Is bemasked an actual word? If it is, then I’m having it – so it’s a hearty return for bemasked Italian Metallers Apostolica and their own particular brand of theatrical bombastic Metal oozing drama and epic orchestration from every pore (not that you can tell, because of course, they’re all wearing masks). Hot-ish on the heels of the similarly Latin-wielding titled “Haeretica Ecclesia” of 2021, album number two carries on where the bishop-bashing lyrical themes of the debut left off and nudges up the musical side another notch to try and squeeze even more atmosphere and impact from their already weighty sound.

Wait – who are those masked men? Actually the true identity of these mysterious Metal miscreants is for once still a bit of a secret (apart from the guitarist), which is a rarity in this social media driven age, but to be fair, it really doesn’t matter who they are, as I’m sure the idea is that the music speaks for itself without comparisons to previous or concurrent bands that the members are in, which might muddy the not-so-holy-waters. So it befalls unworthy hacks such as I to draw my own comparisons, which I personally find range through Sabaton, Powerwolf, Grave Digger, Rhapsody Of Fire and Bloodbound – a varied mix it’s true, and it’s as good a place to start as any, but in truth Apostolica stomp to their own epic tune.

It’s the theatricality for me which makes Apostolica particularly interesting (which I’m sure is the band’s intent), and on “Animae Haeretica” it remains a focal point. Ezekiel’s vocals retain that gravel-riddled power that they displayed to such great effect on the debut, and each vocal line is delivered once more with suitably emphatic conviction. The songs range from fist-pumping, pounding Heavy Metal to bombastic, epic Power Metal and there’s usually an anthemic, memorable chorus lurking somewhere in amongst the heavy, thundering, masterful music to instantly draw you in and keep you coming back for more. Now OK, sometimes this works perfectly, like on the excellent ‘Black Prophets’ for instance, but can occasionally miss the mark with the somehow overly anthemic ‘Tomorrow Belongs To Me’, which makes me think of Feuerschwanz attempting a power ballad I’m afraid.

But on the whole, “Animae Haeretica” is a concrepando triumpho (oh bloody hell, it’s contagious), dragging a King Diamond-esque musical mentality kicking but not screaming into a new age…by performing songs about a Northern Italian Christian sect from the late 13th century. As with anything that’s deliberately overblown and inflated in the Metal world, this is an album that will bring enjoyment and pleasure to the same amount of people as it will send into a rage of horror and disbelief – it will divide to conquer. Apostolica are happy to ruffle feathers however, they’re happy to be an enigma and keen to just create music that they want the like-minded to hear. They know that if many an unsuspecting Metal fan takes the time to listen to their album, something will hook them in, something will make them play it once more, and then…tu es aduncum – you’re hooked…or something like that anyway.

(7.5/10 Andy Barker)

https://www.facebook.com/Apostolicaband

https://scarletrecords.bandcamp.com/album/haeretica-ecclesia