### Deicide: In torment in hell

#### 09/11/09 || Daemonomania

Glen Benton strode out the doublewide trailer and plopped himself down in a conveniently located lawn chair. The muggy Florida afternoon was settling into a warm but pleasant night. Back in the trailer the Hoffman brothers lay passed out, overcome by liquor. Glen was pretty fucken drunk himself. But he managed to compose his thoughts as he idly watched a beautiful sunset turn the sky into a tapestry of pinks, oranges, and reds.

First and foremost on Glen’s mind were the douches at Roadrunner Records. The execs were rushing to have ze new Deicide album completed in less than a week. It had been a long three days of recording and mixing, with only one day left to meet the deadline. He was sensitive to criticism about the last few albums sounding very rehashed, and of former fans complaining that the band was “devolving”. This new collection of music would do nothing to stop the critics. Benton knew the material wasn’t quite fleshed out, and metalheads would have a field day with it. Or even worse – they’d just ignore the album and the band altogether.

“Fuck Roadrunner,” he muttered to himself as he sipped a watery rum and coke. Glen wasn’t just looking forward to the end of his contract with the label. He craved it. His eyes drunkenly wandered over the trailer park around him. Fat women and fatter men barbequed and slugged cheap beer in the shimmering evening air. An old lady in an ugly dress stared at him. Guess she ain’t happy about the Death blasting out of the open door behind me, Benton thought. Or maybe she noticed the scar on my forehead. Maybe a bit of both. Fuck her, too.

Well, despite the rush job to complete the new one, which would be titled “In torment in hell,” he was happy with a couple of the tunes. Nothing was up to the standards of “Legion”, “Once upon the cross”, or even “Serpents of the light”. And the production job was sounding a bit muddy. Drum sound, no matter how serviceable Asheim’s performance, was bad. Not to mention coming up with a bunch of ideas in a few days had certainly led to slower songs with fewer of the trademark “groove amidst the violence” and hooks that Decide used to incorporate. Still, the title track, “Worry in the house of thieves”, and “Lurking among us” had all come out pretty good. Benton regretted a stupid idea from “Vengeance will be mine” where he made noises like he was getting beat up. Too late. Already in the can. Plus both Hoffman brothers were insisting on being credited with lead guitar, which seemed retarded. Even the cover art was looking half-assed. Goddamn.

His drink was done. Darkness was settling in and the mosquitoes were getting nasty. Glen stood up somewhat unsteadily and purposefully stared at the old woman in the adjacent trailer. He noticed a cross around her neck. Ha ha ha, that explains it. Fixing upon her his most Satanic scowl, he growled, “Hey Granny! Evil is all we’ve ever known!” She retreated inside. Success. Benton stumbled over to his motorcycle and started ‘er up. Fuck it. Even if the new one wouldn’t go down in death metal history as one of the greatest albums ever, it was good enough. And it would still piss off the stupid Jesus freaks and right-wingers who had always hated Deicide.

Soon he had left the trailer park, zipping down the Tampa highway with the steady hum of his bike and the sound of crickets warming up for the night ahead. Glen silently hoped that more than the chirping of crickets would greet “In Torment’s” release. Who gives a shit anyway, he decided. Deicide would be on a new label in no time, and Benton was already thinking of lyrical content for a song about heaven burning. The band, and he himself, were cornerstones in this fucking scene. There’d always be fans willing to buy anything, naysayers ready to tear down anything that didn’t sound like the old days, and a chance to make a comeback by returning to that original sound. As long as they could get this stupid album out there and fulfill their contract, all would be well.

- Information
- Released: 2001
- Label: Roadrunner
- Website: www.deicide.com
- Band
- Glen Benton: vocals, bass
- Steve Asheim: drums
- Eric Hoffman: lead guitars
- Brian Hoffman: lead guitars

- Tracklist
- 01. In Torment in Hell
- 02. Christ Don’t Care
- 03. Vengeance Will Be Mine
- 04. Imminent Doom
- 05. Child of God
- 06. Let It Be Done
- 07. Worry in the House of Thieves
- 08. Lurking Among Us