The Frenchmen came together in May, 1998 by members from Darkness Fire, Osgiliath and Dishumanised. An independent and self-titled album was recorded and released in 2000 with help from producer Alain Guerci. The Saint Etienne-based band was soon identified as a death/black act. Benighted next signed to Adipocere Records in January of 2001, the first result of which was the Psychose album. Dates with Destinity preceded the release. Further shows with Rain and Carcariass followed. 2003's ICP is short for Insane Cephalic Production. This album was recorded in Germany. Bassist Remi quit the band in late 2003 and was soon replaced.
Identisick was the last album for Adipocere and was released in 2006. That was also the year Fred Fayolle left the band to work exclusively with Osgiliath. The group signed with Osmose Productions and issued Icon in October of 2007.

BENIGHTED – ICON – OSMOSE  
Icon is Benighted’s first album for Osmose Productions and one would be remiss to say it provides much beyond put-your-head-down and deliver brutal death metal and grindcore. The mix of screamed and growled vocals which nonetheless occasionally comes across as easily comprehensible, speedy and heavy brutal riffing and blasting drums is performed competently and with conviction, yet is hardly revolutionary or unique on Icon.
Songs like Compete Exsanguination (Carcass, eat your heart out), Slut, Grind Wit, Smile Then Bleed or Invoxhate are brutal odes to the extremity of the band and at times. The band’s performance does take the odd turn here and there however. Slut throws in a pseudo-industrial moment. Grind Wit has the audacity to throw in a hip-hop interlude, while the listener has to wait almost until the end of the album to hear the guitarist can actually solo. The end of the album is also the where the better songs, like Invoxhate and Blindfolded Centuries, reside. Oddly enough, the title track of this grind opus is the thrashiest song on record. Even odder – or perhaps not given how often this has been going on in France for twenty years without anyone there learning anything – is how the label’s biography for the band calls the group ‘trash.’
Icon is a damn heavy album that nonetheless proposes little variation on the theme aside from the mistaken extraneous influences mentioned. The concept album might fare better when heard with lyrics in hand. – Ali “The Metallian”