Antipope is a Finnish heavy metal band that began in 2004, initially as a black metal project. Over time, the band has evolved their sound into a more traditional heavy metal style, though they still incorporate elements from other genres. For instance, the opening track of the album, Magisteria, features both blast beats and tremolo picking—unusual for heavy metal. This gives the band a distinct and unique character, which works to their advantage.
The biggest challenge with Antipope, for me, is the vocals, which feel overly pompous for my taste. After the first listen, I felt inclined to move on to something else. However, the more I listened to Doors Of The Dead, the more I adjusted to the vocal style and started to appreciate its uniqueness.
Antipope has now released seven albums, and they’re definitely onto something. Some tracks, like Religion With No Name, are particularly strong, boasting catchy melodies that stick in your head.
While Antipope shows plenty of positive traits, I’m not entirely sold on Doors Of The Dead. That said, it’s not far off from winning me over.
Released October 25th, 2024 on Moribund Records.
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