Evo, vrijeme prolazi i stigao je album broj dvanaest ovih norveških legendi. Nakon prošlog True North albuma mislio sam da će biti teško nadmašiti album koji mi je bio na repeatu cijelo jedno duže vrijeme. Ovaj album je u neku ruku uspio to napraviti, a u neku ruku nije. Borknagar su daleko odmakli od svojih black metal korijena, iako je black metal još uvijek tu u podlozi, čini se da na ovom novom albumu ima puno više blast beatova i izleta u prošlost odnosno black metal vode, ali isto tako ima i puno više prog metal elemenata, čak i pomalo izleta u psihodeliju. ICS Vortex(bass/vox) i Lars A.Nedland(klavijature) dijele vokale, ICS Vortex one harsh black metal vokale i njegov trademark glas za clean vokale, kombiniran s Nedlandovim clean vokalima čini jednu perfektnu cjelinu. Osnivač benda Oystein G.Brun(gitara) je zapravo jedini preostali originalni član benda, mada je ovo ista postava koja je napravila i prošli spomenuti True North album. Pjesme su dosta duge, no nikako ne znači da su i dosadne. Upravo suprotno. Žestoki gitarski riffovi se vješto isprepliću sa atmosferičnim dijelovima kao i agresivni blastovi koji se pretvaraju u sporije, skoro doomy melodične atmosferične dijelovi upotpunjeni sa odličnim klavijaturskim dionicama. Tekstualno Borknagar meni jako paše, iako su im je dio tekstova o prirodi, a dio više osobnog karaktera, ne pate od izbacivanja parola ili floskula. Moji osobni favoriti na ovom albumu su trenutno Nordic Anthem, Moon, Stars Ablaze i Northward, iako se to može promijeniti čim više slušam ovaj album. Iako je dobar album, nije mi uspio nadmašiti moja top četiri njihova albuma, a to su True North, Borknagar, The Olden Domain i The Archaic Course. Svejedno se radi o albumu koji volim i treba ga poslušati.
Apogean Streams Harrowing Video for “Hueman (The Pleasure of Burn)” off the Upcoming Album
Toronto tech death band Apogean has unveiled the third single, “Hueman (The Pleasure of Burn),” off their debut record, Cyberstrictive, slated for 08 March 2024 via The Artisan Era physically (vinyl, CD) and digitally. The track, along with its accompanying music video, contributes to the album’s core theme of exposing the dark side of technology and digital poisoning by painting a dystopian picture of Blue LED Light Fallout.
Apogean States: “‘Hueman (The Pleasure of Burn)’ tackles the aftermath of a lifetime of exposure to blue LED light. Describing the physical ailments and the effects of poisonous photoradiation on the human populace, this song and video serve as a metaphoric representation of what awaits a generation plugged into cyberspace. Musically, this piece marks a turn towards adding more black metal elements to our music. This allows us to use more atmospheric choruses and expand the depth of feeling that we can provide artistically.”
WATCH the Music Video for “Hueman (The Pleasure of Burn)” RIGHT HEREand FIND the track on your preferreddigital/streaming mediaAT THIS LOCATION.
PRE-ORDER Cyberstrictive (on vinyl, CD, digital) as well as merchandise RIGHT HERE (Bandcamp).
WATCH/STREAM the previously released singles: “Thousand-Yard Glare” [Music Video | Audio] “With Which Ear You’ll Listen” [Lyric Video | Audio]
Apogean is a five-piece band from Toronto, Ontario, seeking to transcend metal’s traditional realms with their musical machinations. Drawing inspiration from a broad spectrum of artistic influences, this Canadian ensemble is set to embark on an unending journey, exploring the intersections of progressive metal, technical death, deathcore, and blackened death, positioning themselves at the forefront of heavy music’s ever-evolving landscape.
Despite their recent formation, Apogean features members bringing years of honed skills, diverse collaborations across genres, endorsements from leading musical instrument brands, and notable ventures into video game collaborations and licensing original compositions featured on ESPN. Their debut EP, Into Madness, was released in June 2021 through Blood Blast distribution, with mixing and mastering from renowned metal producer Zack Ohren (The Faceless, All Shall Perish, Immolation, etc.).
Cyberstrictive, the debut album, is Apogean’s first venture with the new vocalist Mac Smith, known for his involvement in various projects and recent stint as the live vocalist for Decrepit Birth. Beyond his vocal responsibilities, Mac, with a background in managing notable metal bands, also independently oversees the management of Apogean.
Across 10 songs, Cyberstrictive discloses the dark aspects of technology, taking a broader look at its impact on our minds, bodies, and souls. Drawing significant inspiration from Ray Bradbury’sFahrenheit 451 and echoing the dystopian excerpts of George Orwell’s1984, the album explores the hazards of modern technology, covering risks such as sensory damage, psychological trauma, desensitization, information paradoxes, predatory practices targeting children, addiction complexities, and the erosion of creativity. Ultimately, the album culminates in a reflection on overarching manipulation and concludes by addressing the burdensome aspects of technology, employing wordplay and metaphor to illustrate the overwhelming drawbacks outweighing the benefits in the modern digital world.
Track Listing: 01. Bluelight Sonata 02. Thousand-Yard Glare [Audio | Music Video] 03. Distance (Of Walls and Wails) 04. With Which Ear You’ll Listen [Lyric Video | Audio] 05. Imposter Reborn 06. Within the Bounds of a Simile 07. Hueman (The Pleasure of Burn) [Music Video | Audio] 08. Polybius 09. Spinthariscope 10. An(t)imus
Album Credits: Vocals/Lyrics – Mac Smith Guitars – Dexter Forbes Guitars – Gabriel Silva Castro Drums – Jacob Wagner Bass – Robert Tam
Guest Solo on “Bluelight Sonata” by Alex Baillie (Cognizance). Guest Solo on “Hueman” by Paul Walsh. Mixing/Mastering by Zach Ohren. Artwork by Mark Erskine.
DRAKON was born in 2017 as collaboration between Veleyar (guitar, music) and Terror (vocals, bass). In 2017, the first album “First” was released which consist cover of the Polish black metal band Mgła’s song. After the release line-up split, Terror released the instrumental EP “The Last Battle of Angels” and project was frozen. In the fall of 2021 Veleyar has resurrected DRAKON. From that time band released “Awakening” (LP, 2022) and “High Tales” (EP, 2023). Right now they are preparing to release new studio album. Music was mixed & mastered by Theodor Borovsky (Alkonost, Dissector) and album cover artwork was done by Valentina Mustajarvi. New album “Thunderdome” will be released as jewelcase CD via Sleaszy Rider on January 18, 2024 (pre-order). Band commentary about the album: “On the day of Indra the Thunderer, the slayer of the black serpent, we present to you our new conceptual album. This is our own interpretation of the myth of the End of the World in the traditional Russian epic style, our own view of what is Light and Darkness, what is Good and Evil and what is the Earthly Truth.”.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 