Decius Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience)
Released Jan 31, 2025 The Leaf Label
Early read 2 professional reviews Updated Aug 25, 2026
Strong critical consensus
Early read based on 2 professional reviews. Decius's Decius Vol.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Walking In The Heat
1 critic mention
“Walking In the Heat recalls Cybotron’s electro classic Clear” — The Skinny
I Gave Birth 2 U
1 critic mention
“Maggie the Cat’s feature on I Gave Birth 2 U is a nod to iconic house vocalists” — The Skinny
Punishment/Improvement
1 critic mention
“as on S&M anthem Punishment/Improvement.” — The Skinny
Full critic consensus
Decius's Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience) channels sweaty club memory into a celebration of house and techno lineage, and critics largely agree the record succeeds where it leans into nostalgia. Across professional reviews the collection earned an 85/100 consensus score from 2 reviews, with praise focused on tracks that foreground the duo's acid-tinged grooves and Saoudi's commanding, sensual vocal presence.
Reviewers consistently single out “Walking In The Heat”, “I Gave Birth 2 U” and “Punishment/Improvement” as standout tracks, noting how those cuts distill rave nostalgia into propulsive, euphoric moments. Criticism, where it appears, centers on the album's preference for recall over radical reinvention - the pleasures here are celebratory rather than experimental - but critics agree that Decius execute that mood with confidence, blending acid influence, deep-house touchstones and a frank interrogation of sexuality and masculinity.
For listeners wondering whether Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience) is worth hearing, the critical consensus suggests it is: a well-crafted homage to the dancefloor that places its best songs front and center and affirms Decius's place in contemporary rave conversation. The reviews below unpack how the record balances reverence and immediacy within its grooves.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Birth Of A Smirk
Walking In The Heat
Queen Of 14th St
Ghent
Ibrahim
I Gave Birth 2 U
Punishment/Improvement
Y U Look At Me That Way?
We Carry Our Flamboyance As A Warning
Arctic Spring
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 2 critics who reviewed this album
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Critic's Take
Decius return on Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience) with a record that traffics in euphoric recall rather than invention, and the best songs are those that lean hardest into that lineage - “Walking In The Heat”, “I Gave Birth 2 U” and “Punishment/Improvement” stand out. Kavanagh’s prose is celebratory and kinetic, painting smoke, sweat and bass while namechecking electro and deep-house touchstones to explain why these tracks hit hardest. The review treats the album as a love letter to rave, praising Decius for luxuriating in familiar sounds and for Saoudi’s sultry vocal performances that make those standout tracks feel like a fucking good time.
Key Points
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The best song, “Walking In The Heat”, excels because it directly channels foundational electro classics, giving it immediate impact.
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The album’s core strength is its affectionate, well-executed homage to rave and house traditions, propelled by sultry vocals and acidic textures.