{"id":10581,"date":"2023-12-11T22:51:30","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T03:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=10581"},"modified":"2024-01-23T18:52:24","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T23:52:24","slug":"testimoney-of-apocalypse-the-offering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/11\/testimoney-of-apocalypse-the-offering\/","title":{"rendered":"TESTIMONY OF APOCALYPSE: The Offering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Offering<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have no doubt The Offering<\/em> 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\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s no mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Sacrament To Testimony<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, The Offering<\/em> differs quite significantly in this regard. Last year\u2019s None Escape the Judgement<\/a><\/em> \u2013 excellent in its own right \u2013 featured the exclusive vocals of Mike Torone (ex-Sacrament). But as our own Chris Gatto discovered in his recent interview with Paul Graham [HERE<\/a><\/strong>], Torone couldn\u2019t contribute significantly to The Offering<\/em>, and so the idea was spawned to invite friends of genre into the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, that record (I\u2019ve only heard the vinyl version so I can honestly say \u201crecord\u201d) is really good. To credit the ex-Sacrament singer, Torone\u2019s 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<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact \u2013 and extreme metal fans are going to hate me for saying this \u2013 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\u2019s how our brains are wired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, the idea of TOA bringing all these guest vocalists to the table intrigued me. While I am a total proponent of the \u201cband\u201d approach to music, sometimes a collaborative\/collective effort like The Offering<\/em> has, in some ways, a lot more to \u201coffer\u201d \u2013 at least in terms of diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unity of Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, the one aspect which seems to unify all this musical diversity in The Offering<\/em> would be the lyrics and the themes \u2013 both Christ\u2019s 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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Sound of Many Offerings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Time Has Come<\/strong>\u201d features a brutal opening salvo of metal riffs and bass drum staccato with Derek Corzine\u2019s harsh vocal thrashing, but then the song shifts into a more melodic death metal stance as Derek pours out his offering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cJesus cover us\/Holy Spirit descend upon us\/Our lives will never be the same\/We will rise and praise your name\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Brian Lyda penned the lyrics to \u201cWhen We Were Dead<\/strong>.\u201d Based on Ephesians 2, Lyda\u2019s smooth\/even throaty exegesis anchors the mid-tempo grind. This song features a guitar lead and solo by Cameron Nealey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDead Man Walking<\/strong>\u201d 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 \u201cdead to rights\u201d without the work of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSinner just sinners\/Fighting a battle that\u2019s all but lost\/An eternal gap\/Between the Heaven\u2019s shore and the gates of Hell\/But then a payment\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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