Metalreview.com (feb 4th)
I am continually impressed with the metal getting spit out from the likes of Norway, Poland, and Sweden these days. With 52% of our readers living in areas other than North America, I think we can conclude that our European neighbors know their metal. One of the thrash/hardcore powerhouses of Norway who call themselves Deride recently released their sophomore effort entitled "First Round Knockout". And like the name suggests, this album wastes no time in smacking you in the face.

Deride have been ripping up the Norwegian metal scene since 1995 and in June of 2001 their rollercoaster ride produced the stomping "Scars of Time", one of my all-time favorites that year. I was surprised but not disappointed to hear the direction they went in with "First Round Knockout", with the biggest change being no more clean vocals. "Scars of Time" was splattered with clean throughout the entire album and I for one actually liked what it brought to their songs. It added another dimension in a sense. It seems that Deride have chiseled away at their "sound" and come out with a more concentrated and focused effort in "First Round Knockout". The meat of the album is composed of chunky low tuned gritty guitar riffs with great double bass grooves that merge together with high end crisp production. They continue to enforce technicality too with fast paced palm muted grinds lead by intricate double bass and china beat-downs. The vocals are 100% in your face the entire album.

One thing I miss in "First Round Knockout" that formed a large part of what made "Scars of Time" so great, is the slow heavy breakdowns. In "Scars of Time" they would make a conscious effort to have a "prize" at the end of every song in the form of a metal grimacing breakdown. You won't hear much of that in "First Round Knockout" though. The songs seem to keep the same pace from start to finish.

In conclusion, from hearing this album and the one before it, I know Deride will continue to kick out great albums with all of their releases to come. They know what they are good at and they keep within those boundaries always refining their technique. Two thumbs up to Ole, Frediablo, and Kjetil for a crushing release!

Dragon / www.metalreview.com

Lollipop Magazine (jan 27th)
Spraken ze kick ass? Deride straddle the metalized dirt rock of Speedealer, Zeke, Lambs, Suplecs, etc., and where ’80s riff-core laps up grind ’n’ roll. They might not win over the Pantera/Entombed fan club (what, you’re not a member? W.T.F.! Maybe the card got lost in the mail), but for a guy like me who felt betrayed when Machine Head got all Korn-y, this fits like a denim condom. Then again, maybe the Pantera/Entombed cadre will hop to this.

by Craig Regala / www.lollipop.com

Bergens Tidende (dec 17th)
Brutal uppercut
Norsk metal som slår under beltestedet, spytter blod og biter av deg øret.

Bergenpuls mener: 5/6

Det andre albumet fra bergensbaserte Deride er like hardtslående som en runde med Mike Tyson. Det er så ensidig aggressivt (unntatt en navnløs instrumental) at det vil skremme de fleste fra flere runder, men de som står fighten ut blir kjent med et band som - i norsk sammenheng - står for en ganske unik blanding av klassisk metal, hardcore og ekstremrock-varianter som grindcore, trash og death metal. Deride bygger på et fundament av blytunge riff og brutalt presis tromming, og det er liten tvil om at trommis Kjetil Greve og gitarist/bassist Ole Walaunet kan sin Metallica og Pantera. Fred «Frediablo» Prytz brøler intense, mørke tekster som minner om riff bygd av hat og sinne. Produksjonen er nøktern og tett, men det hadde vært moro å ha hørt Deride med større budsjett og en produsent som Matt Hyde (Hatebreed) eller Rick Rubin (Slayer). For «First Round Knockout» er nok hakket for monoton til å bryte ut av metal-gettoen.

ANMELDT AV ØYVIND HOLEN / www.bt.no

Kerrang Magazine (dec 17th)
First Round Knockout
K Genre:Metal
Label:(The Music Cartel)

PANTERA MAY well be one of the greatest metal bands of all time, but wanting to be them is so passŽ these days; bands are now much more likely to ape Korn or Slipknot. Formed seven years ago, and now on album number two, Bergen's Deride make clumsy attempts here to marry Anselmo-esque rage (courtesy of Frediablo, on "vokills") with swathe after swathe of mid-'90s-style thrash riffage.

Unfortunately, the results sound exceedingly flat and uninvolving, and possess not a 10th of the power, prowess and cracking riffs that made Pantera so vital. The album's cover art features what appears to be a bearded tramp throwing up in the bog, which is a fair enough comment about 'First Round Knockout' as any.

Reviewed By: DANIEL LUKES

...So if Daniel Lukes of Kerrang Magazine dislike "First Round Knockout", it can only mean that it´s well worth checking out...
This album is for TRUE METAL FANS!!

-Deride

Scream Magazine (dec 9th)
Rating: 5/6
Jeg husker ikke i farten hvordan jeg vurderte den forige Deride skiva. 'Sars Of Time' het den og er mykere i kantene enn den nye. Når det gjelder 'First Round Knokout' er det nettop det. Kockout! En aldeles glimrende skive som slår knockout på den første.

Bandet har betydelig mer fokus på drivende groovy metall på den nye skiva og trash basisen er rådende i låtene. Gitarriffene er sterke og poengterte. Lyden er tøff og tørr, men samtidig kjøttfull, for å si det på den måten. Trion fra vestlandet har kommet opp med forholdsvis enkle låter, men konseptet fungerer utmerket. Gorelorde varierer sitt sinte vokalutrykk på en god måte og minner litt om det samme som 'Illdisposed' gjorde som sitt 'Black Album' ('Kokaiinum') i enkelte låtpartier.

Deride har godt redigerte, kompakte og fokuserte låter på denne skiven. Bandet viser seg fra en bedre og jevnere side enn forrige gang. Detter er metall som det holder! Og hva mer kan vi forlange? Ikke andet enn at bandet kryddrer låtene sine med artige detaljer og et skjult kutt til slutt som avslører en helt annen side av bandet som i denne annmelders ører låter helt fortreffelig.

AJ.Blisten www.scream.no

MetalNorth Webzine (dec 5th)
Rating: 7/10

Deride delivers Aggresive Thrashy Metal from Norway. This is my first encounter with Deride, but "First Round Knockout" is their 2:nd full-lenght album (Debut album "Scars of Time" was released in June 2001).
Norway, otherwise best known for its Black Metal scene, has in the past couple of years proven that there´s a lot of other good stuff in other Metal genrés as well. Deride is one proof of that.

Deride offers an aggressive form of Thrashy,bit-wise Death Metal riffing,Hard Core "Fist-in-your-face" Metal. I don´t think that a little referrence to bands such as Pantera, Meshuggah (although without the ultra-technical drumming and Guitar-riffing) & last but not least Danish Furious Trauma (well, at least their 1995 album "Eclipse", haven´t heard their other releases.) are totally wrong.

In conclusion, If your into "A Fist-In-Your-Face" Metal, this is surely an album that I recommend.

|Kuntz| www.metalnorth.net

Alternative Press Magazine (nov 26th)
> DERIDE - First Round Knockout - 8/10

Prepare to be beaten like a red-headed stepchild.
When it comes to Scandinavian metal, listeners usually have two choices: melodramatic keyboard schlock or coked-up cookie monster belching. On their battering-ram sophomore effort, Norway's Deride prove a notable exception to this rule. Revealing a kinship with bands like Pantera and Entombed, Deride deliver thrashy riffs with punishing, laser-like precision, while singer Frediablo spews enough vitriol to make Phil Anselmo seem well-ajdusted."Pure alcoholic insanity fuel the hate within," he roars on the title track, while the guitars and double-kick drums pummel you like a brutally efficient prize fighter.

Play it loud, but mind you don't snap your neck.

Ink19.com
This is my first experience with Deride, and I must admit that I am thoroughly impressed. These guys play old school power metal, with hints of death, thrash, and grind. Their talent and desire to rock the listener out of his/her pants is obvious, as is their aggressive nature as insane lovers of all things metal! Wow! These guys are grrrreat!

First Round Knockout is the kind of title that begs to be contradicted; it's always dangerous to give your album such an intimidating title, but in Deride's case, I think their music actually trumps the title! Remember the way fighters used to actually appear frightened to fight Mike Tyson (Michael Spinx, for example) even before the first round had begun? That was, in a sense, even worse than being knocked out in the first round. Tyson's opponents were beaten even before the fight started. If there is a word for such a devastating and controlling stronghold on your opponent, it's what should have been used to title this Deride record.

The guitars have no slick production, no fancy overdubs, nothing flashy. What they do have is a precise and crisp ring, very similar to Metallica's guitar sound on Master Of Puppets (which is in most everyone's top five of great metal records). The drumming is completely punishing and technical, and the recording quality of the drums is nothing short of perfect. The lead growle/singer is in my top ten all time of tough guy metal vocalists. His voice is so authentic and strained that the integrity of this man is 100% pure and true, and never in question.

"Crusade of Self-Destruction" is so incredibly crushing and ferocious that most listeners will feel the undeniable urge to punch someone in the face upon listening! "Live While You're Alive" has the sweetest melodic guitar part I've heard since the last Enter My Silence record. It flows beautifully into a merciless, stomping power riff that eventually ends the song. Awesome! There isn't a bad song on the disc; all songs brutalize and beat the listener's face with the heaviest and most black leather boot to come out of King Diamond's closet.

My wife, a non fan of metal, describes this record as "angry, suicide inducing, and very disturbing." If that doesn't make you want to hear it, I don't know what will.

Daniel Mitchell - www.ink19.com

Metalempire.com (nov 21th)
The first thing I noticed about Deride was they are no regular hardcore metal band. Being their sophomore CD, it demands complete attention and admiration. There are so many bands just flowing out of the studio that you can’t keep up most of the time. Deride is getting there, their raw talent and good taste for music is apparent on this album. Being a Norwegian band, I’m sure they will have a lot of exposure!
Of course, being a guitarist, I have to compliment the guitars on this album. The sound is thick and full, tuned to B which is a now metal standard. One thing I love is good tone. The vocals are a very raspy high pitch scream style which goes well with the overall sound of the band. The drums are very hardcore, using a lot of tom and double kick. Overall Deride has a tight setup and has great production. Then again, I don’t think I have heard a recent album from Norway that doesn’t have near immaculate production.

The title track is a head banging triumph of a song, its thick fast rawness just makes that certain spot in your brain want to fucking get rowdy! Second track titled ‘Life Before Death’ is the complete definition of hardcore switch-ups, going into another riff every thirty fucking seconds! Track three ‘No Cross Is Mine’ is a bone crunching, full of evil track, slower then the first two tracks, makes it a mauling track for anyone that likes slow chugging tunes.

There were a couple things my machine like ears can hear on the album that could have been straightened out, but nobody’s perfect. This album is a definite must, and you should have at least one track on any compilation you intend to make. I hope they come to my town, I couldn’t miss it!

zephyon - www.metalempire.com

Metal-Rules.com (nov 21th)
| Rating: 3.7/5 | Reviewer: Waspman

Hailing from Bergen, Norway, Deride are four crazed metal dudes (including Frediablo from Gorelord) playing stripped-down, straight-ahead metalcore as if they were from the streets of New York City. Clad in the hardcore styled cover of a guy holding a bottle of booze and puking into a toilet, FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUT is a slap in the face and a punch in the gut, first track to last.

With song titles like “Life Before Death”, “Words of Fools”, and Live While You’re Alive”, it’s not too difficult to tell where these guys are coming from. With Deride, it’s all about thinking for yourself, ignoring the critics, and throwing a great party every now and then.

Musically, this is one of the more punishing discs to come out this year. The production amplifies the guitars into a powerful grind, allowing Frediablo to scream his lungs out over top. The music is pretty much what you’d expect from a metalcore band, pounding rhythms with lots of grooves and breakdowns throughout. Deride is not a one-trick pony though. Each song is distinctive, and the band does incorporate outside influences. For example, the chorus of “Life Before Death” reminds me of speedy stoner rock, a la Halfway to Gone.

With Deride you know what you’re getting, so you’ll know if it’s for you or not. This is just pure bashing, probably drunken metal, played at extreme volumes. Take it as you will.

www.metal-rules.com

Metallian.com (nov 5th)
Deride is a Norwegian metal band which has kicked around here and there since 1993 - the biography says 1995 - and released an album or two. The members also work other acts such as a Thin Lizzy cover band and Baphomet Records' Gorelord. So, is the band closer to hard rock or death metal? Actually the band is not akin to either. Deride likes to use the big and chunky riffs that bands like Meshuggah, Darkane and early Machine Head utilize. Having said that, the quartet clearly respects its metal heritage. The vocalist varies his singing quite a bit in order to keep the proceedings fresh. The band also deviates from its core sound to introduce different metallic elements into the mix. Still, and be that as it may, First Round Knockout is best recommended to Meshuggah listeners.

metallian.com

Decoy Online Zine (nov 5th)
Deride returns with their follow up to the exceptional “Scars of Time”. This time around though, they seem to have abandoned the more melodic vocals that were mixed in with the blistering hardcore that is more metal sounds on this album. Not to say that this is a bad thing though, as this album is just as good as their previous effort if not better.

“First Round Knockout” seems to be a growth of sorts for Deride. Instead of falling into the trap that so many other bands are by changing their sound to fit in with the mainstream, Deride are taking a step back, and focusing on making the most brutal, heavy music they can create. Each song features rough, growling vocals, reminiscent of Pantera’s Phil Anselmo, or Jamie Jasta of Hatebreed….not to mention the tremendous guitar solos, bass lines, and drumming style.

If you are a fan of bands such as Pantera, Hatebreed, Pro-Pain, or The Hope Conspiracy, you may be interested in checking out Deride. Don’t expect a heartfelt ballad on this album though, because all 10 tracks are blistering heavy metal. Just the way it should be.

8.5/10

Derek at Decoy Online Zine

Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles (nov 4th)
In tandem with its stomach-juddering, mind-shuddering cover art (now, THAT’s scary!), Norway’s Deride hone their slamming metal sound, toning down the melodies of the Scars Of Time debut, coming off as a cross between Superjoint Ritual, Pantera, Black Label, fast, hard Entombed and the next rock of Brand New Sin. It works a charm, each of these tracks headbanging tightly, purposefully, purely, with a great recording and way too much talent for a band this young. Frediablo’s vocals are mixed quite a ways back, maybe too far, even if the effect allows the heart-stomping riffs and grooves to blast a metal hole in the ozone. There’s a squared-off quality to these songs, a military march feel that gives them a missionary zeal and together, a character for the band that is all their own, the first hint of melody coming on the eighth track out of nine, an amazing Stuck Mojo-like song called Live While You’re Alive. But the key is that you don’t miss hooks because you are too busy standing and watching the damage take place.

Martin Popoff 8.5 / bravewords.com

MegaKungFu.com (okt 30th)
“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. Time and again we hear this. Sometimes we listen and sometimes we don’t. After viewing the jacket of Deride’s new album I thought I had them pegged....“Party Band.” I was wrong. Deride is a serious, four member machine from Norway.

I was hooked from the “Yeah” of the opening track: “First Round Knockout”. Every time I hear this track I envision these guys, in a bar, ready to rumble. Frediablo’s vocals automatically give Deride the upper hand in any confrontation. Every word is a punch landed with exacting force. I can almost see the purple, split skin of his hands when he screams: “Blinding Rage Psychosis Bloodred Fists And Skin / Swollen Knuckles Sunday Morning” in the first verse. The vocal work also shines in “The Ten Commandments.” This track has everything from a creepy whisper to a shrill scream. Where others have tried and failed, Frediablo succeeds!

Ole’s guitar playing is tight. Each track driven by his powerful style. During the breakdown on “No Cross Is Mine” guitars chug in each ear like two tractor trailers idling side by side. The intro to “Words of Fools” is rhythmic and quick like a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle. I also enjoyed the opening buildup on “Live While Your Alive.”

No band will make it without a decent rhythm section. Kjetil’s drum playing and Tarjei’s bass chops round out every single track on the album. Their chemistry is terrifying. They play with the grace of angels and the aggression of devils. They’re in sync like conjoined twins who share the same heart.

On the David Scale: 8.5 out of 10....These guys are good! They are not reinventing the wheel but solid musicianship carries this band all the way! This disc will be staying in my car’s CD changer for quite a while.
Recommended Tracks: “No Cross Is Mine,” “The Ten Commandments,” “Live While You’re Alive,” and “?” (the hidden track...I love hidden tracks).

Reviewer: David at MegaKungFu.com

MONTREAL MIRROR (Okt 13th)
Deride - First Round Knockout (The Music Cartel)
Norway's Deride play power metal with brutal, knockout force. No crazy leads, nutty time signatures, faster-than-light tempos or ambient noises muddying up the mix, just a straight-ahead, bone-crunching assault. Frediablo's Anselmo-like scream is bubbling over with seething rage-he makes the occasional nod to death vocals, but it's his scream that really makes First Round Knockout stick out in the glut of Pantera-esque bands. Fans of Pantera, Superjoint Ritual and Down, take note. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)