If the state of the world has you planning a daring escape across the high seas, the new track from Kerberos is a must-listen. The symphonic death metal band, newly expanded and deeply ambitious, are gradually unveiling their expansive vision for modern metal in advance of their upcoming album, Apostle to the Malevolent.
The Swiss horde has been refining their sound since 2013, slowly incorporating new genres and capabilities as their current lineup fell into place. Symphonic death metal fused with angular progressive metal for anthems that surprise and delight. Think Amaranthe meets folk metal, Smoulder meets prog. Energized by live performances throughout 2023, Kerberos formulated a distinctive approach for their sophomore effort: Apostle to the Malevolent leaves no stone unturned in its wake of destruction. Scheduled for release on March 14, 2025, the latest single gives us a glimpse into Kerberos’ epic quest.
“Alpine Sea” captures the maximalist vision of Apostle to the Malevolent, opening with a delicate flute juxtaposed against muscular guitars. A choir – yes, Kerberos brought a full choir into the studio – soon joins the fray. Accompanied by the clarion call of Ai-lan Metzger and furious growls of Félicien Burkard, “Alpine Sea” feels like a truly epic metal song, carrying us forth on a bold adventure to distant realms. Energy builds with stately beats and orchestral grandeur. But don’t get comfortable.
The guitars soons break free, cascading into jagged prog rhythms. The shift should feel disconnected, but Kerberos deliver the surprise flawlessly. Every quest has unexpected obstacles, right? The massiveness of “Alpine Seas” carries us through with riveting riffs and engaging unpredictability. Kerberos wear all of their influences on their sleeves, ranging from classical music to heavy metal to prog rock. The result is the sonic equivalent of your favorite fantasy novel: full of beloved characters, shocking plot twists, and epic quests.
Join Kerberos on their next adventure by watching the lyric video for “Alpine Sea” below and following the band on Facebook and Instagram Pre-order Apostle to the Malevolent on Bandcamp before it drops on March 14th.