittedly it has been while since I had revisited the album in its full form, put everything that drew me in initially still manages to hold my attention and I had forgotten just how good the combination of ‘They Are the Children of Underworld’ and ‘Behind the Light Thou Shall Rise’ truly are. I used to be intimidated by Mr Benton in the early days and as the album closes, I almost get that feeling once again.
Following on from this CD2 is 1997’s “Serpents of the Light” which not only contains artistically a more upfront blasphemous approach, but a more urgent and angrier output, take for instance title track ‘Serpents of the Light’ which feels like the previous album speed up and the solos on this particular track are great.
This was an album for some reason I neglected at the time of its release so tracks like ‘Slave to the Cross’ and ‘Creatures of Habit’ feel like brand new tracks and it’s almost like I’m discovering the band for the first time. By the time I get to the final offering ‘Father Baker’s’, with its unrelenting fury and hypnotic solos I am firmly positioned to hit repent – sorry repeat on this album.
Another baptism of blasphemy.
‘Once Upon The Cross’ Official Audio
TRACKLISTING:
CD1 – Once Upon The Cross
01. Once Upon The Cross
02. Christ Denied
03. When Satan Rules His World
04. Kill The Christian
05. Trick Or Betrayed
06. They Are The Children Of The Underworld
07. Behind The Light Thou Shall Rise
08. To Be Dead
09. Confessional Rape
CD2 – Serpents Of The Light
01. Serpents Of The Light
02. Bastard of Christ
03. Blame It On God
04. This Is Hell We’re In
05. I Am No One
06. Slave To The Cross
07. Creatures Of Habit
08. Believe The Lie
09. The Truth Above
10. Father Baker’s
LINE-UP:
Glen Benton – Bass, Vocals
Eric Hoffman – Guitar
Brian Hoffman – Guitar
Steve Asheim – Drums
LINKS:
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