Behemoth have got a new album. This fact itself is enough to make extreme metal fans bristle. With few releases in a row the Polish have peremptory slaughtered the competition, stepping far ahead in the line of blackened death metal bands. And, one CD after another, they strengthen their positions. “The Apostasy” is not much different than the last four band’s offerings. Speed, heaviness and might... which, however, is a double-edged sword. On one hand, fans get more and more of what they love in Behemoth, but on the other hand, the trio does not play primitive old-school black metal where uniformity is tolerated. And while for their compatriots of Vader the persistency in music is a lucky course, Behemoth should develop constantly to jump over the barrier they have lifted so high by themselves. The album is far from being weak and there are not many bands that can sound in such a depth, but only half of the 11 songs show up. The first two after the intro drag the listener with such a speed as if they have no patience to lay him/her in the depths of the first really strong composition - “At the Left Hand ov God”. After its acoustic beginning the brutal growl of Nergal acts like a sound-slap in the face. Suddenly, beneath all the doomed heaviness of the track, some choirs sneak, reminding of Nile. Such a singing is used also in “Be Without Fear”, which is the next tough crusher. The riff is so hard that you feel like squeezing your fists and bang your head along the unstoppable rhythm. And if you happen to lose stamina, “Arcana Hereticae” pushes you up with an overdose of sonar adrenaline. Inferno plays like instead of drumsticks he holds two loaded АК-47 and pours insane batters on his drums, without lowering the speed even when the guitars of Nergal and Seth start playing slower and heavier. The first serious surprise comes with “Inner Sanctum”, featuring two guests - the virtuoso jazz pianist Leszek Moždžer (who has played with musicians like David Gilmour) and Warrel Dane of Nevermore - and the second one is called “Libertherme”. In it Behemoth’s talent spreads in its entire power. Stiff and chopping riffs alternate with furious passages, great solos, beautiful dark melodies and the fierce singing of Nergal. The song is a real steam-roller and if there were more tracks like this in “The Apostasy”, it would have been one of the strongest albums not only in the band’s, but in the genre’s history.