To the Seven

Unlike many others, I do like copy bands. I think there is need for original bands, but it’s good to listen to music of those who appreciate their music and tries to do it in a similar way.
I especially like Apokrypha. They try to follow Immortal’s last three albums (from At The Heart of Winter.) These albums are by many “True”-s despited for its heavy/thrash riffing and “too clear” production, but I like them very much. however, what is not really to debate: these are very original albums, if one hears them, can say that’s “yes it’s new Immortal”. And until now, Apokrypha is the only band of those I know, who successfully tried to copy this music. To The Seven is very Immortalish, we can hear that very similar thrashy riffing, melodic song architectures etc.
In my opinion, the best songs on this album are “To The Seven” and “Moral Sloth”. Actually, I can summarize in short what is good in this album: that great Immortal feeling. You all know what you like (or don’t) in late Immortal: that melodic, northern, “proud” riffs, the well-combinated slow and fast parts… the mountains (sounding in song by song).
The guitar is very melodic, maybe even more than in Immortal. Therefore sometimes it’s even melodeath rather than black metal. The drumming is correct too; just fits the music. Not as technical as Horgh, but still nice. And the bass: in many black metal bands, the bass is forced into the very background - not in Apokrypha. As all good melodic black metal bands, Apokrypha uses the bass very intelligently. The vocals are guttural grims (not screams), also fitting the music, and its other advantage that quite well understandable. When it comes to the speed, some of the tracks are fast and some are mid-paced, without any extremities. Interestingly, though the music generally is softer than Immortal, there are no slow “ballads” like Tyrants.
And what is not good in Apokrypha, is that they are not perfect in following, either. Not all songs are equally good, I don’t mean that there would be fillers - there aren’t. But some songs are a bit more repetitive than they should be. And longer, too. Apokrypha is a good band, and To The Seven is a good album, but not that great as Immortal was (was, sadly.)
The other thing is the production. It’s good but a bit disturbing that not all songs sound the same. Actually it’s like if they were taken in two different studios. Both sounding are good, that’s OK, but why they sound different? Anyway, this is a minor problem. The album is really good, recommended for all fans of old Immortal.