Bloody Blasphemy

The first song I ever heard from God Dethroned was “Arch Enemy Spain” from the “Lair of the White Worm.” I was impressed with what I heard, so I quickly went out and purchased that album, and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. “The Toxic Touch” was released about a year later, and I found it to be an even greater melodic death album. At that point, I was already proclaiming God Dethroned as one of my favorite bands.

I had already done past research on them, such as their previous albums, former members, etc. I knew that they started out as death metal for their debut, and was more blackened death in their mid-era, but I was never able to find any of their music for purchase locally or even download. That’s when I decided I the only way I was going to hear God Dethroned’s older work was to buy the albums online, so I bought all five that I was missing. And that is when I discovered not only God Dethroned’s greatest album, but one of the greatest metal albums I have ever heard in my life.

“Bloody Blasphemy” was pure metal euphoria the moment I turned it on. You know that chill you get down your spine when something has you really excited? That’s what I felt during every moment of this album. The sound is most certainly blackened death, but each song is unique and easy to differentiate from one another. You have the tracks “Boiling Blood”, “A View of Ages”, and “Firebreath” which are simply fast, straight-forward thrash-assaults (there’s a part in the first song I mentioned where it slows down and makes me think of Morbid Angel’s “Where the Slime Live”). Then, you have songs like “The Execution Protocol”, “Under the Golden Wings of Death”, and “Bloody Blasphemy” which contain catchy-as-hell riffs and even catchy-as-hell choruses (at the end of “The Execution Protocol” you are even treated to a rather nice piano outro, only to get your ass kicked by “Boiling Blood” shortly thereafter.)

Finally, on a different level all on its own, you have the slow-paced, epic, story-telling, eight-plus minute “Soul Capture 1562." Different from all the rest, I found this song to be the best surprise on the album (but not necessarily the best track). It’s basically separated into two parts, the second half being the longer and more ‘active’ of the two, and also containing a cool lead by former God Dethroned guitarist Jens Van Der Valk.

Speaking of cool leads, this album is filled with them (actually, all God Dethroned albums seem to be). Almost every song has at least one, and I’m a sucker for a sweet solo. The musicianship overall is erection-inducing, as well as the production. And no matter what, I will always praise Henri Sattler’s vocals; they are always so vicious, yet always comprehendible, even to this day. Also, you have to give the man props for coming up with some decent lyrics (just read the story that the lyrics to “Bloody Blasphemy” tell to see what I’m talking about).

So, to sum it up: I am quite pleased with where God Dethroned is today, but until they manage to surpass it (if that ever happens), “Bloody Blasphemy” will always be the band’s greatest work. But I believe that no matter how much the line-up changes, God Dethroned will always be awesome, so long as Henri Sattler is still breathing.

Standout tracks: EVERY FUCKING SONG