The Pitch: "Dutch [sci fi] death metal bruisers Apophys have been making waves since their surfacing in 2012, slowly carving their path in the modern death metal scene. Featuring members from God Dethroned and Toxocara this is a band with experience and a clear vision and approach to their writing, song structure above technicality." FFO: Hate Eternal, Dying Fetus, Misery Index
What I Like: Man, more sci fi tech death? I must have been a good boy this past year. Devoratis is the story of Zohm, an engineer and destroyer of worlds, as written by frontman Kevin Quilligan. But unlike Wormed or Exocrine, Apophys don't have too many intergalactic approaches to their instrumentation, so you can really take the narrative or leave it. What ultimately drew me to the album had much more to do with just how damn heavy it is.
From the very beginning, Apophys crush the listener with dominating death vocals and groove-ridden, technical riffing. "Children Of The Stars" has some truly impressive hooks that remind me of early Lamb of God just as much as Dying Fetus. And the band throw in some "cleaner" backup screams which add a little extra flair to the proceedings. But it's ultimately the dizzying guitars and catastrophic beating of drums and snarls that gets my goat.
Critiques: There are certain parts of this album that feel a bit more generic and don't boast the same sharp songwriting. Particularly, slower cuts like "Xiux - The Parasite" fail to engage me on the same visceral level as the pummeling velocity of "Matters Unresolved."
The Verdict: While Devoratis is ultimately a bit inconsistent, Apophys have delivered some real rippers worth hearing on this album. They are a band with plenty of strengths, and with a little tightening in the songwriting department they will do well. Listen below.
Flight's Fav's: Children Of The Stars, Matters Unresolved, What We Will Be
-Review by FlightOfIcarus
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