The Apostasy

For the renunciation of one's religion, see Apostasy.
The Apostasy
Studio album by Behemoth
Released July 2, 2007
Recorded November, 2006 – April, 2007
Radio Gdańsk in Gdańsk, Poland
Genre Death metal
Length 39:52
Label Regain, Century Media, Mystic, Victor Entertainment
Producer Nergal, Arkadiusz Malczewski
Behemoth chronology

Demonica
(2006)		 The Apostasy
(2007)		 At the Arena ov Aion – Live Apostasy
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [1]
Blabbermouth.net [2]
Teraz Rock [3]
Decibel [4]
Metal Injection [5]
The Metallist [6]

The Apostasy is the eighth full-length album by Polish extreme metal band Behemoth. The album was released on July 17, 2007 through Regain Records.

Background

The Apostasy was recorded at the Radio Gdańsk Studios from November 2006 till March 2007. The record was then mixed by Daniel Bergstrand in the Dug Out Studio in Uppsala, Sweden in March 2007. Then it was mastered by Bjorn Engelmann in the Cutting Room Studios in Stockholm, Sweden also in March 2007.[7]

Unlike Behemoth's previous studio albums, the piano and a horn section (a trio of trumpet, trombone, French horn) were used in several of the album's songs. During the recording sessions, the band re-recorded a new version of "Chant for Eschaton 2000" – originally released on their album Satanica – which was released on the band's 2008 EP, Ezkaton. The Apostasy is Behemoth's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, having debuted at #149. The album was also put out in vinyl format limited to 500 copies.[8]

The album title refers to "apostasy", the state of having forsaken one's professed belief set, often in favour of opposing beliefs or causes. The album cover artwork is a depiction of the Hindu goddess Kali.[9]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Rome 64 C.E." (instrumental) Nergal 1:16
2. "Slaying the Prophets ov Isa"  NergalNergal 3:23
3. "Prometherion"  NergalNergal 3:03
4. "At the Left Hand ov God"  Nergal, Krzysztof AzarewiczNergal 4:58
5. "Kriegsphilosophie"  NergalNergal 4:23
6. "Be Without Fear"  NergalNergal 3:17
7. "Arcana Hereticae"  Nergal, Krzysztof AzarewiczNergal 2:58
8. "Libertheme"  NergalNergal 4:53
9. "Inner Sanctum"  NergalNergal 5:01
10. "Pazuzu"  NergalNergal 2:37
11. "Christgrinding Avenue"  NergalNergal 3:50
Japanese Bonus Tracks
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
12. "Entering the Pylon ov Light"  Krzysztof AzarewiczNergal 3:42
13. "Slaves Shall Serve" (live)Krzysztof AzarewiczNergal 3:27

Explanation of song titles

Personnel

Behemoth
Additional musicians
  • Patryk Dominik "Seth" Sztyber – rhythm and lead guitars, additional backing vocals
  • Leszek Możdżer – piano on Inner Sanctum
  • Warrel Dane (Nevermore) – vocals on Inner Sanctum
  • Piotr Głuch (Manthu) – trumpet, trumpet arrangements (deceased)
  • Jacek Swedrzynski (Kyrios) – french horn
  • Marcin Dziecielewski (Majestic) – trombone
  • Hanna Kwiatkowska (Cappella Gedanensis) – soprano
  • Anna Asmus (Cappella Gedanensis) – soprano
  • Sylwia Falecka (Cappella Gedanensis) – alto
  • Tamara Hejka–Grom (Cappella Gedanensis) – alto
  • Piotr Macalak (Cappella Gedanensis) – basso
  • Franciszek Iskrzycki (Academic Choir of the University of Gdansk) – tenor
  • Grzegorz Zieba (Academic Choir of the University of Gdansk) – tenor
Production
  • Krzysztof Azarewicz – incantations, spells
  • Kuba Mankowski (Pnemua) – choral arrangements
  • Piotr Banka – trumpet arrangements
  • Arkadiusz "Malta" Malczewski – sound engineering, co–production
  • Marcin Malinowski – assistant engineer
  • Daniel Bergstrand – mixing
  • Bjorn Engelmann – mastering
  • Tomasz "Graal" Danilowicz – cover concept, design and artwork, mask design
  • Krzysztof "Sado" Sadowski – band photography
  • Zbigniew Jozwik – mask sculpture
  • Sharon E. Wennekers – grammatical consultations
Note
  • Recorded at RG Studios November 2006 - March 2007.
  • Mixed in Dug Out Studio, Uppsala, March 2007.
  • Mastered in Cutting Room Studio, Stockholm, March 2007.
  • Samples on track IX recorded in Ilaga Sophia, Turkey, 2006.
  • Samples on track X recorded in Swayambunath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2005.

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[10] 9
US Billboard 200[11] 149
US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[12] 2
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[13] 24

Release history

Region Date Label
Europe, Poland July 2, 2007 Regain Records/Mystic Production
United States July 17, 2007 Century Media Records
Russia July 30, 2007 CD-Maximum
Japan September 21, 2007 Victor Entertainment

References

  1. ↑ Bowar, Chad. "Review: The Apostasy". About.com. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  2. ↑ Alisoglu, Scott. "Review: The Apostasy". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Filipowski, Robert. "Behemoth "The Apostasy" review" (in Polish). Teraz Rock. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  4. ↑ Begrand, Adrien. "Behemoth - "The Apostasy" review". Decibel. www.behemoth.pl. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  5. ↑ Bowar, Chad. "Review: The Apostasy". Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Review: The Apostasy". Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Behemoth (3) - The Apostasy (CD, Album) at Discogs". Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  8. ↑ "BEHEMOTH: 'The Apostasy' Released On Limited-Edition Gatefold Vinyl". Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  9. ↑ "YouTube - Nergal of Behemoth - Interview PART 1 - MPJ". Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  10. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  11. ↑ "Behemoth Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Behemoth.
  12. ↑ "Behemoth Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for Behemoth.
  13. ↑ "Behemoth Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Behemoth.