Band:	Angelus Apatrida
Album:	Aftermath
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	October 20, 2023
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Scavenger
02. Cold
03. Snob [feat. Jamey Jasta]
04. Fire Eyes [feat. Pablo García]
05. Rats
06. To Whom It May Concern
07. Gernika
08. I Am Hatred
09. What Kills Us All [feat. Sho-Hai]
10. Vultures And Butterflies [feat. Todd La Torre]

What does come after math?

Fast-rising Spanish thrashers Angelus Apatrida have been on a roll in recent years, with their brand of melodic thrash hitting the sweet spot between catchy and heavy. Their eighth album Aftermath does see the band stall somewhat, with the album being a noticeable dip in quality from what has come before it, though it maintains enough quality to warrant listening.

Fresh off three albums that caught my attention and made me an instant fan, Angelus Apatrida was one of the late 2023 releases that I was looking forward to most. With the band mastering the mix of melody and hard-hitting riffs, they managed to carve out a niche for themselves in a healthy scene packed out with plenty of competition. Aftermath is the first album in the better part of a decade where I feel like the band don't stand in front and apart from their erstwhile rivals, and unfortunately blend into the crowd.

This isn't to write the album off fully, for while Aftermath may not stand at the front of the crowd of releases, it still stands out thanks to the band's innate quality. Izquierdo's vocal and guitar work (the latter alongside Álvarez) give tracks like "Scavenger", "Gernika" and "I Am Hatred" their edge, one that has in prior years been married with solid songwriting to make for a must-hear combination.

Aftermath has a strong production, one that leans into the drums of Valera, whose propulsive parts are given plenty of power, and pride of place in the mix, to the song's benefit. "What Kills Us All" is a good mix of four-to-the-floor blast beats, and left field rolls and fills that give the track a lease of life it otherwise sorely needed.

The biggest problem with Aftermath is that the songwriting quality takes a noticeable dip in comparison to their previous work. While the band are still razor sharp instrumentally, none of the tracks are ones that are good vehicles to showcase these talents. Songs like "Rats" and "Fire Eyes" aren't nearly as infectious as the band's recent work, leaving you feeling like Aftermath is the weaker of the band's more recent efforts. Perhaps the best example of this is "Cold", an idea that feels like the band turned in a second or third draft and used that, rather than editing it any further. (What are they? Students?!)

This in turn, I believe, leads in to the other issue with the album. Perhaps as a way of compensating for the lack of spark songwriting-wise, the band rely on guest appearances to ignite interest in otherwise OK tracks. I've always been sceptical when I see an album with many a guest feature, and Aftermath is an example of why, with said features seemingly a way to compensate for a lack of quality, rather than adding to the song. Jasta's appearance on "Snob" is perhaps the one feature that does work, as the track's hardcore leanings find a symbiosis that plays to both artists' strengths.

With the quality in their ranks, hopefully Aftermath will be little more than a slight misstep in their discography in hindsight. No one bowls a perfect game, though Angelus Apatrida have been on such a hot streak until now, that even with an average score, they're still far ahead of the pack.