Apostasy

Behemoth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Century Media
• ASIN: B000R7I2I8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,728 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Poland

Editorial Reviews

The Polish metal kings have returned with a new offering, The Apostasy, which is destined to become both the defining release of the band's career and one of the most revered and dynamic offerings the genre has seen in years. Behemoth will kick off their worldwide touring cycle with a second stage headlining spot on Ozzfest 2007. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece under the belt, September 1, 2007

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apostasy (Audio CD)

Great bands make great albums. Behemoth are living proof of this fact. This Polish quartet began their string of great albums in 1999, when they released "Satanica." Then they honed their sound for the next couple of albums (2000's "Thelema. 6" and 2002's "Zos Kia Cultus") before releasing the godly "Demigod" in 2005. This was a watershed release of sorts because it incorporated classical and ethnic influences (including Egyptian-like melody) into the band's patented brutality, making it the first experimental record of their career.

Now, two years later, Behemoth are continuing to expand their sound. This year's "The Apostasy" is a perfectly natural progression from "Demigod." Sure, it is still loaded with the typical, world-renowned Behemoth goodies: devastating dual guitar riffs, Slayer-inspired leads, Inferno's earth-shaking drum beats, Orion's powerful bass lines, and Nergal's raw, visceral roars. But at the same time, it also manages to be so experimental, challenging, unpredictable, and innovative that it would make fellow death metal icons Nile green with envy.

The highlights on hand here are many. "Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa," the first song after the intro, is a blastfest from beginning to end, and is one of Inferno's many moments in the spotlight. He sounds simply inhuman as he mercilessly beats the listeners eardrums with steamrolling, seemingly octolimbed trapkit obliteration. "Prometherion" continues down this same path with super chunky riffs, scorching leads, absolutely ridiculous drumming, and a booming outro.

"At The Left Hand Ov God" is the album's first curveball. It begins with a bit of tranquil flamenco plucking before segueing into brutal death metal territory with thunderous, driving double bass pummel and a superbly wailing solo. The intensity level eventually comes back down for a creepy outro consisting of tribal drums and ominous chanting. The next two songs, "Kriegsphilosophie" (which evokes being trapped in between two ships while they shoot cannons at each other) and "Be Without Fear" (which features more catchy, chunky power chords, pounding drums, and a ripping solo) are as crushing as anything Behemoth have ever recorded.

Next up, "Arcane Hereticae" adopts doomy French horns, and "Libertheme" tastefully weaves melodic solos in between its bludgeoning, rapid-fire rhythm. Then, the listener is dealt the album's most colorful and experimental track, "Inner Sanctum,".which is highlighted by brief piano keys, some vocal variation (including occasional clean singing that wouldn't sound misplaced if it came off of a Strapping Young Lad disc), and a brief yet pretty acoustic solo. Finally, the album wraps up with "Pazuzu" and "Christgrinding Avenue," two tracks that will have you looking outside to see if the sky is raining boulders.

"The Apostasy" is not only a top contender for the best heavy music release of 2007 (and easily the best death and black metal release of the year so far), but it is also Behemoth's "Master of Puppets." Or, in short, this is, quite simply, a death metal masterpiece and soon to be classic. Metalheads worldwide should make sure it becomes apart of their collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behemoth does it again!, July 17, 2007

By 

Colin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apostasy (Audio CD)

Once again... Behemoth delivers a spectacular album... and continues to surprise the listeners with new elements. I really love the chants and soprano vocals among all the other 'middle eastern' sounding instruments... it adds a lot to the music. The guitar work and drumming still draws from the vein of Demigod, but it lookes like they drew a little bit from their Zaios Kon Kultos album *forgive me all you deadly serious fans if I spelled it wrong*. The vocals aren't as blended together like they were in Demigod, but still have that excellent growl that lets you knew 'yep... this be Nergal and crew....' I pretty much can't name a favorite here because every track is good... no let downs so far.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Matched only by Ithyphallic, July 16, 2007

By 

E. Erickson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apostasy (Audio CD)

The metal gods have blessed us with two of the strongest metal releases of the year on the same day! The Apostasy is further evidence that Nergal and crew are playing for keeps. From the brutal metal instrumentation to the epic choir to the haunting piano work by Leszek Mozdzer on Inner Sanctum, this album is perfect. I'm pleased to see a return of Nergal's more raw and straight forward vocals. On Demigod, at times they seemed to be a little over processed. As with each release by Behemoth, I find myself once again amazed. This album, as well as Ithyphallic by co-metal giants, Nile, represents the pinnacle of death metal for 2007! Buy them both!