My jaw not only dropped to the floor (swathed in a mass of overflowing spittle) but fell loose from its sinewy hinges and hit the damn thing! I was flabbergasted, awestruck and every other fancy word that best describes that purest feeling of being tremendously impressed. Weird and exotic monsters from Poland are frothing from the jaws, bearing the sharpest of fangs and prepared to desecrate all opposed. Said monstrosity- Behemoth, and their latest venture into the realms of brutality entitled "The Apostasy" is that hungry beast and not to sound trite, jaded or even cliché I truly believe it is their best effort thus far. Everything from the title (It means to defy established religion and ethics) to the logic neglecting performances (Nergal achieves almost Glen Benton'esque growl stature and Inferno's bomb raid histrionics make even the best drummers consider suicide) make this THE stellar death metal CD of 2007.

A (dare I say peaceful) intro subtly ebbs into "Rome 64 C.E.", a deceivingly somber female chant of sorts that is soon choked off like a hanging victim as blast laden percussive hurricanes ravage our small amount of calm and clarity. It tells the story of the reign of Nero Claudius Caesar and the first documented prosecution of Christians in the era of the Roman Empire's supremacy. The composition is effective in attaining a level of realism with its militant structure and epical orchestration. "Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa" and "Be Without Fear" tread more familiar territory as they mow down practically every other death metal band in their path, leaving a road dirtied with the blood, guts and fragmented bones of hundreds of lesser ‘extremists’.

I have no qualms with the album save perhaps one, and I did not want to admit it but I shall be brave. "Inner Sanctum" does not meld with my salacious metal palate for some odd reason. What could it be? I ask myself ad infinite, and then it comes to me... my distaste for NEVERMORE front man Warrel Dayne's annoying wail that grates the nerves (unfortunately not in a good way). But hey, it's only my opinion because I do enjoy much of NEVERMORE'S past records, I just don't think it gels as successfully as one might have anticipated. The hymn itself is decent (possibly even mediocre) yet starts on a grand note as delicate ivory tinkling (courtesy of Leszek Mozdzer) adds a hauntingly mesmerizing touch but compared to next song "Pazuzu" it melts like a chunk of bipedal meat in an incinerator. This song is evil incarnate with a riff capable of summoning thou rank and vile Kali who forever lurks in the ether. Final cut "Christgrinding Avenue" not only has a very applicable title but some very ingenious lyrical prose defiling Christ and his/her/it's lame breed of brainwashed human waste. A triumph of will and fortitude, this masterpiece is already primed and ready to solidify it's bookmark in the bloody pages of death metal history!!