Floridian blasphemers Deicide have been instrumental in codifying the sound and style of death metal. SCARS OF THE CRUCIFIX is yet another refinement of the equation. The album's brevity (about 30 minutes long) works to its advantage, positioning as a swift and savage attack akin to a demon landing suddenly on your shoulders. The songs are of course primarily concerned with anti-Christian themes. "F**k Your God" is a blistering furnace of devil voices and molten guitars, and "Go Now the Lord is Dead" is two minutes' worth of dizzyingly angry drums. Typically, one can't really understand all that much of Glenn Benton's vocals, but clean production highlights the veteran band's crisp, nimble playing. These are some seasoned, professional Satanists.