With "Weapons of Conquest" serving as an aggressive opener, D666 immediately answer any unreasonable expectations that time might have mellowed them; intense and memorable, it sets a high standard for the rest of the album to follow. While old fans may frown at the somewhat stronger melodic polish, it does not diminish the band's impact, nor their willingness to tear into blastbeats and highly effective lead guitar attacks. While "A Sermon to the Dead" features clean vocals and "Blood for Blood" reminds me of the unlikely Amon Amarth, they are both rather good; and for the rest of this impeccable album, the changes signify only a refinement of songwriting ability and controlled aggression.

D666 may not have been able to come up with quite the successor to "I Am the Wargod" (though "A Stand Defiant" is definitely a solid attempt), but they have certainly gained in terms of consistency -- to the extent that _Defiance_ becomes my favourite album of theirs. This is also by far the most enjoyable record of its kind I heard in 2009, and I'm sure I will continue to go back to it in 2010.