Benediction – Scriptures
Release Date: 16th October 2020
Label: Nuclear Blast
Pre-Order
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Bolt Thrower, Cancer, Malevolent Creation, Grave.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Benediction have taken the return of the ex-vocalist, Dave Ingram, seriously, be it returning to classic album cover art or through to the extreme ferocity of their 8th full length opus, ‘Scriptures’. Let me just say from the start, this album is a monstrous beast that more than stands its own in the 30 year history of the band.
Daz Brookes and Peter Rew deliver riffs that are unashamedly old school death metal and this utterly benefits the album. Tracks like Rabid Carnality pick you up and sit you directly into Benediction’s 90’s heyday. ‘In Our Hands, the Scars’ is another song that stands out, probably being the song that will get the old neck muscles moving more than any other, with Ingramdelivering a stellar vocal masterclass.
With 2020 being the year of Death Metal ©Bossman Dave-Metalepidemic.com, it is perhaps fitting that it is a veteran band that has stepped up to the plate to prove the point. Not willing to let younger whippersnappers gain all the credit, Benediction have taken 30 years of experience and challenged everyone to a fight. Embrace the Kill piles into the melee, delivering unhindered raw aggression, whilst Stormcrow is a fist pumping agitator.
By the time the final echoes of album closer ‘We are Legion’ start to fade away, you may be tempted to press repeat for just ‘one more listen’, as this album is almost perfect.
(4.5 / 5)
