Deicide is an American death metal band formed in Tampa, Florida on July 21 1987 by drummer Steve Asheim and guitarist brothers Eric and Brian Hoffman as "Carnage", then hiring bassist/vocalist Glen Benton
and becoming "Amon". Within a month, they had recorded the Feasting the Beast 8-track demo in Benton's garage and had started playing the occasional gig in the Tampa area. In 1989, Amon recorded their second demo, Sacrificial, at Morrisound with producer Scott Burns.
They would later change the band name 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.
Legion is one of Deicide's most musically ambitious releases, incorporating more technical riffing
and song structures. The band considers this album to be its most
difficult, and claims it is too chaotic. When the Hoffman brothers quit
the band, Eric Hoffman stated that one of the main reasons was Glen Benton refusing to play longer sets and being unable to perform the technical bass guitar riffing required for Legion's
material. Though the album is a favourite of fans, "Dead But Dreaming"
is the only song from it to remain in the band's live set (though as
recently as 2010 the band has begun playing "Trifixion" and "Holy
Deception" as well). Unlike Deicide's first album, no pitch shifters
or harmonizers were used on Benton's vocals. However, delay, reverb,
and multi-tracking were among the studio manipulations used to achieve
the vocal effects on the album.
The first track, "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon", features a
backward message. At about twenty seconds, a voice can be heard
repeating the song's title.
Steve Asheim said of Legion, "For Legion,
I was too busy worrying about how we were going to get a second album
out to really think about what it meant, I was just trying to stay in
the music business and stay brutal.
-Tracklist:
Side A:
1. Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon 04:26
2. Dead but Dreaming 03:13
3. Repent to Die 03:59
4. Trifixion 02:59
Side B:
5. Behead the Prophet (No Lord Shall Live) 03:44
6. Holy Deception 03:19
7. In Hell I Burn 04:37
8. Revocate the Agitator 02:47
-Line up:
• Glen Benton: Bass, vocals, lyrics
• Eric Hoffman: Guitars
• Brian Hoffman: Guitars
• Steve Asheim: Drums.
- Label: Metal Blade Records.
Produced by Deicide.
Recorded and mixed at Morrisound Recording, Tampa, FL.
Mastered at Fullersound, Miami, FL.