As many can think, when Death Metal scene becomes a matter to deal with, everybody think of the scenes from Sweden, United States and UK. But it's rare to see a Death Metal fan speak about Dutch scene, because Holland revealed some excellent names, as PESTILENCE, ASPHYX, SINISTER, GOREFEST and others. But one of their finest acts is, without a shadow of doubt, the quartet GOD DETHRONED, that is engaged to create extreme Metal masterpieces since they arose from the depths of underground. And "Illuminati" is another fine piece of music that they give to the fans.

The lyrics of the album seems a comeback to their past with darker themes, but their music evolved even more into what could be called as Death Metal: the use of excellent hooking melodies in the middle of their traditional insight on Death Metal is better than ever, including the use of keyboards parts to improve things (what many radical will complain), some clean vocals chants, but the focus is still on very good guitar riffs (that improved a lot in terms of technique), melodic solos, and a solid and oppressive work on the rhythms created by bass guitar and drums, and nasty grunts. And once more, the energy and excellent good taste of the songs of "Illuminati" is amazing. The sound quality of "Illuminati" presents a drier and defined set of tunes, something that is unusual for Death Metal bands from the 90's. But as the quartet isn't caring for models or rules, they dared to give a step ahead and created something that sounds aggressive, brutal and heavy, but extremely clear for the ears, something that can be understood easily.

Nine excellent tracks wait to burn your ears to ashes, but to conquer you all at first hearing. It's impossible to not surrender to the bitter ambiance created by the guitars on "Illuminati" (the keyboards are fine as well), the catchy nasty melodies of "Book of Lies" (a deep melancholic feeling is summoned by the guitars and keyboards once more), the very good chants used on "Spirit of Beelzebub" (a brutal song in the band's traditional insight, but with some melodic moments), the seductive tempos and catchy melodic non usual arrangements presented on "Gabriel" (it sounds like a Death Metal version for a Post Punk/Post Rock song, so the melodies are accessible, and the bass guitar and drums are excellent once more) and on "Eye of Horus". But as I said above, it's impossible to resist to this album!

"Illuminati" is really an amazing album, and GOD DETHRONED should be recognized as one of the pillars of Death Metal, in the same level of greater names of the genres.