Heavy Metal Daily

Allegaeon "Extremophiles (b)" from the "Apoptosis" album. Directed and edit by Vince Edwards with Ryan Williams and Allegaeon. With Apoptosis, Allegaeon have delivered their defining statement. A near-perfect symbiosis of technical, progressive, and melodic death metal, it is a record that is as crushingly heavy as it is inventive, lithe and intelligent, and marks a significant leap forward in their songwriting. "On this record, I was more open to new ideas that we might not have used in past," states guitarist Michael Stancel. "Rather than deleting something because 'it's not Allegaeon-y enough', I would take a step back and see if that idea fit the song and decide if it was worth keeping. With that mentality came some of my favorite songs, because I was less worried about if it fit into our old sound." This statement is borne out across the whole album, which while very much embodying the core Allegaeon sound that has drawn fans in over the course of their impressive career, it pushes into new territory, and does so with unerring confidence. "Thematically, this record is all about contrast, and the music reflects that perfectly," says vocalist Riley McShane. "The vocals are heavier than ever, but there are also more clean sections. The drums are faster than ever but also more dynamic, and the guitar playing is lower and slower than on most previous albums, but also provides long, melodic and beautiful sections throughout." Extremophiles (b) I am exposed to elements known to, in excess, destroy and dethrone Total envelopment of the system, resistant suspended as stone From mountain heights to oceans of ice searing heat to arctic freeze, replacement of hydration is essential to life and so I thrive disordered proteins crystallize, converted cells now vitrified Superimposed on top of my own regenesis, a genetic restructuring not ever seen before. I stand alone; a monument to obstruent adaptation, cryptobiotic response From mountain heights to oceans of ice searing heat to arctic freeze, replacement of hydration is essential to life and so I thrive disordered proteins crystallize, converted cells now vitrified I survive Immortality realized I survive Moving ever forward To the precipice of time Holding the key to eternal life Dueling shadows of mystery gone congruent solutions, set the stage a glimpse of what's to come Will we decide, be rid of this blight fear of death, sorrow, disease... escape or face the weakening our fading timeline to face genocide A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi repair our structure or die I survive Immortality realized I survive Moving ever forward To the precipice of time Holding the keys to eternal life Encroaching our own hopelessness We drift away toward... I stare and burn my eyes out fate calls do we answer or not chance to learn from life smaller yet more resilient than ours I stare and burn my eyes out fate calls do we answer or not chance to learn from life smaller yet more resilient than ours Immortality realized I survive Moving ever forward To the precipice of time Holding the key to eternal life. I survive Immortality realized I survive Metamorphosis impedes on new horizons Holding the key to eternal life. [Solo 1: Greg Burgess] [Solo 2: Michael Stancel] #allegaeon #apoptosis #techmetal