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ÜBERCHRIIST Descends into the Depths of Darkness with “Dæmonic Apotheosis”
ÜBERCHRIIST turns transformation into darkness
Atlanta-based US Black Metal band ÜBERCHRIIST takes its concept of transcending the boundaries between human, demon and god into a darker tale of transformation on its second full-length, “Dæmonic Apotheosis.” Released on September 25 via Deanwell Global Music, the ten-track, 38-minute-and-23-second album turns the idea of divine ascension associated with “apotheosis” on its head, constructing a narrative that moves downward, into the depths of the unknown.
The album's central idea of transformation begins with the opening track, ‘Anti-Phoenix Descent’. The album's first single draws on maritime themes to depict a descent into the abyss accompanied by a water elemental. The following ‘Serpent's Shroud’ takes this journey further inward. As tears, fear and the final traces of mortal existence are left behind, the serpent's shroud becomes a symbol not of death, but rebirth.
‘Serpent's Shroud’ was also released as the album's second single, with its accompanying video combining the band's corpse-paint aesthetic with performance footage and imagery centered around fire. The track premiered via No Clean Singing.
The narrative continues its descent beneath the surface across the rest of the album. Tracks such as ‘Tomb Creeper’, ‘Black Void’, ‘Subterranean Goat Transfiguration’, ‘Everdark Calling’ and ‘Awakening Ancient Power’ carry forward the overarching themes of the abyss, tombs, voids, hell, demonic transformation and rituals performed somewhere below ground level. In this sense, “Dæmonic Apotheosis” is not simply a Black Metal album built around dark imagery, but a cohesive narrative that divides transformation into different stages across the record.
At its musical core lies classic Black Metal. Blast beats and tremolo picking form the foundation of the band's approach, while the compositions open up to melodic passages when the songs call for them. There is also a clear old-school Heavy Metal influence in the riffing. This approach reinforces the album's thematically downward-moving narrative through high speeds and cold guitar textures.
ÜBERCHRIIST first took shape in 2010 through the efforts of two local musicians and eventually developed into a four-piece. The current lineup consists of Überroth on vocals and guitar, Voidseer on vocals and guitar, Blastphümii on drums, and Namirrah on bass.
Thomas Morton handled the recording and mixing of “Dæmonic Apotheosis” at Bookhouse Recording. Morton also mastered the album at Jamgood Mastering, while the cover artwork was created by Jacob Gurganus.
The album features the following tracks:
‘Anti-Phoenix Descent’ — 5:43
‘Serpent's Shroud’ — 3:14
‘Vicissitudes Ov Fate’ — 3:40
‘Tomb Creeper’ — 2:59
‘Faith In Darkness’ — 3:59
‘Black Void’ — 4:30
‘Subterranean Goat Transfiguration’ — 3:25
‘Everdark Calling’ — 2:38
‘Awakening Ancient Power’ — 3:16
‘Psychocosm’ — 4:59