ALBUM REVIEW: Apocalyptic Rhymes – Septagon

Following on from their debut album Deadhead Syndicate in 2016, speed metallers SEPTAGON have returned to the fray with their second record Apocalyptic Rhymes. The band formed in 2013 and have taken influence from US speed and thrash metal, and will be looking to make their own mark in the current metal scene.

The record begins, ironically, with The End. It runs just over a minute and features a narrative being told with the echoes of a guitar featuring in the back ground, slowly increasing in volume and pace as the narrative progresses. This then flows straight into The Weight of the World, which focuses a lot on the bass as the riffs shift into overdrive in the intro. Front man Markus Becker delivers on the vocals, setting the right tone from the very first lyric, blending an aggressive style with more harmonious elements, particularly during the chorus, and is a solid opening to the record.

The pace and overall sound remains the same throughout, so you know exactly what to expect from the opening minutes which no doubt will please fans of speed and thrash. There are only ten tracks on the record, and with the sound being similar throughout it is hard to pick out highlights, but there are certainly a few key tracks which feature. The first one of these being the title track, with the riffs crushing right the way through and the right blend of vocals mixing in once more. It’s a headbanger from start to finish and no doubt will be one track highly requested for live shows.

Another track which stands out on the heavy scale is P.O.T.U.S.A, and it really is in this track where you can hear those US thrash influences coming to the forefront – there is definitely an air of TESTAMENT in the way the song has been put together and executed, and the vocals really fit in with the thrash genre. If anyone doesn’t know what the abbreviation stands for, it’s President of the United States of America, which really tells you what the track is all about. While for the vast majority of the record the sound remains pretty consistent, it is the last track which takes a different turn – Sunset Blood. It is also the longest track on the record, which is much gentler compared to the rest of the album and features acoustic guitars. When you listen to the lyrics as well, it really is a fitting way to bring the album to an end.

Overall then, SEPTAGON have delivered well, not only in terms of the sound and the way the tracks have been put together, but also with what each track is about. It ticks all the boxes for what you expect to hear from a thrash record, which is reminiscent of classic US thrash metal bands while adding their own unique twist to it. It’s definitely well recommended for anyone looking to expand their metal collection on a whole, whether you’re a thrash and speed metal veteran or are looking to dip your toe in either genre.

Rating: 7/10

Apocalyptic Rhymes is out now via Cruz del Sur Music. 

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