Released 19 years ago this October
Icon
Benighted · 2007
39 min · 12 tracks · brutal death metal
Savage riffs and relentless rhythms collide with guttural growls, crafting a visceral experience that embodies brutal death metal's raw intensity.
Top tracks — play these first
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Slut — This track exemplifies the album's unrelenting aggression with its fast-paced rhythms and provocative lyrics, capturing the essence of Benighted's confrontational style.
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Forsaken — This song showcases dynamic shifts between crushing heaviness and melodic elements, reflecting the band's ability to blend brutality with technicality seamlessly.
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Pledge of Retaliation — An intense display of speed and precision, this track stands out for its relentless energy and powerful breakdowns, emblematic of the band’s signature sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and relentless intensity typical of brutal death metal, solidifying Benighted's reputation.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of blast beats and down-tuned guitars, creating an aggressive sonic landscape throughout its duration.
- Each track typically maintains a length of around three to four minutes, allowing for rapid transitions between intense riffs and guttural vocals.
- Several tracks incorporate tempo changes that shift from fast-paced sections to slower, heavier breakdowns, enhancing the dynamic range.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- short, intense listening bursts
- dynamic emotional journeys
- immersive sonic experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Icon' was released in 2007, Benighted had already established themselves as a prominent force in the brutal death metal scene with their previous albums. This album followed their critically acclaimed 2004 release 'Insurrection,' showcasing their technical prowess and aggressive sound while marking a significant step in their evolution as artists.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cryptopsy· Origin· Dying Fetus
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Smile Then Bleed
The shift from graphic imagery to a chilling calm illustrates an unsettling emotional landscape that haunts throughout the song.
This juxtaposition heightens the impact by contrasting moments of visceral violence with reflective pauses, evoking a deeper sense of dread.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Complete Exsanguination 0:27
- 2 Slut 2:55
- 3 Grind Wit 3:39
- 4 Saw It All 3:56
- 5 Forsaken 3:30
- 6 Smile Then Bleed 3:39
- 7 Pledge of Retaliation 3:03
- 8 Icon 4:19
- 9 Human Circles 3:49
- 10 Invoxhate 3:29
- 11 The Underneath 3:01
- 12 Blindfolded Centuries 3:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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