Band: Deus Invictus
Title: Staged In Awaiting
Label: Bombworks Records
Distribution: Bombworks Records
Release date: 19/10/2010
Review: CD

A new band on Bombworks, yes, it will probably be a Christian-inspired one? And then, that moniker, ‘deus invictus’; it says it all, not?! …In opposition to bands with the name ‘deus inversus’, for example (think about the blaspheme German Death Metal formation, of the defunct French Black-band). But luckily, like it is the case with most bands on this Iowa-based label, the Christian belief(s) of Deus Invictus (or at least the band’s members) isn’t just meant to show all of us how graceful the Christian Über-Meister, mainly called Gott, is; most bands on this label don’t hide their beliefs, yet their musical (and lyrical) expression isn’t just blaming us for human failures and the sickness of undivinity. Or: f*ck it, Jahweh or Satan, it is of no importance; the music counts, and it hits! Or again: Bombworks do not just house bands that are oh so worship-full; it’s a label that combines metallic intensity with religion, yet without the would-be sweetness of love and obeisance.

Anyway, this goes for Deus Invictus too. Staged In Awaiting turns out to be a maniacal recording. The album combines extreme forms of Metal (Death/ Thrash/ Black/ Doom) with an impressing and authentic avant-garde approach, filled with progressive breaks, intensive structures and endless variations on tempo, melody, atmosphere and compositional approach. The whole does indeed sound rather modern – undoubtedly it has to do with the clean yet powerful production as well. And you can’t ignore the main influence on Deus Invictus’ writing process: Extol. Deus Invictus too do use jazzy and grinding elements; think about the vocal variation too; the breaks and hooks; the equilibrium between experiment and comfort; and I can go on for blablabla. Other interfaces: Solefald, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Necrophagist, Ram-Zet, Job For A Cowboy, Believer (the American one) or Ephel Duath.

Staged In Awaiting punishes and forgives at the same time – the hand of your god might have been involved, probably…

80/100

Ivan Tibos.