Icons of Evil
Vital Remains · 2007
67 min · 10 tracks · death metal
Ruthless and unrelenting, the album blends brutal riffs with dark, morbid themes that epitomize death metal's extremes.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Where Is Your God Now — This opening track sets a menacing tone with its relentless pace and stark questioning of faith, encapsulating the album's overarching themes.
-
→
Born to Rape the World — The title track exemplifies the band’s provocative lyrics paired with intricate guitar work, pushing boundaries while showcasing technical prowess.
-
→
'Till Death — With its epic length and dynamic shifts, this track offers a deep dive into the band's complex song structures and thematic depth.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines technical skill with thematic consistency, making it a strong entry in death metal.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tone, maintaining high energy through the first half before introducing slower, heavier sections.
- Lyrically, the album explores dark themes consistently across all tracks, with many songs featuring aggressive vocal delivery and harsh tones.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
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
- unrelenting intensity throughout album
- dark themes for cathartic release
- for focused aggression
- pummeling rhythms drive momentum
Maybe skip if you
- seeking melodic or soft sounds
- prefer quick, light listening
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Icons of Evil' was released in 2007, Vital Remains had solidified their presence within the death metal scene, following their 2003 album 'Dechristianize'. This album showcased a lineup featuring new vocalist Glen Benton, marking a significant evolution in their sound as they embraced even darker themes and aggressive instrumentation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Behemoth· Dimmu Borgir· Nile
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Where Is Your God Now 1:52
- 2 Icons of Evil 7:33
- 3 Scorned 8:40
- 4 Born to Rape the World 8:09
- 5 Reborn... The Upheaval of Nihility 7:40
- 6 Hammer Down the Nails 6:10
- 7 Shrapnel Embedded Flesh 6:46
- 8 'Till Death 9:12
- 9 In Infamy 6:15
- 10 Disciples of Hell 4:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.