Apotheus: Ergo Atlas

I hadn’t heard of the Portuguese band Apotheus before I got this album. When I looked them up on Encyclopaedia Metallum and Metal Music Archives, all their material was listed but not a single score or review had been posted. So, I can honestly say that I went into this with fresh ears.

Ergo Atlas is the follow-up to their 2019 album, The Far Star. Together, they are meant to tell a story. According to the band: “Millions of years after The Far Star mission took place, an artificial intelligence comes up with an ingenious plan that puts life in the Universe at risk. In this second volume of the saga … Apotheus introduces new atmospheres and emotions in the nine chapters of the new album, in a roller coaster of melodies, messages and intrigues.�

I listened to the two albums as a pair. The story is convoluted, but I got the broad sense of it with the help of reading the lyrics, and the music provides an appropriate feel to complement the words. Apotheus is billed as progressive metal. That is accurate, but they are not as technical as many other bands in the genre, including some they list as primary influences: Opeth, Gojira, Leprous, and Pain of Salvation.

The band currently consists of Miguel Andrade on vocals and rhythm guitar, Luis “Gold Monkey� on lead guitar, Daniel Rocha on bass, and Albano “von Hammer� on drums. The vocals are clean for the most part (there are some growls toward the end of the album, especially) and on some songs Andrade resembles Maynard James Keenan. In fact, I’m surprised that Tool doesn’t appear among their influences, because a bit of the music also reminds me of that band’s first two albums. “Gold Monkey� (who seems to be a new member with Ergo Atlas) and “von Hammer� can really bring it when required and Rocha provides a satisfying low end throughout. Nearly all the songs deliver a nice contrast of light and shade. But that also poses a problem: After listening to the album, I felt like I heard the same song multiple times.

The band has released four singles from Ergo Atlas, which seems kind of peculiar given that it’s a concept album. But they are the first four songs on the album, so if listened to in order they do provide continuity. Overall, I enjoyed both The Far Star and Ergo Atlas and I would recommend that people who are into metal with a slightly progressive bent give them a shot. It also wouldn’t hurt if you were a sci-fi fan.

Now … as for that album cover, the less said about it the better. And if I just drew your attention to it, my apologies.

Track Listing
1. Shape and Geometry (5:41)
2. The Unification Project (5:29)
3. Firewall (4:59)
4. Cogito (4:59)
5. Ergo Bellum (5:45)
6. March to Redemption (5:43)
7. Alphae’s Sons (4:03)
8. Re:union (5:17)
9. Re:genesis (4:19)

Added: February 3rd 2024
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 845
Language: english

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