Hey there tech fiends, it's that time of the week again. Before we dive into today's focus, here's the usual weekly reminder that if you're looking for even more sick bands, all prior editions of this series can be perused here.
I'll admit, even after a lifetime of obsession with tech-death, like any fan of any genre, we all tend to crave what fits a realm we know and sits within what we love best within even that ever smaller criteria. That doesn't say anything bad really, as the skull-crushing new album by Applaud the Impaler – Ov Apocalypse Incarnate out this Friday, March 29th through Unique Leader Records is a damn impressive record. One that I at least found so strong as to sign up to help after hearing the first single, and trust me, it doesn't disappoint as a whole either. We’ve got the early full album stream here for you today. You can hit scroll down and hit play below now, 0r, as usual, read on for more about the band and the release first.
While this is certainly not the first release from Applaud the Impaler, Ov Apocalypse Incarnate is the first concrete full-length from the Virginia-based crew since forming in 2008 and releasing a mix of demos and EP's to date. Which, as far as my limited awareness of the group went until now, I was under the impression they were technical-minded deathcore sound wise. But, if any core element is present here, it's just relegated to breakdown wise terrain and not riff-wise or overall sound-wise really, with the overall framework of this music being much more in line with the stylings of Beneath The Massacre than anything I'd call deathcore or tech-deathcore. Typically, I'd have a lot more to say but it's been an odd week and I'm fighting the desire to sleep as I type this out at near five in the morning in my time zone. Still, I really do believe strongly in the merits of what this album offers which is why I signed up to help, and why, as usual, I hope you place a little faith in me that this is worth your time.
The band's statement shared my way regarding Ov Apocalypse Incarnate spells out in further detail what it offers. The group states that the album is long in the works and "Over the course of this second chapter in this tumultuous novel, I have seen the transformation of this band now reach its apotheosis in the arrival of Ov Apocalypse Incarnate. The grip of adversity has been relinquished, and the chains of restraint have been unleashed. We went for the throat on this one. The album takes the primitive elements that define Applaud the Impaler’s sound and infused them with updated chaos implanted with esoteric ingredients, creating a stamp of unique savagery in today's era of heavy metal. The 12 cut-throat tracks embedded in Ov Apocalypse Incarnate mercilessly crush from front to back, leaving no room for discontent. This colossal footprint of utmost carnal destruction is only the beginning. To those who have been foaming out the mouth for this record and have stuck with us through all these years, may you feast. Let us revere in this induced Armageddon. Thank you Unique Leader Records. Thank you Erik Lindmark. Thank you Impalers."
Like their fellow Unique Leader Records peers in Cytotoxin, until we get a new Beneath The Massacre effort, a release like Ov Apocalypse Incarnate scratches a very refined and particular itch for tech-death fans who like things to meld obscene heaviness, insane lead-guitar work, and relentless brutality from each musician into a warped space that is both absurd, and, somehow also seems to reflect reality in the modern era expertly.
In summation, Ov Apocalypse Incarnate is a baffling mindfuck with endless replay value and eye-popping performances with each full spin further allowing you to understand the hyper-active yet calculated minutia of each musicians place in this serrated and maddening musical "puzzle". And, as usual, click play below and you be the judge as to how you feel about it. If you're enjoying what you hear, pre-orders can be placed through Unique Leader site links here and through the Unique Leader Bandcamp Page as well. You can follow Applaud the Impaler on Facebook here.
