This week’s Massive Metal Monday track comes to us courtesy of the second biggest selling death metal band in history, Deicide (only Cannibal Corpse has sold more if you’re wondering). The Tampa, Florida band whose name means “killing god” was formed in 1988 by vocalist/bassist Glen Benton, drummer Steve Asheim, and the guitar duo consisting of brothers Eric and Brian Hoffman.

Continue below to check out a live performance by Deicide’s original lineup of the title track from their fourth studio album Serpents of the Light which was released in 1997.

Deicide’s mission statement was to deliver their Satanic message through metal that sounded like Slayer on steroids. The band has courted major controversy over the years with their anti-Christian themes and outright blasphemy. Glen Benton has become an instantly recognizable figure in the death metal world and beyond, due in part to the inverted cross that he has repeatedly brand into his forehead. Their have even been two attempted bombings by right wing groups at Deicide shows.

The original Deicide lineup would stay in tact until November of 2004, when the Hoffman brothers split acrimoniously over a royalty dispute. They have since gone on to reform their pre-Deicide band Amon. Deicide continues to release albums and tour to this day. The guitar slots are now filled by ex-Cannibal Corpse axeman Jack Owen and Kevin Quirion. The band is said to be working on their twelfth studio album for a planned 2016 release.

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When I was growing up in rural Indiana in the early ’80s, there was very limited access to heavy music. These were the days before MTV blew up with the whole hair metal, Headbangers Ball phenomenon. But on Sunday nights, there was a two-hour radio show that came from WOXY, just across the state line in Oxford, Ohio (home of Miami University of Ohio). It was called Massive Metal for the Masses, and I would wait all week for it to air. It was through this show that I was introduced to bands like Venom, Bathory, WASP, Michael Schenker Group, Slayer, and countless others. This Monday weekly column is my tip of the hat to that show. I call it Massive Metal Monday. Every week, I pay tribute to defining moments by the artists that laid the groundwork for heavy metal to become the worldwide cultural bond for all of us metal heads, as well as current artists who are shaping the future of the genre.