The Silenius-era Abigor was always my favorite Abigor, using catchy and beautiful melodies and occasional keyboard interludes and then combining them flawlessly with a savage ferocity that few other bands have managed to imitate.
Apokalypse is the end of this era. We still have "Supreme Immortal Art", but that one doesn't come close to what Abigor released before it, especially Apokalypse. Take this ep as the final strike of a dying beast, a beast that is close to death, but still manages to gather enough strength to deal a final killing blow. That's Apokalypse, stripping everything that is unnecessary like cheesy synth intros, overdone keyboard sections, intricate melodies, and other things.
Tracklist:
1. Celestial
2. Verwüstung
3. Ein Hauch von Kälte
4. Hyperwelt
5. Tu es diaboli juna
6. Ubique Daemon
Length: 17:21
This EP starts outright with a barrage of constant blast beats and tremolo-picked Darkthrone-like riffs fast and buzzing. After a few seconds of this savagery we are welcomed by Silenius' rage-filled vocals and here I'd like to emphasize the uniqueness of Silenius' vocals. His style is not like your average black metal vocalist as it's not a shriek or a growl, and it's not a scream neither. The vocals may not be intense or loud, yet the rage they communicate is extremely powerful and not easily forgotten.
The guitar work is usual tremolo-picked riffs with a large Darkthrone influence and there are considerably less melodic passages among the riffs, making them feel cold, grim, and violent. There is also a bit of Bathory influence here and there.
The drumming here is mostly blast beats, so there is not much variety to be found, but this is bare-bones black metal heavily influenced by Darkthrone and they had little to no variation in their music and this ISN'T a bad thing and id NOT a flaw. This is black metal and if you'd like more variation, then listen to something else.
This EP is pure relentless savagery, Abigor's finest moment, and the last roar of a dying beast. The only flaw I can find in here is that it's way too short. However, what defines this album is its primary strength which is basic fast black metal with melodic embellishment; its patterns are basic and time-tested, and its effect simple and invariant. Its success also defines its limits as being melodic, simple, one-concept black metal, and this is where it is best appreciated: as a corollary to grindcore in the black metal style. It is highly repetitive, gratifyingly violent, and exemplifies the black metal style at this time period in both strength and failings.
Some tracks:
