Fox Reviews Rock

Introduction

Established in 2006, Apollyon Rising has made a significant impact on the North West metal scene in the UK. The band has graced the stage at Bloodstock Festival on two occasions. They made a triumphant return by winning Metal 2 The Masses in 2022.

Their performance at Hammerfest in 2023, featuring a new vocalist and bassist, marks just the start of their journey. Their latest EP titled “Prepare For War” is now available. I’m ready to don my war paint and dive into the action!

Review

Prepare for War – As soon as the first riff resonates in my ears. I realize I’m gearing up for a showdown. In some tracks of this genre, the drums fade into the background. But here, they clash with the guitar like two warriors in an epic confrontation.

The vocals on “Make Them Pay” are fantastic. They convey raw aggression while still holding onto their meaning. This is crucial. It is something many bands overlook. The band’s ability to stay melodic is commendable. The guitar section at the three-minute mark truly stands out. The line “If you want peace, prepare for war” elevates this song to a whole new level for me.

Parasite – This track is the briefest on the EP, and I must say, the bass truly reigns supreme! It’s a delightful shift, and I believe it masterfully ties everything together. As I listen, I’m treated to a series of captivating riffs. I wonder why this band is not more widely known.

I envision that a future collaboration with a prominent clean vocalist would elevate their sound even further. The combination would be phenomenal. They certainly don’t need it, but it would be an exciting addition—perhaps someone like Billy from Feverhill?!

From Fires To Ashes – A consistent vibe flows through the tracks. The tracks feature thumping drums, electrifying riffs, and fierce vocals. I absolutely love it! This particular song leans more towards instrumental than the rest of the album, but that’s exactly what makes it refreshing. It allows my ears a brief respite before gearing up for one final onslaught.

No More Silence – The challenge of kicking off every song with powerful instrumentals is that they tend to merge. Each track blends into a single sound. I would have preferred this song to start with clear vocals to stand out from the crowd. On the flip side, the band showcases remarkable consistency. I can imagine they deliver an outstanding live performance because of it.

Overview

This is a really strong EP, with the right amount of tracks. I’ve seen some EPs with 7 tracks, and at that point it’s basically an album. I really enjoy the melodic aggression that makes me feel like putting on my own war paint. With impressive instrumentals and vocals, this band, I predict, will explode with popularity.

What I think they need to do is to feature a clean vocalist on a popular song. My personal choice, as mentioned earlier, would be Billy from Feverhill. He is a great singer and a great person. My score is really high. But, it is affected by the lack of clean vocals. The same format in every song also affects it. Still a very impressive EP!

7/10

All the songs used in this review belong to their respective owners, and this website does not claim any right over them. All images were provided by Apollyon Rising and the photo was taken by Simon Dunkerley.