I’ve never done drugs in my life. Well, at least not the kind of drug you would classify negatively. Obviously I’ve had some forms of medication and I’ve had caffeine in my sodas, but for the most part you’d never see me smoking a joint, much less freebasing crack. However, there are more addictions out there than simply drugs. France’s Benighted is one of them.

Benighted play a style of brutal death metal that is rhythmic, catchy as all fuck, and yet isn’t so brutal that it gets retarded. In fact, Benighted have perfected the brutal hook to a fine art on Icon. Simply because Benighted remembered that they have to make their riffs one thing and one thing only: bloody fucking fun. Don’t come into Icon expecting Defeated Sanity’s technicality or Devourment and Cephalotripsy’s so-brutal-it’s-stupid recipe of brutal death metal. Benighted’s music writing has more in common with Amon Amarth in terms of fun, simple, catchy riffs than it does most brutal death metal bands. Every riff, hook, and segue is dripping with fun-loving groove and energy, the drumming just as enjoyable, and- just like Amon Amarth- you’ll have every urge to don a stupid outfit and run around your room like a maniac, grunting along to the guttural emissions of vocalist Julien Truchan. And the best part is Benighted gives all those idiotic deathcore bands a template for just how to properly write and use breakdowns.

Again, don’t come into Icon expecting amazing technicality or the next gore-drenched slab of extra-chromosome crafted brutality. Benighted is all about the simple catchiness. And you will be hooked, replaying Icon over and over again for a new fix and just never getting enough. Enjoy your new crack habit, drug fiend.

Written By: Necro-tron