Apocalypse: Discography (1988 - 1993)

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Apocalypse: Discography (1988 - 1993)

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A once Swiss thrash/ speed metal act. They formed in Geneva, Switzerland around 1984. The band split-up sometime after the release of their 1993 sophomore album "Faithless".

~ discogs

The band toured a lot with Metallica in Switzerland in the early 90's after the release of their self titled debut. The band had a long 6-year break before releasing Faithless which almost completely dissolved their fan-base, and the band broke shortly there after.

~ metal-archives

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Apocalypse: Discography (1988 - 1993)

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Apocalypse: Discography (1988 - 1993)

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Apocalypse seems to get ignored by many inside the metal circle. From the get go, the Swiss thrash masters displayed maturity far beyond their years. The self-titled debut is an apple that fell a short distance from the tree of Metallica. Make no mistake; Apocalypse had a flavor of their own; however, their first effort lacked some of the seasoning that makes their second album a classic.

Within the realm of thrash, production can often impair a band’s ultimate musical vision. Apocalypse managed to overcome the obstacle of poor sound. Every instrument can be distinguished from the other, providing a satisfying thrash experience that allows the listener to properly critique the most important facet of every album-the songs. Absent are the harsh, distracting “lo-fi” sounds of Destruction or early Sacrifice; present is the thick and juicy quality of “Master of Puppets” or “Forbidden Evil.”

The art of song craft is where Apocalypse shows their true talent. Many thrash bands rely on brutality or speed to capture the attention of the fans. While there is nothing wrong with bludgeoning the listener’s ears, Apocalypse employs a wonderful display of hooks and melody to lull unsuspecting victims into a trance of undivided attention. Apocalypse demands, through subtlety and violent emotion, that everyone pays full service to the mastery of their music.

Technicality is never sacrificed in the name of song quality. As a whole, the band sounds more like a collection of musicians performing on their third or forth album, then a debut. The riffs are razor sharp, though never reliant on shocking the listener with aggression. Bass lines are handled with the precision of a surgeon: always complimenting the guitar, but never taking away from the experience as a whole. Thrash bands often find themselves caught in the trap of repeating the same drum patterns, but Apocalypse use the “standard” drum bashing only when necessity demands.

Vocal wise, Apocalypse fall within the top tier of thrash bands. Carlos is not only a good thrash vocalist, but also a good metal singer. The title track perfectly exemplifies this facet, namely in the blood-boiling chorus. Distracting vocals can destroy an otherwise solid thrash album-Apocalypse do not share this problem.

The only flaws on this album are a few less inspired tracks. “Digital Life” and “Apocalypse” are undeniable classics, but “Fuck off and Die” should have been omitted. Thrash instrumentals are a touchy subject; and had Apocalypse included only 1, it may have taken less away from the album. Instead, the band chose to include a second instrumental, which eliminates this otherwise excellent effort from the list of “all time greatest thrash albums.”

by tidalforce79, metal-archives

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Apocalypse: Discography (1988 - 1993)

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By the year 1993, thrash metal was on life support. Death metal had taken the world by storm, offering a new form of brutality. Classic thrash bands had either altered their style drastically, or were dissolved altogether. Thrash was in dire need of resuscitation. In order to breathe new life into the most treasured of genres; the metal world needed an effort, both fresh in approach, and solid in application.

The masters of Swiss thrash had just returned from a 5-year hiatus after their powerful, but somewhat flawed debut. Apocalypse found themselves thrown into a world of post “Black Album” chaos, with rap infected bands like Anthrax, and Megadeth battling Metallica for supremacy of watered-down commercial appeal. The elegant merchants of melodic thrash were faced with insurmountable odds. Apocalypse rose to the occasion, smiting intellectual critics and cynics alike.

Quality has always been paramount to the band, evident in their unique approach. Every song on this album offers something different from the previous track. Faithless is an amalgamation of all the band’s previous ideas, combining atypical thrash with traditional metal melody. “House of Confusion” and “Faithless” hold true to the band’s original vision: mixed tempo thrashers, with memorable solos. “Unwanted” displays a new approach, including a sing along chorus and elementary drumming. Simple as the song may be, it never fails to exude character. Apocalypse continues the trend of calculated song structure. When the band requires speed, a well-honed riff eviscerates the ears; when the track calls for melody, a tranquil hook pacifies the soul. Faithless is an album that appeals to both the obtuse and the astute.

Amazingly, the band overcame the adversity of replacing their front man. Nic Maeder is better than Carlos in every way possible, with vocal lines that appear effortless, yet remain striking to the ear. The guitar duo from the self-titled debut returns in full form to deliver indelible leads. A tight rhythm section can only be described as the icing on the cake.

Apocalypse did take a single step back from their debut. The production quality; while good, sounds rather mechanical, or artificial in nature. Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell” is an appropriate comparison. Every instrument can be heard clearly, but the overall sound is too clean. Faithless is a hard album to get your hands on, but it’s worth a hefty sum if you can find it.

Sadly, Faithless turned out to be the band’s final effort.

by tidalforce79, metal-archives