ALBUM REVIEW: Apparition – Feel

Following a single EP, APPARITION are set to unleash their debut album of spectral Death Metal via Profound Lore Records and Caligari Records on October 22nd.

Bombastic drums launch us into a disgusting array of gnarly riffs and putrescent vocals. This is clearly one of those no-frills, straight to the point records with a phenomenal production that is clear yet allows the swampy instrumental goop to seep around the guttural vocals in truly revoting fashion. Those crawling riffs and lumbering drums make for a charnel atmosphere of lower-tempo Death Metal that still has some really cool dynamics with the odd technical flourish not feeling too out of place. Equally impressive are the monolithic doomy moments that fill the air with the stench of the grave, taking the ambient approach of dismal riffing that Finnish bands perfected while keeping in tune with the more stomping hooks that are often present. Catchy and fetid, this is off to a flying start.

The sepulchral odour of the music only grows more pungent as the record progresses, taking those doom-laden creepy atmospherics with some bouncy drums and bass to drive forth the energetic side of things, we can hear a developed and well-balanced sound that encompasses all things grotesque and morbid. Opting for 6 songs floating around the 5-7 minute mark respectively, the album is relatively short (35 minutes) and yet doesn’t feel like it ends too quickly, owing to the sparse, expansive style of Death Metal that Apparition conjure, befitting their name. There are some melodic touches here and there that accentuate the more technical subtleties while not feeling overzealous in doing so, rather adding more dirge-like cascades that inject a funereal presence into the necrotising pulverisation that occurs throughout. Standout songs? Well that would be superfluous as each of the pieces is exactly that, a patch in a grander work of decomposing ichor, all must be heard in tandem to truly appreciate the record. “Perpetually Altered” does have some killer guitar soloing and similarly “Entanglement” has some insane drum work, which fits the title brilliantly. These pieces definitely stand out in musicianship, though feel even more wondrous as part of the greater album experience.

Rotten, cavernous and macabre Death Metal that lurks in the murky, festering end of the genre with slower tempos that crawl into blast beats and bludgeoning riffs. This thing is diverse while keeping everything in check to ensure that only the most vile soundscapes are included.