Description

Black and white splatter vinyl with a 4 page booklet. Limited 250 numbered copies

By the year 1993, thrash metal was on life support. Death metal had taken the world by storm, offering a new form of brutality. Classic thrash bands had either altered their style drastically, or were dissolved altogether. Thrash was in dire need of resuscitation. In order to breathe new life into the most treasured of genres; the metal world needed an effort, both fresh in approach, and solid in application. The masters of Swiss thrash had just returned from a 5-year hiatus after their powerful, but somewhat flawed debut. Apocalypse found themselves thrown into a world of post “Black Album” chaos, with rap infected bands like Anthrax, and Megadeth battling Metallica for supremacy of watered-down commercial appeal. The elegant merchants of melodic thrash were faced with insurmountable odds. Apocalypse rose to the occasion, smiting intellectual critics and cynics alike. Quality has always been paramount to the band, evident in their unique approach. Every song on this album offers something different from the previous track. Faithless is an amalgamation of all the band’s previous ideas, combining atypical thrash with traditional metal melody. “House Of Confusion” and “Faithless” hold true to the band’s original vision: mixed tempo thrashers, with memorable solos. “Unwanted” displays a new approach, including a sing along chorus and elementary drumming. Simple as the song may be, it never fails to exude character. Apocalypse continues the trend of calculated song structure. When the band requires speed, a well-honed riff eviscerates the ears; when the track calls for melody, a tranquil hook pacifies the soul. Faithless is an album that appeals to both the obtuse and the astute. Amazingly, the band overcame the adversity of replacing their front man. Nic Maeder is better than Carlos in every way possible, with vocal lines that appear effortless, yet remain striking to the ear. The guitar duo from the self-titled debut returns in full form to deliver indelible leads. A tight rhythm section can only be described as the icing on the cake. Apocalypse did take a single step back from their debut. The production quality; while good, sounds rather mechanical, or artificial in nature. Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell” is an appropriate comparison. Every instrument can be heard clearly, but the overall sound is too clean. Faithless is a hard album to get your hands on, but it’s worth a hefty sum if you can find it. Sadly, Faithless turned out to be the band’s final effort.

Track list:
1. House Of Confusion
2. Slay For Play
3. Division
4. Unwanted
5. Extreme Sensation
6. Faithless
7. Reason To Live
8. Shoot You Down
9. Bad Breath