Benediction is back and better than ever with a crushing new album “Scriptures” set for release worldwide October 16th through Nuclear Blast, I caught up with Darren ‘Daz’ Brookes guitarist for Benediction to talk about the latest album “Scriptures” Dave Ingram stepping back into vocal duties and a whole lot more.
Formed in 1989, and after many years doing the rounds under other names, BENEDICTION, as we know it, was formed and the band was quickly picked up by German underground Metal label Nuclear Blast Records, a partnership that lasts to this day.
BENEDICTION have since gone on to release many acclaimed albums and are now recognized as one of the originals in the death metal scene. They do however continually strive to deliver the goods and are still to this day thoroughly enthused by what they do as you clearly see when they are together, especially up on stage.
The band has constantly toured the world, playing some huge shows with many of the biggest bands in the metal world as well as embarking on numerous tours of their own. Taking with them their no-nonsense, energy-packed performance, BENEDICTION travel to anywhere and everywhere they can possibly go, often playing shows in places others wouldn’t dare, much to the delight of their loyal and still ever-growing number of fans across the globe.
With over 30 years in this business and a genre that not only refuses to die but is benefitting from a new lease of life, BENEDICTION is back with arguably their best release to date and will no doubt secure their well-earned seat at the top table once more. All the raw power you expect from this colossal metal machine is on show. Crushing guitars from messers Rew and Brookes, vocals from Dave that sound even more powerful than back in the day, all backed up by a solid platform of concrete bass lines from Daniel Bate and a monster behind the kit in Gio Durst, surely soon to be recognized as one of the best drummers in this league.
Production was handled by Scott Atkins at Grindstone studio in England. The new release “Scriptures” has that typical BENEDICTION Death Metalcore, fused with the punk rock anger and attitude, the heavy Metal powertrain riffing that’s become a staple for the band, aggressive monster vocal delivering meaningful lyrics to entice you in, and that groove that only BENEDICTION seem to possess that sets them out amongst the others in their field and has become a trademark of their material over the years. As usual, tracks vary from slow and heavy to fast and intense, from shorter, in your face numbers to epic masterpieces. BENEDICTION don’t follow blueprints when it comes to the parameters of writing these great tunes but you will be in no doubt who you are listening to. It is clearly and intentionally BENEDICTION. That will never change.
The artwork for this release is outstanding and very much typically BENEDICTION. Created by Birmingham artist Simon Harris, it is a throwback to the iconic early album covers the band used way back then. With vivid colors and that ‘old school’ feel, it is definitely a BENEDICTION album cover. An absolute must for collectors of vinyl or as an eye-catching poster. All in all this album is the complete package. A solid slab of early death metal, with a modern edge to it, right up to date and there to challenge the best that’s out there today. A powerhouse release from a band that’s been there from the very beginning.
The new BENEDICTION album ‘SCRIPTURES’ is out October 16th on Nuclear Blast. Order at: http://nblast.de/Benediction-Scriptures
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ORDER ‘SCRIPTURES’: Nuclear Blast: http://nblast.de/Benediction-Scriptures iTunes. http://nblast.de/BenedictionScript-IT
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LISTEN AT: Spotify: http://nblast.de/BenedictionSpotifyComp
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Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/album/15782…
Pre-Save Album: http://nblast.de/BENEDICTIONpreSave
