The British Death Metal machine BENEDICTION is back after 12 years with their new album “Scriptures” and their strongest ever line up, including classic vocalist Dave Ingram.
At last, BENEDICTION return to the fold with a crushing new album and an equally
impressive line up.
When vocalist of over 20 years Dave Hunt announced last summer that he needed
time away from the band to finish his PhD, the lads decided not to sit back and wait.
With Dave’s blessing, they decided to push on without him. The band were to make
only one phone call. “When Daz called me it was totally out of the blue. We chatted
for a little while and then he asked me ifI’d be interested in a return. As soon as
he said it there was NO hesitation, I was IN!!!” recalls Dave Ingram. “It just felt so
comfortable, so effortless, so right.”
Since they announced the reappointment of Ingram, Vocalist on some of BENEDIC-
TION’s classic early releases such as ‘The Grand Leveller’, ‘Grind Bastard’ and the
groundbreaking opus that is ‘Transcend the Rubicon’, often classed as one of the
most influential as important death metal releases to date, attention on this cult band
has gone ballistic. “We’re not making a comeback here” says Daz Brookes (original
member and mainstay along with fellow guitar player Peter Rew) “but it really feels
that way with this resurgence of interest and the clamorfor interviews”.
Formed in 1989, and after many years doing the rounds under other names, BEN-
EDICTION, 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.
“We had lots of offers at the time, all the obvious ones, but Markus at NBR seemed
to be a real fan of what we were doing and of the underground scene in general
as it was then. He was one of us” Rewy recalls, “a perfect match really and we’ve
never looked back”.
BENEDICTION have since gone on to release many acclaimed albums and are now
recognizedas one of the originals in the death metal scene. They do however contin-
ually 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.
“These guys obviously believe in what they are doing and it’s a great atmosphere to
be around. We are all Brothers here, and I for one am relishing this opportunity,”-
claims Gio. The band have 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 play-
ing shows in places other 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 are 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.
Bate recalls “Scott has really worked hard with us on this project and together I think
we’ve managed to capture that real BENEDICTION sound. We’ve brought it right up
to date, without over producing it and killing its raw edge. We’re pretty chuffed with
the outcome and are confident the fans will love it too” he concludes.
The new release “Scriptures” has that typical BENEDICTION Death Metal core, fused
with the punk rock anger and attitude, the heavy Metal powertrain riffing that’s be-
come 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 ma-
terial 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 colorsand 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.
BENEDICTION are BACK! And they are better than EVER! I’m sure you will agree!