Review: “Seeds of Apostasy” by Monastery Dead

Recorded by Ivan Dmitriev (Septory, Mute Ocean, Depicting Absym) at BuzzyLick Studio “Seeds of Apostasy” is the fifth full length album by Saint Petersburg based Death Metal quartet Monastery Dead. Featuring in their ranks members and former members of Cemeterial, Jotungheim and Infornal Fuckъ the five piece have long mused on themes of death, war, depression and anti-religious rhetoric with 2015’s “Black Gold Appetite” flirting with more technical aspects of the genre as well as being particularly well received. So what do vocalist Anton Malov, bassist Vadim Nikolaev, drummer Kirill Zharikov alongside guitarist and backing vocalist Kirill Tatarinov have in store for us in 2025?

Death Thrash riffs fly in all directions as”One More Interrupted Life” unfurls its wings and takes to flight, the rapid fire chord progressions separated by bursts of blast beats and monstrous vocals from Malov who roars his way through the lyric sheet like a man possessed. The surprise is the virtuoso neo-classical solo which injects a vibrant warmth into the track as the band purposefully slow down to let it happen. Fortunately that isn’t the kind of painful slow down that the second generation of Metalcore bands gave us to allow for clean vocals but instead a well thought out and perfectly executed one that showcases musicianship of the highest order. “Voracity Of Madness” is reminiscent of bands like God Syndrome, a skull splitting affair of demonically roared vocals and chugging guitars making way for some more technically leaning ones as the band drive the nails into the coffin lid of their enemies. Another track with great balance, it doesn’t just pulverize but rather tortures its victims first. Blast beats and Groove Death are offered up with “Cold And Gloom” during which Malov reaches hitherto unheard death growled bowel clenching lows, the frantic lead guitars matching ferocious nature of this beast. There is even time for a whammy bar drop solo as it plays out, Zharikov demonstrating his prowess with restless and relentless kit work.

A movie sample in German introduces “Sick Absolution” before the band pummel the discerning listener to death with jack hammer footwork and razor sharp riffs as Tatarinov continues to impress, his solo on this one sounding like its stripped from the self titled Chimaira album. The bass line from Nikolaev is brought to the front of the mix on the neck snapping “Abyss Of Depression“, a track that rips through the parade like a tornado and leaves the natives running for cover. How they manage to conjure something both menacing and sinister while delivering it with verve and swagger at adrenalized speed with tactical precision is a mystery but they’ve made a habit of that throughout this album. Flying in under the radar, the 88 seconds that is “Left To Rot” could be considered Death Grind and as such is a ferocious beast during which you can easily lose a limb in the mosh pit. The fret boards are left smoldering by the sheer power of the tidal wave of aggression, the band leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of evil power. In a final throw of the dice Monastery Dead pull out the Groove Death beast that is “Overthrown God” and let it loose to splatter your brains over the back wall. Tatarinov has saved his best work for the final cut with the solo an absolute scorcher and if that doesn’t convince you then nothing will [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1.One More Interrupted Life
2.Voracity Of Madness
3.Cold And Gloom
4.Sick Absolution
5.Abyss Of Depression
6.Left To Rot
7.Overthrown God

“Seeds of Apostasy” by Monastery Dead is out 10th November 2025