Apostle of Solitude - Last Sunrise (Profound Lore / Eyes Like Snow)
By Chris Barnes
Feb 4, 2010

Buy here at Hellride!

Those of you that are into real two-fisted Doom Metal, the no-beatin’-round-the-bush, misery-and-woe-of-this-mortal coil variety, those whose Doom Metal proclivity is of the Godzilla-stomp-on-your-cerebrum genus, will most certainly find the Godhead in Apostle of Solitude’s newest collection of recordings, Last Sunrise. The expectations for AoS following 2008’s sublime Sincerest Misery were huge. I’d be hard pressed to name another release in recent memory as heavy, skilled and as tethered to real human emotional suffering as Sincerest Misery. So the question on most fans minds is, does Last Sunrise match the visceral power of it’s predecessor?

The answer is… no, not quite. Almost, but when you’ve recorded what is widely to be considered a totem of the Doom Metal genre, anything in comparison is bound to fall short as good as it may be. Such is the case with Last Sunrise… a very good album from the Indy fearsome foursome, but missing some of urgency and differentiation between songs that made Sincerest… such a wallop. And an agonizingly horrible choice (in my opinion, anyway) in an album cover. Fear not though, Last... is definitely no let down. The walls of Russian Studios in Bloomington, IN would tell you, if only they hadn't been rendered speechless by the band.

There are some exceptional songs on Last…. “Letting Go Of The Wheel” comes in with a whisper and leaves 9 minutes later with your head in it’s hands. Heavy as a mutha. The oddly titled “Hunter Sick Rapture” is nearly 5 minutes of mid-to-uptempo bludgeoning, the Webb/McClellan rhythm section firing on 16 cylinders of Doom-fueled fury. The cymbal sound in the mix here is superb… sounds like hammers against an anvil, especially effective in the slower section. Amazing how that sound alone can give you an amazing sense of unadulterated gravitas. “December Drives Me To Tears” is a magnificent number, dripping with slow grey melancholy. There is a brief piano interlude that I thought was brilliantly placed, an added unexpected thrill that I wished had lasted a bit longer to leave an even deeper impression. The ending on this song is heavy of the unforgiving kind… so heavy that nausea kept coming to mind. “Sister Cruel” is a lesson on the power of subtlety. I like how drummer Corey hits just as vocalist/guitarist utters his first syllable to add even more weight to some already heavy lyrics – a small thing really, but a true indicator of skill and finesse in the craft of heavy music making. A friggin’ blistering solo from Chuck as well on this one. “Frontiers of Pain”, my personal favorite on the track, opens with another round of nauseatingly heavy, heavy, HEAVY guitar. At 2:00, the horses are out of the gate and at 3:20 we’re treated with a lovely round of ferocious muted-E string chuggery. Listen carefully to hear McClellan’s bass playing here… the strings are bouncing like they’ve been plucked with a claw hammer. “Frontiers…” ends as it came in, with wave upon wave of vertigo-inducing heaviness that will eventually give way to the epic “Coldest Love” which features some of Chuck’s best vocals yet. The man reached down into his tippy toes for some of them. I kept thinking, this is one passionate MF’r. No one hug this guy. His misery makes for stunning music.

So Last Sunrise is not the one-in-a-million achievement that was Sincerest Misery, but how many times can you realistically hit a jackpot? However, Last... most certainly stands on it’s own merit as a magnificent accomplishment by four outstanding musicians. It’s exceptionally passionate and so heavy it’ll tickle your ‘nads and vibrate the socks right off your feet. Don’t let my comparison mislead you, Last Sunrise is most certainly worthy of your time, money and ardent Doom Metal listening.

Purchase Last Sunrise at the Hellride Music Superstore

Purchase Sincerest Misery and the Apostle of Solitude T-shirt at the Hellride Music Superstore

Listen to an MP3 of Last Tears

Read the Hellride review of Embraced By The Black and Sincerest Misery

Visit the Apostle Of Solitude website at www.apostleofsolitude.com

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Corey

Thanks, Chris! Much appreciated, man.

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http://www.myspace.com/apostleofsolitude
New album OUT NOW.
North American version on Profound Lore Records
European version + LP on Eyes Like Snow / Northern Silence Productions
Each version with exclusive artwork and bonus tracks.

The Apostle

Thanks for honest review brother. That's one of the things I like about HellRide reviews is their honest respectfull opinion whether it's good or bad. We know that some of the material on the record isn't quite as "blatant" or "in you face" maybe as the SM material but we hope everyone who's kind enough to buy the record or even just listen will give it a couple spins and let it worm it's way in.lol

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Apostle of Solitude new record out NOW on Eyes Like Snow Records in Europe and Profound Lore Records in N.America.

Chris

Man, I have to re-evaluate the words I choose for reviews, I think you have the wrong idea. I love the release, guys! That it’s not up to “Sincerest…” in my mind is personal preference because I friggin’ LOVE that record. That “Last…” isn’t quite up there is no insult, it’s still very damn good! Think of Springsteen, Dylan or Neil Young… they have loads of fucking great records, but there’s only one “Born To Run”, “Highway 61 Revisted” and “Harvest”. The only thing that I really didn’t like was the album cover, but I give you (and definitely Profound Lore) kudos for putting your neck out there and taking a gamble by doing something different.

It’s very Doom to take good reviews the wrong way. I do it at work all the time.

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Heavy Rituals

I believe you misspelt "Blonde on Blonde".

As I said to Corey before, can't wait to get my hands on this record.

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Rituals of the Oak - Australian Doom Metal
www.myspace.com/ritualsoftheoak

Chris

Ha! That's a good one too, but it doesn't get the mentions that "Highway..." seems to. Either way, there's always that one album that sticks out from the greats. The rest could be equally as good, but it's that one album that makes the impact.

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The Apostle

Word up. No worries man, I know what you mean how you may really like a record but it doesn't move you as much as another one does. It kinda hard to be mad that somebody likes one of your records more than another one. I'm flattered somebody likes what we do.

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Apostle of Solitude new record out NOW on Eyes Like Snow Records in Europe and Profound Lore Records in N.America.

CrownedInEarth

I'm very anxious to hear this album. I think 'Sincerest Misery' is one of the best doom albums of modern times and have been wondering how they'd follow it up. I'm very much looking forward to hearing this!!

Chris

Finally arrived here at Hellride and is on sale for $9.99 + S&H!!

APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE CD “Last Sunrise”: The heaviest, most unrelenting offering yet from the melancholic men of Indianapolis. Apostle of Solitude have long been one of my favorite bands, firmly residing where sadness, self-loathing and rage intersect and pulling no punches when it comes to music or words. This is Doom Metal devoid of wizards, warriors or occult overtones. "Last Sunrise" is the harsh reality of day to day living when you're standing on a crumbling precipice.
NOW ON SALE FOR $9.99 + shipping!!!
http://www.hellridemusic.com/cgi-bin...em_num=HM-3990

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Chris

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dinger

Got my vinyl copy in the mail yesterday, the brown/white swirl, the whole packaging is very well done. Love this album already, just as much as the first one.

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