CoC : God Dethroned - Ravenous : Review

God Dethroned - _Ravenous_
(Metal Blade, 2001)
by: Paul Schwarz (8.5 out of 10)

Once again, God Dethroned succeed where so many fail; once again, God Dethroned have managed to meld aggressive, raging death metal with an uncommon sensitivity and sense of how to use melody and (primitive) atmospherics. The dynamics of this, their fourth, full-length are the finest and sharpest the band have yet managed to create; that's progress for you. The addition (for this recording only) of Nile/ex-Angelcorpse powerhouse percussion pounder Tony Laureano gives _Ravenous_ an extra edge over _Bloody Blasphemy_ [CoC #41] -- and though fans may well argue over which ultimately has a better batch of songs, I'll wager _Ravenous_ will not be voted by even the most backward-looking aficionado as the lesser for the performances laid down or the powerful sound achieved. God Dethroned may be very partial to death-thrashing their way merrily along at quite a pace, but their aforementioned taste for dynamics effectively breaks up their brutal onslaught; tempo shifts are frequent enough to prevent descent into monotony at any point on the album. God Dethroned don't need speed to excel either -- powerful mid-pacer "The Iconoclast Deathride" proves that fact more than amply. Admittedly, there is nothing truly cutting edge on offer, but yet _Ravenous_ is worthy of attention if you're in need of a fresh-sounding -- rather than original or innovative -- death/thrash album.

(article published 12/8/2001)

CHATS
12/8/1999	A Bromley	God Dethroned: Eden Must Burn

ALBUMS
27/1/2011	M Dolson	9.5	God Dethroned - Under the Sign of the Iron Cross
4/1/2010	J Smit	8	God Dethroned - Passiondale
28/11/2006	J Smit	6	God Dethroned - The Toxic Touch
7/7/1999	A Bromley	9	God Dethroned - Bloody Blasphemy
16/1/1999	A McKay	6.5	God Dethroned - The Grand Grimoire

GIGS
13/5/2001	M Noll	Marduk / Mortician / Vader / God Dethroned / Amon Amarth / Mystic Circle / Sinister / ...And Oceans / Bal Sagoth	Baptized by Fire and Beer
5/3/2000	M Noll	Morbid Angel / Gorgoroth / God Dethroned / Amon Amarth / Krisiun / Occult	Formulas Fatal to Gorgoroth