Behemoth - The Apostasy

Behemoth's The Apostasy is the long awaited successor of 2004's Demigod. I was looking forward to this one for a long time because Demigod was one of my first extreme records while I was more of a nu-metal kid at that time. Nowadays I'm more like a death metal head, giving Behemoth's new assault a serious chance of becoming my favourite record of this year.

I don't know if that last opportunity will come true, but that The Apostasy will end up in my year list is for sure. My expectations were high (also due to the videos of the recording process that Behemoth posted on their YouTube channel in advance of this release) but they simply did the impossible. The amount of notes that pass by during these 40 minutes is just incredible.

The album starts with some kind of Middle Eastern female vocal intro, soon to be taken over by the first brutal yet not up-tempo tunes from the band. After one and a half minute drummer Inferno takes the lead when "Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa" kicks in with immense fast drums, soon to be followed by the band; the tone is immediately set: no mercy from Behemoth's side.

This extreme, aggressive intonation repeats itself in every single song. Although some of the tracks differ from the others due to the help of other instruments such as a piano, a trumpet trio and even a choir, they keep on raging. Nergal's vocals contribute to this a lot, they fit perfect in the mix. But not only the vocals are great. Behemoth as a whole became (even) better. Where they once started as black metal band, they now create complex and technical death metal that is extremely speed up. Inferno shows that he's not only a high speed blaster but one of the best drummers in the scene. He can get everything out of his kit, and you can hear that by his use of his toms and cymbals. The guitar work is also outstanding; it shreds and contains a lot of solos that are sharp and relentless.

The silence after The Apostasy's final track "Christgrinding Avenue" (that ends with the same female vocal from the intro) is conspicuous. At this moment you've perceived so much brutality while it was presented to you so flawless, you just don't know what you've overcome. A must checkout if you haven't already.

96/1001Details Regain Records
Released on Monday Jul 2nd, 2007
Death Metal

Writer @Mindsaver on Sunday Oct 21st, 2007

Tags: #Behemoth

Tracklisting 01. Rome 64 C.E.
02. Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa
03. Prometherion
04. At The Left Hand Ov God
05. Kriegsphilosophie
06. Be Without Fear
07. Arcana Hereticae
08. Libertheme
09. Inner Sanctum
10. Pazuzu
11. Christgrinding Avenue

Line up Adam "Nergal" Darski - Vocals, Guitars
Patryk Dominik "Seth" Sztyber - Guitars
Tomasz "Orion" Wroblewski - Bass
Zbigniew Robert "Inferno" Prominski - Drums

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