Albums of the Month: April

This time the album of the month section is coming a late, I’ve simply had too much to do past few weeks. However here it is the 4th edition, 1/3 of the year complete and even though it took a few weeks before most of the good albums dropped we yet again have some great albums to show!

Album of the month

Månegarm – Fornaldarsagor

Månegarm seems to do no wrong and Fornaldarsagor is a stunning album. In my opinion this is their best release since Vargstenen, which is hard to beat as it’s considered a viking metal masterpiece! Released April 26th via Napalm Records.

Runners-up

Gods Forsaken – Smells of Death

Their sophomore album is even better than their also great debut. One of the best HM-2 swedeath albums you will hear all year! Released April 19th via Soulseller Records.

Enterprise Earth – Luciferous

As one that have never truly got behind the Enterprise Earth hype train this took me by surprise. While they’ve released good albums in the past this is one of the best deathcore albums I’ve heard since I started this blog three years ago. If not for Månegarm releasing an album of the year contender this would be my album of the month pick. Released April 5th via Entertainment One Music.

Murg – Strävan

Yet another surprise. This time due to the fact I hadn’t listened to the band prior to Strävan though. Strävan is the bands third release and after going through their old stuff I dare say this is their best yet and the best black metal release of the month. Released April 26th via Nordvis Produktion.

Dawn of Demise – Into the Depths of Veracity

Dawn of Demise is, together with Illdisposed, the best death metal band Denmark has. Into the Depths of Veracity is yet another class release from these mad fuckers. Released April 19th via Unique Leader Records.

Honorable mentions

Numenorean – Adore
Istapp – The Insidious Star
AntropomorphiA – Merciless Savagery
Hath – Of Rot and Ruin
Hedonihil – I
Dethrone The Corrupted – Sintrophia
Belzebubs – Pantheon of the Nightside Gods
Marianas Rest – Ruins
Allegaeon – Apoptosis
Mephorash – Shem Ha Mephorash
After The Burial – Evergreen
Mist Of Misery – Unalterable
Waldgeflüster – Mondscheinsonaten
2 Wolves – …Our Fault
Archaic Decapitator – The Apothecary
Devour the Unborn – Liturgy of Irreverent Oblation
Wormwitch – Heaven That Dwells Within

Archaic Decapitator – The Apothecary (Melodic Death Metal)

Lets start with saying how important a great album cover can be. There I was looking through some promos I’ve received the past month to grab something to review and what caught my eyes was the album The Apothecary from Archaic Decapitator due to the fine art alone. And what do you know it was made by who I think is one of the best artists in the business, Caelen Stokkermans. It wasn’t just visually stunning but it also captured the lyrical concept of the album well so you know what you’re in for.

Who are Archaic Decapitator then? Hailing from Connecticut in the United States the five-piece was created in 2007. Originally they started of with playing straight up gory death metal but eventually evolved into a more sophisticated melodic death metal band. The only full-length they’ve released so far is Impalement Ceremonies in 2011 as they have since been focusing on EP’s with The Apothecary being the third release in four years.

It doesn’t take long before the main influences for Archaic Decapitator to become known, Scandinavian death metal and especially the Finnish style with bands like Insomnium, Mors Principium Est and Omnium Gatherum coming to mind. The now classic synth melodies accompanies the catchy riffing well and with the great vocals from Kyle Quintin the whole package is delivered in style. The songs offers enough variety to hold their own and give the listener different experiences. It all ends in the epic seven minute long title track “The Apothecary” which ends the album on a high note. However I think the best track on the album goes to “Cruelty of the Host Star”, uncompromising melodeath that’s short but sweet, got a killer solo and no added fluff to it. Just straight up class melodeath that leaves a good taste in your mouth. Having said variety on the album is a big strength of Archaic Decapitator and I would argue there is a different favorite song for everyone here due to that fact.

This is actually the best melodic death metal album I’ve heard this year so far. Fans of the style, especially the Scandinavian sort, will be sure to grab a copy of this album today if you haven’t already.

Written by J.B.

Label: Independent
For fans of: Insomnium and Mors Principium Est
Release date: April 19th, 2019
Favorite song: Cruelty of the Host Star
Score: 4/5 Incredible