72. Benediction - 'Scriptures'

British Death Metal has always been about directness and simplicity. It has rejected the flashness of the American variety, where they seem intent on packing in as many notes as humanly possible, and it sticks its nose up at the Swedish brand, where bands are too attached to their old Iron Maiden records for their own good,. British Death Metal is as nuanced as a sledgehammer and looks to do the job with as minimum fuss as possible.

Benediction have been flying the flag for minimalistic no thrills Death metal since 1989. They tend to have been a band that musicians pass through on their way somewhere else and their past members section on Wikipedia reads like a who’s who of British Death Metal.

“Scriptures” is their first record in twelve years and sees the return of Dave Ingram on vocals. He originally joined in 1990 when Barney buggered off to join Napalm Death and then left himself in 1998 to join Bolthrower. Up until last year Dave Hunt kept the mike stand warm, dividing his time between Benediction and Anaal Nathrakh, but the desire of his fellow band members to up the workload and look to record a new album, meant that he had to sadly choose to concentrate on his day job. Enter Mr Ingram. What is great about “Scriptures” is how fresh and vital it feels. There is a hunger and latent energy throughout the record that you do not expect from a band that has been at this for thirty-one years. It is vibrant, self-assured and un-apologetic. There is no going through the motions here, this is the sound of a band thankful to still be able to play the music that they love and revelling in every minute of it!