Incarnate Deity – ‘Theodicy’ (Christian Metal Underground)

By David Stewart

Theodicy, from the Greek theos, ‘god’ and dike, ‘justice’: the explanation of why a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing God permits evil.

Up for review here is the debut eight track album from Incarnate Deity entitled ‘Theodicy’. A release that introduces me to a style of music that I never even knew existed. “Symphonic Blackened Christian Death Metal” is apparently a thing. Who would have thought? It’s not something that I’ve ever encountered before but would certainly give it a listen.

Let’s get something clear right off the bat. This is certainly not your run of the mill Christian album and this certainly isn’t for fans of Amy Grant. Well, I don’t think it is, but you never know. At the same time this album is not what you would call preachy. In fact, parts of this album actually criticizes preachy bible thumpers.

You would be excused to think that Incarnate Deity is a band. That is just the name of the project. In fact, pretty much everything you hear on this album predominantly comes from the mind and creativity of one person.

Zerachiel, who is a known and well-seasoned veteran of the local music scene in Johannesburg, South Africa, not only wrote and performs vocals for the album. He is also responsible for guitars, bass, drum programming and orchestration.

Theodicy is released through Christian Metal Underground Records, which is a subsidiary of Vision Of God Records, which specialize in limited runs of heavier music with Christian and faith based lyrics.

I personally found this to be a good, solid first album. At times heavy and at times melodic, with additions of piano, cello and a male choir.

The album opens with an instrumental entitled ‘Darkest Night’ that sets the mood and is very reminiscent of something you would hear from Dimmu Borgir. This leads into the track called ‘Plaguebearer’, which for me is a real highlight of the album. The song opens with the sound of falling rain. A Cello is then introduced before the song then slips into something a little more heavier. A male choir is featured at times throughout the track which adds atmosphere and drama. This for me is my personal favourite on the album.

We quickly move onto the next song ‘Valley Of Dry Bones’, which is a great track. Heavy and dramatic with the addition of a choir. This for me is another highlight of the album.

After that we have ‘Legionnaire Of Degradation’. A track that starts heavy, then introduces a Cello, but then turns very quickly to heavy and fast before slowing back down with the addition of a choir, then back to fast and heavy again. Another good solid track.

After this we have the song ‘Akeldama’, which is the Aramaic name for the field near Jerusalem that was bought with the thirty pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot was paid for betraying Jesus. Akeldama means field of blood. This is another heavy track that in parts features strings and choir. Another personal highlight for me.

Next is the track ‘No Quarter’. A heavy track which yet again features the choir along with the addition of an organ. ‘Stygian Oppression’ is the next track and yet again, another one that doesn’t fail to deliver. A track that opens with strings that soon turns heavy. Another good solid heavy song.

Then we get to the eighth and final track on the album, ‘Finis Noctis’, which is Latin for “the end of night”. A track that is heavy and fast and features a narration along with accompanying strings and bring the album to a close.

This is a good solid first effort and considering that most of this album is just one man I would have to say that I was blown away by that fact. A heavy and consistent album that certainly does not fail to deliver.

‘Theodicy’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.

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