TESTIMONY OF APOCALYPSE: The Offering

The Offering

I have no doubt The Offering is going to excite fans of extreme metal, especially those who like the mix of melodic and harsh vocals which have become such a staple of the genre over the course of the past two decades. Sacrament’s Paul Graham (drums) and Nick Pacitti (guitars) once again join forces, this time along with a whole host of vocalists and guitarists. Like, literally, a whole host!

The Collaboration

Seriously, this is no small collaboration. We are talking singers/players from at least 10 different bands to include Let the Day Perish (Juan and Jose Marrero), Crowned in Sorrow (Derek Corzine), Ryan Roebuck (Motivik), Darren Johnson (Living Sacrifice), J Paul White (Join the Dead), Greg Minier (Minier/Applehead), Jonathan Johnson (Deny the Fallen), Brian Lyda (Burial Extraction), Corey Weaver (Bloodline Severed), Aaron Macemore (Bloodline Severed), Ville Herranen (Inborn Tendency), Anderson Lima (Krenides) and Cameron Nealey (Diseased and Depraved). If you see a definite tendency in the names to reflect death metal roots, then it’s no mistake.

From Sacrament To Testimony

Furthermore, The Offering differs quite significantly in this regard. Last year’s None Escape the Judgement – excellent in its own right – featured the exclusive vocals of Mike Torone (ex-Sacrament). But as our own Chris Gatto discovered in his recent interview with Paul Graham [HERE], Torone couldn’t contribute significantly to The Offering, and so the idea was spawned to invite friends of genre into the project.

Now, that record (I’ve only heard the vinyl version so I can honestly say “record”) is really good. To credit the ex-Sacrament singer, Torone’s vocals are solid and very discernable. However, they impart a more one-dimensional quality to the death/thrash metal amalgam which characterized None Escape the Judgement.

In fact – and extreme metal fans are going to hate me for saying this – the one-dimensional aspect of singing in so many extreme metal bands is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, it sounds amazing and powerful and emotional all in one. But the brain craves melody, and melody is how we remember and recall the music we love so often. It’s how our brains are wired.

Therefore, the most impactful/memorable extreme metal bands are often those who can somehow either be innovative with their voices in changing the tone, timbre, texture or those who can incorporate multiple vocal styles, with one of those voices usually carrying a more melodic vocal line.

Hence, the idea of TOA bringing all these guest vocalists to the table intrigued me. While I am a total proponent of the “band” approach to music, sometimes a collaborative/collective effort like The Offering has, in some ways, a lot more to “offer” – at least in terms of diversity.

Unity of Words

Conversely, the one aspect which seems to unify all this musical diversity in The Offering would be the lyrics and the themes – both Christ’s offering work of atonement and the work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify, guide and protect believers. Even though multiple different artists have contributed to the lyrics – those unifying themes run through every song. Whether that was purposeful or represents the work of the Holy Spirit, the result is a unifying collection of well-executed metal exhortation.

The Sound of Many Offerings

“The Time Has Come” features a brutal opening salvo of metal riffs and bass drum staccato with Derek Corzine’s harsh vocal thrashing, but then the song shifts into a more melodic death metal stance as Derek pours out his offering:

“Jesus cover us/Holy Spirit descend upon us/Our lives will never be the same/We will rise and praise your name”

Noteworthy, right out of the gate, is the improved production/mix which is a massive wall of well-articulated sound!

Brian Lyda penned the lyrics to “When We Were Dead.” Based on Ephesians 2, Lyda’s smooth/even throaty exegesis anchors the mid-tempo grind. This song features a guitar lead and solo by Cameron Nealey.

“Dead Man Walking” takes the tempo and aggression up a tick, this featuring Juan Marrero on vocals/lyrics. Ryan Roebuck contributes a killer solo amidst the brief flurry of fast riffing and double bass drumming here. The catchiness and perfect mix of harsh and melodic vocals and edgy death metal movement perfectly compliment the message that we are “dead to rights” without the work of Christ.

“Sinner just sinners/Fighting a battle that’s all but lost/An eternal gap/Between the Heaven’s shore and the gates of Hell/But then a payment…”

Fans of Deny the Fallen’s Jonathan Johnson will embrace “Ghost,” yet another crushing hit. Stepping up to the mic, Johnson perfectly articulates the gift of the Spirit “covering our backs.”

Stepping it up yet another notch on “Heretic and the Adversary” would be veteran Darren Johnson (“DJ”) from legendary Living Sacrifice, delivering one of his patented vocal “offerings” on one of my favorite topics – spiritual discernment. “DJ” nails this track, exhibiting everything I was trying to say about what makes an extreme metal vocalist great!

Bloodline Severed was a band that didn’t get enough credit, but their talents show in plenty on The Offering, but especially on “Holier Than Thou” with lyrics and vocals by Aaron and Corey. One of the more diverse and impactful tracks on the album, the triple mix of discernable death, black and clean voices is killer. I also love the double-meaning suggested by the title, but this song is all about God and not about “man who thinks he’s God.” Extreme metal praise at its finest!

“I am the first and last the living one/Was dead but see I am alive forever/I have the keys to death/Hell and the grave”

Burial Extraction’s (such a cool name, BTW, and reminiscent of Believer’s debut title!) Brian Lyda is once again taking the lead vocal reins on “Darkly Through Mirrors.” I love the diversity of this song. Not only are the vocal lines brutally truthful, but so easily discernable. While the tempo is slower, I feel like it gives drummer Paul Graham an opportunity to add some cymbal accents and rhythm embellishments not as easily accomplished on those more straight-up death metal numbers. The other aspect of this song which echoes back to Sacrament are the multi-verse Scripture references reminiscent of most of the songs from Haunts of Violence.

Ville Herranen leads us through another song about spiritual discernment on “Fruit of the Enemy.” Again, the music is more diverse, with some tempo breakdowns in the middle section, and with a wonderful guitar solo by Cameron.

I love how Juan and Jose Marrero’s second “offering” on this album acts as a sequel to the first (“Dead Man Walking”). Where salvation is promised “once for all,” the reality of living life in the flesh remains, and so “The Rescue” takes things one level deeper into the struggle to stay firm in the faith despite the hardships and afflictions of life and to endure torment from the enemy. The riffs and twists in the rhythms keep this song engaging on both musical and lyrical levels.

“Watchman” – featuring J Paul White on vocals – brings the Old Testament prophecy of Ezekiel into the contemporary commercial metal realm with an up-tempo burner which may represent the most “accessible offering” on the release. Great song, great words.

The second offering from “DJ” is yet another killer track which has a Living Sacrifice meets Killswitch Engage vibe. “Welcome to Control” talks about the “lull into deception” by charismatic leaders.  Killer riffs, rhythms, solo and vocals!

“Slow descent/Welcome to Control/Slow descent/Welcome ‘The Control’”

The final track on The Offering, “Majestad,” was originally an instrumental song only, but Anderson Lima added vocals/lyrics (and even spoken words) to give this song – the most “epic offering” here at over 5-minutes duration – tons of melody and dynamics.

Final Offering

As a reviewer and writer, it is difficult to “critique” a project like The Offering. There are so many contributors, it’s hard to know who is playing what, right? Certainly, the guests have made their impact, but I don’t want to undercut the two guys who made this record possible – Nick Pacitti and Paul Graham. Nevertheless, they have exceeded the debut release in quality of sound and diversity of content. Without a doubt, it is unlikely you will find a more lyrically uplifting and musically exhilarating extreme metal release in our genre this year.

The Media

The CD comes in standard jewel case with the cover you see at the top of the review. [The Walking Dead!!] The 16-page booklet not only features legible lyrics, well-articulated song origins/meanings and “who plays what,” but also some very cool illustrations.

1. The Time Has Come (4:22)

2. When We Were Dead (3:23)

3. Dead Man Walking (3:59)

4. Ghost (3:01)

5. Heretic and the Adversary (3:34)

6. Holier Than Thou (4:01)

7. Darkly Through Mirrors (3:08)

8. Fruit of the Enemy (3:48)

9. The Rescue (4:07)

10. Watchman (3:00)

11. Welcome to Control (3:01)

12. Majestad (5:20)

The vinyl (black) version (Roxx 100 Series) includes the same track listing and a two-sided insert, the record in lined black/poly-lined sleeve. The sound benefits tremendously from the vinyl format which is perfectly balanced – no treble-y, shrillness, and no overpowering bass to muddy-out the mix. Really a perfect vinyl rendering to my ears. Perhaps most interestingly, the vinyl features a slight alteration in the cover artwork (see below). [Skulls and Bones!!]

Side A

1. The Time Has Come (4:22)

2. When We Were Dead (3:23)

3. Dead Man Walking (3:59)

4. Ghost (3:01)

5. Heretic and the Adversary (3:34)

6. Holier Than Thou (4:01)

Side B

7. Darkly Through Mirrors (3:08)

8. Fruit of the Enemy (3:48)

9. The Rescue (4:07)

10. Watchman (3:00)

11. Welcome to Control (3:01)

12. Majestad (5:20)

Roxx Records

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