Album Review: God Dethroned - Illuminati
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
2017’s The World Ablaze excited me a lot. The return of the Dutch extreme metal outfit with their first album for seven years was a major event. Under three years later and the band are back with Henri ‘T.S.K’ Sattler (vocals and rhythm guitar) still guiding the ship with his infectious enthusiasm. Illuminati maintains the quality of the previous album and returns to the subject matter which most God Dethroned fans crave, that of anti-religion. God Dethroned shed guitarist Mike Ferguson (replaced by Dave Meester (ex-Apophys)) during the song writing process, but that doesn’t appear to have stalled the machine as Illuminati contains some of the most varied material of the band’s career. Indeed, Ferguson retained an input on Eye of Horus, whilst Sattler and long-time drummer Michiel Van Der Pilcht penned much of the album.
The muscular title track opens the album in fine style, the roaring vocals of Sattler rage above a boiling cauldron of seething blackened death metal, underpinned by keys that are present throughout the album and which add depth to the unleashed fury. The keyboards provide the platform for the melodic elements, but don’t worry that God Dethroned have gone soft. Broken Halo is as ferocious as anything the band have delivered, thundering blast beats anchor another vicious track, which features some scorching lead breaks. There is a subtle symphonic element which in no way waters down the intensity and should therefore reassure long-time fans of the band, along with clean vocal choirs delivered by Sattler. Evident on songs such as Book of Lies, the mix of keys, soaring choral elements and the retained anger provide a broader palette than the band has delivered in past times.
Whilst God Dethroned slot into many genres, most recently wearing the melodic death metal tag, there is a definitive sound that the band achieve. Sattler stated, "God Dethroned have always followed our own path. We were always different from everybody else. This resulted in slower growth in our fanbase compared to bands who played death metal or black metal specifically, but a more loyal fan base at the same time. Our fans are still there. They've never abandoned us." There is certainly nothing for the fans to be disappointed with on Illuminati. A quick glance at the track listing will confirm that the band’s lyrical focus is a move away from the World War I theme of previous releases and instead God Dethroned embarked on a journey to unearth secret religious societies, photograph scenes of erotic derangement (a riff off of Hieronymus Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights"), feed jealous angels, tell tales of forced evangelism, detail demonic frenzies, and, of course, covet the spawn of Satan.
God Dethroned release 'Illuminati' via Metal Blade Records on February 7th.
