There has been a wealth of metal acts over the years with the moniker of Apostasy but it’s fair to say that this Chilean version is likely the most well-known though there are active Swedish and US versions with the same band name. This version formed over 30 years ago in 1988 and prior to that existed as Damn Soul. Currently the band has only Cristián Silva (vocals, bass and rhythm guitar) from the original line up but has the ranks filled out and reinforced with Javier Silva, Adrián Lopez and Sebastián Palominos on lead guitar, drums and lead guitar respectively.
With the band effectively folding in 1993 and not re-emerging until 2013 when a compilation was released this marked their rejuvenation but it is when they released 2017’s ‘The Blade Of Hell’ EP and the excellent second album ‘The Sign Of Darkness’ in 2018 that Apostasy’s momentum really started to launch. The stop-gap ep ‘The Unknown Path’ cemented the bands return to the black thrash stage as they now fully strengthen their position with this third bombardment. What immediately strikes you when you first look at the album is the garish cover, the mustard yellow landscape strewn with suffering souls as though poisoned with what could be mustard gas toxicity whilst a pink caped ghoul complete with a scythe floats above has a psychedelic horror to it matching the twisted barbarity of the tracks on the album.
With an intro integrated into the opening title track the album kicks off brilliantly. The intro piece I particularly enjoyed, it has that 80s horror movie like introduction style to it, gradually worming its way in ready for the explosive riff that follows. The speed incursion is expected of course replete with the abrasive guitar sound and organic drum sound which I thoroughly appreciated on this album and the sound as a whole. When the riff change breaks through it is speed metal hell to the core, blazing forth stripping skin, rubbing in salt then dousing it in caustic soda for good measure.
Like the previous EP the high end vocals have been completely removed, ensuring every song has a ferocity but tempered with straight metal riffing when required as demonstrated by the exceptional ‘Son Of Hate’. The slower dirty style has that occult styling, building up the track’s atmosphere before the predicted speed metal insertion which I am a total sucker for. The constant changing of riffs and pace keeps you on your toes for sure as every track has its own uniqueness like the desolate ‘Deceased In Funeral’. Its old school riffing is saturated with guitar work initially before the tune shifts into a melodic phase. However like most of the songs here it pivots with ease into speed workouts.
‘The Great Apostasy – The Night’ hits nearly the nine minute mark with a slow burner riffing style, harmonised to some degree as the dark heavy metal posturing will appeal to Mercyful Fate fans though this is far grimier of course. Tuneful and immersed in melody the song has an air of menace, building slowly, you can feel it with every passing second towards the riff change and speed assault that’s coming, like some sort of impending cataclysmic Armageddon and indeed it does arrive, the riff break is drum filled and veers into straight thrash that fans of ‘Hell Awaits’ Slayer will get a kick out of. There’s even a very cool bass riff insertion hurtling the song into a catchy piece ensuring this tune is a real stand out.
There’s a short bridging track called ‘Praise The Darkness’ that leads nicely into the closer ‘Obey The Antichrist’. The clichéd bell toll works for me as the ominous riff meanders into the song allowing a demonised vocal to pervade. The detonation is seismic when it arrives allowing some cool double kick work to produce catchy elements but still guaranteeing a song that is sublimely savage and a fitting closer to tear the skin off your face.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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