I must say that I wasn’t expecting to see a band like this in a rooster like Black Mark! When I got the promo copy from Megamusica I was certainly not portraying them as a symphonic Black Metal band and perhaps the reason that lead Black Mark to sign these swedes was ‘cause they are probably expecting to see them reaching the same quality level as Dimmu Borgir or Old Mans Child! Talking in Dimmu Borgir, Apostasy has serious influences from that band, perhaps sometimes too serious if you ask me! Still “Cell 666” (what a original name) embarks from the very beginning into a cosmic journey of darkness and savagery that only a few are able to! They are a very young band and for a debut with this calibre (even if they plowder several ideas from the Norwegian band) I must say that they will turn some heads towards their direction! Besides that the only thing that I can point in Apostasy’ debut album is the somewhat thin production, in some places it really needed a fatter sound on other places the guitars are a bit too loud! If you like keyboard driven harmonies (some Arcturus influences as well) buried with strong fast guitar riffs, a talented drum work with raspy and shrieky vocals this might be for you... but perhaps you already have the complete Dimmu Borgir discography! This is by no means a bad album, just check songs like “Infernal Majesty” (good drum work), the self titled track or “Beauty Of Death” and tell me they aren’t a raising force!

Nuno Santos

TRACKLIST:
01. Crowned In Thorns
02. Infernal Majesty
03. Cell 666
04. Icon
05. Beneath the Lies of Prophecy
06. 7th Throne
07. Reign of Chaos
08. Beauty of Death
09. Metempsychosis

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