We may be a couple months away from the new year, but 2018 promises to start things off with a massive bang. Today we are excited to share with you all the album cover, track list, story concept, and first single “Retaliate” for the upcoming Apophys record Devoratis (releasing January 22nd via Ultimate Massacre Productions).
Touring with the likes of Hate Eternal, Dying Fetus, Cattle Decapitation, and many others, these rising death metal titans have combined all their extreme technical and brutal talents into a glorious sci-fi epic in Devoratis.
And speaking of sci-fi, check out this sweet as hell album cover:
“Devoratis” (I Devour) is based on a science fiction story written by vocalist Kevin Quilligan.
“We wanted to do a concept album but we couldn't find a fitting concept,” Quilligan shares. “So we decided to write it ourselves. Together with all the members we fashioned our own tale to tell which has given a whole new meaning to our music.”
In regards to the story behind Devoratis:
The story of an unlikely union of two forces against an intergalactic race led by a zealous leader known as Consul…
It all starts with an Operator called Zohm, an engineer with remarkable skills. His task is to demolish planets, entire galaxies of them, to cast out all the elements within. "To make sure the Universe keeps developing as it should." At least, that's what his superiors told him. Zohn could care less for the ideology and secret plans of his superiors. It was the technology behind the devices used that he was most interested in. As long as he could keep working on those, he would believe whatever Consul came up with.
One day, a day like any other, everything went wrong. A device failed to go off, a device operated by Zohm. He didn't know why, there was nothing out of the ordinary. He knew he did everything right. He also knew he would be the one held accountable (which meant a trial before Consul and his peers). Everything went so fast that he could hardly remember it all, but he did remember the verdict:
"You must return to right your wrong
To find a way
Cast down into solitude
An exile from this day
Ultimately you will meet your end
When your task is complete
Eternally alone you will stay
And now we will proceed."
Zohm was exiled to the planet he was supposed to destroy. To fix the device and let it carry out its task. This wasn't just exile; this was a death sentence. While trying to find out what went wrong he comes across a creature called Xiux. Xiux is an ancient being unlike anything else, more a consciousness then an organism. He is the planet and the planet is him. He stopped the device, to some personal damage. Zohm, unaware of the vastness that is Xiux, tried to trap him. The two collide and instead of taking each other down they merge. The resourceful engineer and the living planet form an entity of unparalleled power.
Consul, outraged at the news that Zohm has not fulfilled his sentence, sends the entire fleet back to show everyone that disobedience will not be tolerated. He is met by Zohm and Xiux, eagerly awaiting them, hungry for a challenge.
"The stage has been set
All pieces in place
Their end is our beginning"
You can find the track list for the record and single “Retaliate” below. If you want to follow the band, you can find them on their own Facebook, or through the Ultimate Massacre Productions Facebook. Let us know your thoughts on the story and first single from Apophys in the comments!
Tracklist:
- Children of the Stars
- The Verdict
- Xiux – The Parasite
- Matters Unresolved
- Deadlock
- Respite (Interlude)
- What We Will Be
- Retaliate
- Occasus
