Review Summary: Ex-members of Knights of The Abyss, and Giants Among slam you with a new EP that's just plain unexpected, creative, and heavy.
When I had first heard Apparitions, I wasn't expecting much. I figured just your generic death core band, chock-full of breakdowns. I couldn't have been more wrong. My first experience was seeing the band live at a local music festival in Arizona, where my opinion even further had changed. Decided to get myself a copy, and delve a little bit deeper into the EP that is The Human Collapse.
Immediately the first track that caught my ear was, "Mechanical Manipulation". This song is definitely the staple of the album, and even the one song the band has a music video for. Griffin Kolinski's powerful screamed vocals instantly grab you from the start, and throw you into a world of fast paced drumming, and technical guitar riffs. These are the common themes throughout the album, even in the Deftones cover of "Diamond Eyes". It constitutes for slower, more 'chuggy' guitar playing, but a very good rendition of the song, nonetheless.
My only qualm with the EP would be that if you're not actively paying attention to some songs, they blend together a bit. It's not that the songs lack creativity, or originality. It's just that some of them sound alike in some respects, and it makes it hard to follow along with certain songs on the album.
Other songs that give a very good name to the album would be the tracks "Naysayer", "Skyplitter", which features guest vocals from Tim Goergen of Within the Ruins, and "The Child". Guitarists Winston Weems, and Brian McNulty leave no piece of a song dull, or generic. Hard work was put into the album, and with all the shredding guitar, fast-paced but technical drumming, and heavy bass, it's sure to leave you wanting to hear more. The Human Collapse makes for a great first release by Apparitions. At the end, I'm only left with one question, when is the full length coming out?
Recommended Tracks: Mechanical Manipulation, Naysayer, and The Child
