Scars of the Crucifix is the seventh studio album by American death metal band Deicide and their first on Earache Records, released on February 23, 2004. The album is the final release to feature the band's full original lineup, as the Hoffman brothers would depart shortly after this album, ending their 17-year tenure with the group.
| Scars of the Crucifix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 23, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | July 2003 – January 2004 | |||
| Studio | Morrisound Recording, Tampa | |||
| Genre | Death metal | |||
| Length | 29:32 | |||
| Label | Earache | |||
| Producer | Neil Kernon | |||
| Deicide chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 LP cover | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 8.5/10[2] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10[3] |
| KNAC | [4] |
Background
editGlen Benton recorded his vocal tracks on the album one line at a time.[5]
The track "Scars of the Crucifix" spawned Deicide's first ever music video, filmed in Nottingham. The closing track, "The Pentecostal", is followed by a hidden untitled bonus track with drummer/composer Steve Asheim playing a classical piano solo. The song "Fuck Your God" was part of a playlist used as a method of torture on Iraqi detainees by being piped into their bunks to induce sleep deprivation.[6][7]
On July 11, 2006, Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles reported that Deicide received a Silver Disc from the independent music trade body Impala for their sales in Europe.[8]
Reception
editTodd Kristel of Allmusic said of Deicide:
They mostly just spew vitriol at the same general target they've been attacking for over a decade [...] for what it's worth, they still seem to take their religion shtick seriously. Depending on your perspective, that makes them sincere, offensive, provocative, simpleminded, unintentionally humorous, or good showmen.[9]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Glen Benton and Deicide (Steve Asheim).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Scars of the Crucifix" | 3:08 |
| 2. | "Mad at God" | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Conquered by Sodom" | 2:58 |
| 4. | "Fuck Your God" | 3:32 |
| 5. | "When Heaven Burns" | 4:08 |
| 6. | "Enchanted Nightmare" | 2:12 |
| 7. | "From Darkness Come" | 2:58 |
| 8. | "Go Now Your Lord Is Dead" | 1:55 |
| 9. | "The Pentecostal" (ends at 2:46; hidden track begins at 2:49) | 5:36 |
| Total length: | 29:32 | |
Personnel
edit- Glen Benton – bass, vocals
- Eric Hoffman – guitars
- Brian Hoffman – guitars
- Steve Asheim – drums, piano (at end of "The Pentecostal")
- Neil Kernon – production
References
edit- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ Chronicles of Chaos review
- ↑ Popoff, Martin; Perri, David (2011). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 4: The '00s. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 116–117. ISBN 9781-926592-20-6.
- ↑ KNAC review
- ↑ Earache Records (October 9, 2012). Deicide - Behind the Scars (Official Full Documentary). Retrieved May 12, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "How US interrogators use music as a tool of torture", The Guardian, June 19, 2008
- ↑ "Deicide Music Used to Torture People. Seriously". February 28, 2008.
- ↑ "DEICIDE Receive Silver Disc for Scars Of The Crucifix", Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, July 11, 2006
- ↑ "Scars of the Crucifix - Deicide | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.