Street Corner Queen - Recording History and Overview - Reception and Criticism

Reception and Criticism

Street Corner Queen received mixed reception during the time it was released and the diversity of the album divided opinions: It has been called from "unquestionably one of the best Christian-made metal albums ever" to "unfocused and unlistenable". Most of the critics and fans wished Deuteronomium to play a more straightforward death/black metal influenced style as it was often said that it was the black metal type output that Deuteronomium played exceedingly well. Alex Cantwell of Chronicles of Chaos webzine wrote about the album that it is undeniably original but in his opinion the rap and reggae experiments didn't fit the entity of the album at all. He also criticized the album cover and the album title as not fitting for a death/black metal influenced release. Josh Spencer of The Phantom Tollbooth webzine complimented Street Corner Queen for being "refreshing" and wrote that the band's personal style draws the whole album together. Just like Cantwell, Spencer didn't appreciate the rap and reggae part of the song "Human Nature". He called the setting "horrible", claiming that it makes the lyrics' serious message about sexual purity sound unintendedly hilarious. Spencer also wrote that in his opinion Deuteronomium should have not incorporated clean vocals on songs like "Empty Shell", claiming that the band's European accent sounds awkward. Despite the controversy, Street Corner Queen made Deuteronomium known outside Finland, and after the release they began playing bigger venues.