Customer Reviews

Sub

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I stumbled on this in a used store, and was I happy!! Mr. Thomas Gabriel Fischer (ne Warrior) again furthers his own unique vision. Fans of Celtic Frost will surely love this stuff for the same colossal guitar slabs and thundering icy heaviness that Mr. Fischer has built his reputation on for almost 20 years now!! Tom finally got 'hip' with the addition of loops, beats and samples in each track, and the 'new' remake of 'Messiah (Second Coming)' sounds more modern than the original (rare) Hellhammer version. (Hellhammer were some of the first Death Metal urchins to claw their way out of the Swedish underground in the mid 1980's). Actually, this is a small stretch from his experiments on the ambitious "Into the Pandemonium" which served to alienate many a metalhead over 10 years ago. It's good to see he's back on track again.

A few tracks exude a flavor much like Gary Numan's 80's metallic paranoia, only updated and much heavier. The lyrics convey the same morbid isolation and despair, sung in Fischer's pinched and prohibitively uncommercial style. His deep, groaning guitar is unmistakably present, rumbling from afar as if from a huge, cold planet we can observe in passing but never inhabit (remember the NASA shirts on the "Pandemonium" cover??). The other members of Apollyon Sun fit well, and don't have the thrown-together feel of most recent Celtic Frost 'attempts' at capturing Ficsher's world vision.

'Sub' is growing to be the most enthralling chapter of Mr.Fischer's career in my book (and that's saying a lot after "To Mega Therion") because the modern synth loops add such a hypnotic effect to his already mesmerizing frigid vision. Great winter album!

Although this is not a perfect record, I hardly aggree with the previous review. Apollyon Sun and Sub are definitly a step forward for 'ol Tom G and crew. The album is quite heavy and layered with pretty cool grooves throughout. There is a more predominant electronic element than in Fischer's past work and it is perhaps a little less sophisticated (the programming, not the live stuff), than much of what else is happening out there. Also, there are times when the mix and amount of elements seem crowded together, instead of smoothly layered and complimentary to each other. Since I recently purchased this record, I won't go into the specifics of each song. However, I do really like this record and see a lot of potential in Apollyon Sun. Sub is a worthy purchase and possibly a "must have" for older fans of Celtic Frost such as myself. Check it out!

When Tom Fischer(aka Tom Warrior) first disbanded Hellhammer, he took what was best of it and incorporated it in Celtic Frost. Then Celtic Frost was put aside (they are working on a new album), and came Apollyon Sun.

So what's Apollyon Sun like? It's..umm..'different'. VERY different. If you were expecting another Celtic Frost incarnation like I was, you'll be blown away. This sounds more like something Marilyn Manson or Ministry would create. In a sense, this album is bleaker and darker than the aforementioned bands. It's danceable industrial, but the music is creepy. I was surprised.

Did I like 'Sub'? Yes, it is a solid effort. The interesting thing is the way Tom sings. He sounds like Marilyn Manson, especially on 'Naked Underground'. I think he could improve on his vocals and probably start singing an octave higher, though. And not all songs are good. But overall, a good album.

Tom Fischer has hit a home run with this CD. It's the best thing he's been associated with since Into the Pandemonium. It's too bad that he doesn't realize that. According to the Celtic Frost Web site, they're currently recording a new CD. I just hope that doesn't mean an end to Apollyon Sun.
The music is heavy, yet modern. It's loud, agressive music with a brain. Many of the songs have the experimental quality of Celtic Frost's most risk-taking work. It's as if AS took songs like One in Their Pride as a stepping off point to create this recording.
If the producers of the new Matrix films had any sense, they would get AS to record songs for the films or use tracks from SUB. It would be a perfect fit.

Apollyon Suns' experimental "SUB" kicks old-school metal through its recognised limits. This album reeks power from its concoction of heavy, sick guitar, Fischers knowing chants and its sublime electronic death rattles. I have this album, be warned tracks: "Reefer Boy", "Dweller" wont leave your head alone.

Something against the grain if you will. With a sound reminiscent of Ministry and Nine Inch Nails meet Down and Bile, Apollyon Sun push the experimental throttle to the limit on their debut album "Sub". Fronted by former Celtic Frost guitarist/vocalist Thomas G. Fischer, "Sub" teaches you that imagination is only the beginning both with creating and listening to music. Everyone who listens to this album will come away with something different in their mind. The first track "Dweller" is a great example of what happens when a rough guitar sound a la DOWN meets an industrial loop or two like Ministry. What you get is one great opening track that is sure to get heads banging away. Be sure to listen as the layers of the song are put together in the beginning with the bass guitar and electronic loops, and again with the dueling guitars. Want some electronica? Check out "Feeder", and "Human III". Mixing electronica and some hard ass guitar riffs is what Apollyon Sun does best. Be sure to catch "Concrete Satan", "Messiah (Second Coming)", and "Mother Misplaced" and you must check out "Slender" with it's almost acoustic dark classical sound. Really cool! Oh and the hidden track, (yes there is a hidden track), it's entitled "Leviathan". There really hasn't been anything this experimental out in the last five years in this sect of the industry and for that alone "Sub" is worth five stars.

Switzerland is known for it's clocks, banks and chocolate. It is also the home country of Thomas Fischer, mastermind behind highly influential groups Hellhammer and Celtic Frost. Apollyon Sun is the group he put together a few years after Celtic Frost disbanded in the early 90's; where Fischer explored music much different to what was issued under the Celtic Frost moniker.

Musically it is relatively easy to put the Industrial Metal stamp on this release. Which is correct, the overall sound certainly fits that tag. But as always with Fischer, there are subtle details that makes this one rather different from others.

Musical inspirations are probably many, but Prodigy and Gary Numan seems to be safe bets for artists that influenced the overall sound here. As well as Fischer's old band Celtic Frost, of course.

The structure of the tracks here are mostly something like this: Electronic sounds start song; then there is some sort of verse and chorus setup where the track moves from extremely heavy phases to slightly calmer phases and back again; somewhere in the middle of the track there's usually a calm, ambient sounding section before the song returns to the earlier more brutal sounding phases.

There's lots of electronic sounds in the music. Samples and loops all over the place, electronically enhanced noises and some melodic synth sounds to enhance the soundscape as well. Very much like Prodigy actually; but more sinister and eerie sounding. The bass guitar is often the dominant instrument; rumbling like a brutal distorted earthquake underneath all other noises in the soundscape. The guitar is used to deliver slow, heavy riffs or drawn out chords - kind of a doom metal sound but heavier and more brutal. In some songs the guitar sound is more slick and less distorted though, delivering more melodic aspects to the song as well. Adding stability to it all are drums, played solidly and at times creatively.

Tom Fischer's vocals adds atmosphere to it all. His mixture of singing and talking, and the general world-weary feel of his voice, creates a distinct mood to this music. Although brutal and heavy the music doesn't come across as aggressive. This isn't music by angry men that want to change the world or complain of their destinies. Rather, it's more like the music of lost souls; music from the deepest pits of oblivion made by souls living there and accepting their fate.

In other words; this is not happy music.

The songs here are rather good as well. The moods and atmospheres are unique in their totality; and I wouldn't recommend anyone getting this release before having listened to a track or two to see if this is likeable. As for the ones that should consider checking this out: People into Prodigy and Gary Numan that also like heavy metal should be an audience with a good chance of enjoying this release. And fans of industrial metal should perhaps consider checking this out as well.

This dark and perimetric journey is a worthy successor of Fischer's musical legacy. Involuntarily attempting to

categorize Sub hurt the first listening experience for me -- was too tied up in comparisons with his past efforts and how the foray into heavy electronica resembles that genre's formidable icons. But upon a second listen, I've come to appreciate Sub on its own terms. It's interesting, forceful, sometimes quirky and on occasion hauntingly beautiful -- but still delivers the heavy grooves and solid thrashing you'd expect from Tom G. Drop the preconceptions and let him take you into his newly computerized Babylon -- you'll be glad you did.

After celtic frost this albun is one of the best I've ever heard. Just tow steps beyond nine inch nails.

The reviews for Eclectic (Big Country artist) seem to center around a release from "Celtic Frost". Please Amazon sort this out.