EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Stay of Execution was the fourth album from Deliverance and featured a new line-up. Replacing guitarist George Ochoa is shredder Mike Phillips. Bassist Mike Grato (ex-Recon) is on board for part of the writing and recording but is replaced by original bassist Brian Khairullah. Stay. marks a return to form, even if it strays from the strict speed metal definition. This album features more focused song-writing and avoids the silliness of What A Joke. It’s also slightly more technical and melodic than any of their past albums. The music is driven by some big, killer riffs given life by a beefy Mesa Boogie guitar tone. The album introduced us to Jimmy Brown’s new “David Bowie” vocal style. “Ramming Speed” is a killer, SLOW and plodding song! (Ironic title, huh?) “Entombed” is a full on speed metal onslaught. “Stay of Execution” is still one of the best Deliverance songs ever - featuring a huge riff and even bigger hook. The remix of “Weapons” was an attempt by the original record label to keep the MTV music video alive. Stay of Execution remains a favorite of both critics and fans. Few albums deserve the Retroactive Records Gold Disc Edition treatment more than this one. Stay. remains a critical part of Christian heavy metal royalty, taking heavy music to places no one ever thought possible.