THE ORDER OF APOLLYON
Moriah
(Agonia Records)
45:32min

After a number of line-up changes, and with all non-French members now gone, I guess it’s adequate to now call THE ORDER OF APOLLYON a French band. They play Black / Death Metal, this is their third full-length since their formation in 2010, and the band members are or have been a part of bands such as ARKHON INFAUSTUS, ANTAEUS, MERRIMACK, AOSOTH or VORKREIST, among others. The Black Metal side of the music is very present, and indeed there is a strong ominous and evil atmosphere throughout. After a short acoustic guitar intro that sets the unsettling tone, we are launched into a storm of fast drums and guitars with a foreboding and surrounding feeling of musical dread, with excellent studio production. The drums are amazing and extreme, and the string instruments unrelentless. Despite the turn for the more melodic compared to prior work, no aggressiveness has been lost, and at the same time we have very good compositions and very good instrumental work, with plenty of brutality. The vocals are appropriately demonic, albeit perhaps a little unidimensional. Tracks like ‘Grey Father’ are intricate and well built, with more than a hint of VADER, DISSECTION and such, to mention better-known names. Truth is, there is not a lot of originality and most of what you find here may have been done before, but it’s so well done anyway I cannot help it but just enjoy its sheer musical power… the drumming alone is totally gripping, listen to the double bass massacre in, say, ‘The Original Cries Of Jerusalem’. Hopefully by now you get an idea what to expect… if you wish to know further, as you should if you are into well-played, well-produced Black / Death Metal, you may begin at www.facebook.com/theorderofapollyon, www.agoniarecords.com

Ricardo Campos

Ricardo Campos

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