When vocalist and bassist Glen Benton put an advert in a local music magazine to start a band, guitarist Brian Hoffman responded alongside his brother Eric (guitar) and old bandmate Steve Asheim (drums). Together they formed Amon, inspired by the likes of Slayer, Dark Angel, and Exodus, playing locally in the Tampa area.
At the request of their then label Roadrunner Records, in 1989 the band agreed to change their name to Deicide. In 1990 they set the ball in motion as they released their debut self-titled album inspired by themes of the classic horror film Evil Dead rife with brutal blast beats, breakdowns and their controversial satanic lyrical content which was carried through in subsequent releases "Legion" (1992), "Once Upon the Cross" (1995) and "Serpents of the Light" (1997).
In 2004 growing tension in the band between the Hoffman brothers and Benton surrounding royalty and publishing divides caused the brothers to announce their departure from the band. Later that year they would reform their former band Amon. Deicide replaced the brothers with ex Cannibal Corpse guitarist Jack Owen and Vital Remains guitarist Dave Suzuki.
In 2006, the band released their eighth album “The Stench of Redemption” continuing themes of destruction and anti-Christianity, the album reached number 11 in Billboard’s HeatSeekers chart proving to be one of their greatest chart successes. The following year the band announced that they would be briefly go on hiatus.
In 2009 the band announced through social networking site MySpace that they had signed with Century Media Records, home to the likes of Napalm Death, Orphaned Land and Suicide Silence. Playing festivals such as Hellfest, Bloodstock and Total Metal festival, Deicide continue to shock, surprise and entertain the only way they know how.
The music Deicide creates does not seem to match the sunny, relaxed tones of their origins in Florida. Whatever it was that inspired them to create a doom metal sound is an ongoing anomaly of sorts however the fans are very happy they did. Away from the controversy of their satanic and anti-Christian lyricism, you have a very skilled live band who really do throw themselves into a performance as opposed to simply just playing.
There are continuous themes of the occult and satanic worship and the whole stage seems to be set up as a temple for the underworld. The crowd seems to be invested in this mentality and are happy to chant along to the choruses of 'Fuck Your God' with the musicians onstage. There's no doubt the music is risqué but on the surface it is brilliant metal played with an insane proficiency. No matter what your opinions on their lyrics, if you are a fan of death metal you have to see Deicide.