HELTER SKELTER PRODUCTIONS (distributed & marketed by REGAIN RECORDS) is proud to present a HATE MANIFESTO's highly anticipated second album, ΑΠΟΣΤΑΤΗΣ (APOSTATE), on CD and vinyl LP formats.
One of Greece's best-kept secrets, HATE MANIFESTO formed in 2003 but, so far, have an extremely sparse discography. However, what they lack in quantity, they more than double-up on in quality. To Those Who Glorified Death, their debut album from 2017 - which HELTER SKELTER rereleased on a worldwide scale in early 2018 - displayed the shockingly extreme force with which HATE MANIFESTO could create their whirlwind of martial black/death. In 2019 came the aptly titled Herald of Triumph EP, which fully displayed the armament of their potential. Comprising four fierce 'n' fiery tracks in a swift 'n' decisive 17 minutes, Herald of Triumph was full-on shock & awe - CRUSH, KILL, DESTROY - with HATE MANIFESTO's chosen weapons being the iron-fisted surge of black metal and the muscular swarm of death metal, all rendered in rich, devastating tones. Of course, none of this should've come as a surprise given that the band is yet another work of the extremely prolific W.S.P., who also numbers such HELTER SKELTER cults as CAEDES CRUENTA, BLACK BLOOD INVOCATION, and WALPURGIA among many others.
Now W.S.P. returns HATE MANIFESTO to the front with the full-length ΑΠΟΣΤΑΤΗΣ, and he's joined by drum-god Simon “Bloodhammer” Schilling (MARDUK, EUCHARIST). Picking up the pieces left behind by Herald of Triumph - or rather, the wreckage from the battlefield - ΑΠΟΣΤΑΤΗΣ ("Apostate" in English) is an immediately obliterating spin. Across eight songs in 38 minutes, the duo continue to create a martial sort of black/death that's strict, cruel, and caustic. Is it "blackened death metal" or even "deathened black metal"? Appellations matter not when faced with this sort of iron-fisted attack, for its strength lies in the songwriting: W.S.P.'s riffs flow like acidic mercury, and Schilling's drums race with deft dynamics. Indeed, for however harsh and austere HATE MANIFESTO's aesthetic is here, there's a remarkably streamlined sensibility that lends infinite memorability to ΑΠΟΣΤΑΤΗΣ - and repeatability, as you'll be compelled to press "play" and submit to their onslaught again and again. And when the rare burst of guitar solos come in? MADNESS!
Simultaneously classic and modern, HATE MANIFESTO continue their campaign of cruelty with ΑΠΟΣΤΑΤΗΣ!
supported by 20 fans who also own “Αποστατης”
Late 90's BM worship, but it's also a lil more than that. This album takes the best elements from the scene it's inspired by and mostly avoids the worst of it; the song-writing is well-written, it's performed with passion and fun, and the production is raw but isn't lo-fi. (i.e. it doesn't obfuscate and/or suckass).
Tl;dr It's safe but high quality BM. Recommended. Rabbit
supported by 19 fans who also own “Αποστατης”
Gaerea's first release of "Unsettling Whispers" was in 2018, and since, they dared define a "black metal" niche of their own, they dared to walk a new path and stir shit up a bit in the realm of BM, this album is a masterpiece and a milestone proving that it can be done, provided the band can pull it off, and they did, oh they did! Gloomy, dark, post-BM sludgy whatever, it's Gaerea, and this one belongs in my BC collection, the end. sachavonkarl74
Utterly indescribable new record from Greek metal band Locust Leaves features corkscrewing tempos, manic vocal shifts & dense arrangements. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 6, 2017
supported by 18 fans who also own “Αποστατης”
What an impressive piece of black metal. This one-man hurricane is pure art. Sgah‘gahsowáh creates an haunting atmosphere. He puts so much soul in his music. Sælzer Bub