Apogean - Waste Where Life Begins
Release Date: July 10th, 2026
The Artisan Era
Toronto, Ontario based death metal band Apogean have worked with many genres within extreme metal. From their tech-metal beginnings to a more blackened death metal approach of their 2nd upcoming album, they haven't lost touch with their base sound. The band has also had their music featured in both video games and ESPN. The lyrical concepts present on this release, "stares down the circle of life and the futility of human existence, with each track exploring a different stage or perspective within that process." Apogean also pays tribute to their long-time friend Joshua Ford who passed away in 2024 on the album's track titled, "Nassaru".
"Daughter of the Oak" starts the album off with a strong rhythmic approach with subtle orchestral elements added. The track focuses on strong clearly defined melodically brutal ideas that don't shy away from strength and conviction. Intelligently catchy but not redundant aspects are present on, "Waste Where Life Begins". Full in its construction, its viciously modern but not stripped of life like some current metal albums can be. Next, "Lie In Cinder" again chooses to focus on possessing a strong and pulsating identity. Crushing at its core, it alternates well between powerful verses and memorable choruses. 'White Trees, Black Leaves" has a slower start that then turns deadly with speed and short lived reliefs. It has one of my favorite choruses on the album so far. Quick witted in its creation, its a potent reflection of what the band is capable of.
As stated before, "Nassaru" is a tribute track to Joshua Ford, who also was a drum tech for George Kollias of Nile. He also played drums for Voraath and Raphumet’s Well. The first guitar idea is somewhat different from the others on the album, very melodious in nature. Giant-sounding attributes are interwoven with excited, quick-witted parts. Perhaps this song is somewhat more adventurous than the others so far. And maybe that's because of the inspiration left behind from a person that mattered to the band. The sixth song, "Hologram (Singing Silently on an Empty Stage) has both massive characteristics and a potent urgency. As with the other tracks, this is a well-produced pulverizing behemoth that has a varied approach to the song. Both speed and trips into darkened depths represent the listeners journey. "Ritual" is a short atmospheric interlude before the last track, "Black Smoke, Bleeding Earth". As a fitting end to this excellent album, it embraces all the attributes previously mentioned. Perhaps it is also a bit more adventurous with the vocals. Everything from melancholic passages to hurried ideas are present. Also here is a firm statement of intent related to the cataclysmic abilities of the musician's abilities. Not for over-the-top musical tricks, but for well written songs.
linktr.ee/apogean
www.theartisanera.com
Release Date: July 10th, 2026
The Artisan Era
Toronto, Ontario based death metal band Apogean have worked with many genres within extreme metal. From their tech-metal beginnings to a more blackened death metal approach of their 2nd upcoming album, they haven't lost touch with their base sound. The band has also had their music featured in both video games and ESPN. The lyrical concepts present on this release, "stares down the circle of life and the futility of human existence, with each track exploring a different stage or perspective within that process." Apogean also pays tribute to their long-time friend Joshua Ford who passed away in 2024 on the album's track titled, "Nassaru".
"Daughter of the Oak" starts the album off with a strong rhythmic approach with subtle orchestral elements added. The track focuses on strong clearly defined melodically brutal ideas that don't shy away from strength and conviction. Intelligently catchy but not redundant aspects are present on, "Waste Where Life Begins". Full in its construction, its viciously modern but not stripped of life like some current metal albums can be. Next, "Lie In Cinder" again chooses to focus on possessing a strong and pulsating identity. Crushing at its core, it alternates well between powerful verses and memorable choruses. 'White Trees, Black Leaves" has a slower start that then turns deadly with speed and short lived reliefs. It has one of my favorite choruses on the album so far. Quick witted in its creation, its a potent reflection of what the band is capable of.
As stated before, "Nassaru" is a tribute track to Joshua Ford, who also was a drum tech for George Kollias of Nile. He also played drums for Voraath and Raphumet’s Well. The first guitar idea is somewhat different from the others on the album, very melodious in nature. Giant-sounding attributes are interwoven with excited, quick-witted parts. Perhaps this song is somewhat more adventurous than the others so far. And maybe that's because of the inspiration left behind from a person that mattered to the band. The sixth song, "Hologram (Singing Silently on an Empty Stage) has both massive characteristics and a potent urgency. As with the other tracks, this is a well-produced pulverizing behemoth that has a varied approach to the song. Both speed and trips into darkened depths represent the listeners journey. "Ritual" is a short atmospheric interlude before the last track, "Black Smoke, Bleeding Earth". As a fitting end to this excellent album, it embraces all the attributes previously mentioned. Perhaps it is also a bit more adventurous with the vocals. Everything from melancholic passages to hurried ideas are present. Also here is a firm statement of intent related to the cataclysmic abilities of the musician's abilities. Not for over-the-top musical tricks, but for well written songs.
linktr.ee/apogean
www.theartisanera.com