Why oh why does this band have to be a side-project??????????? I hate when a band as good as Therion splits their time between their main band and something smaller to release something as stupendous as this concept album and then the side project is neevr heard from again.

For anyone who doesn't know, this band is composed of mainly the lead guitarist and guitarist/vocalist/founder of the symphonic metal band Therion. If you listen to Therion then I need not explain how virtouso either of those musicians is. They are master musicians at their respective instruments and get nowhere near the credit they deserve except in their homeland(they actually do movie soundtracks for their equivalent to things like Troy or films form the epic movie genre, as well as smaller budget films). They essentially began the limited, but popular genre that is symphonic/power/epic/progressive metal and have done more with it than most could dream.

As for this cd, its just awesome. Its so plain and straightforward its funny, yet it lingers in your mind well after you've stopped listening to it. It is at no point ground-breaking and yet it crushes most things that are. Its some kind of mesh between classic death, melodic death, and thrash, but with the special touch of Kristian Niemann's neo-classical guitar whine and soloing. His melodic sense and technical prowess never short of astound me and he should be just as well known as people like Steve Vai(Way too over-rated these days anyhow). Regardless, I loved this cd simply because its old school. It has all the trappings of a clasic death metal album with pretty basic drumbeats as they pertain to metal and even more basic guitar riffs. Hell, even the distortion they use is very basic(except for the lead work which Niemann obviously keeps consistant no matter what he is working on, much to his credit).

I think its hard for anyone into metal to not like this cd. There is so little to dislike. Its a romp through the fun days of metal where there wasn't all this flash and we could still watch bands like Death on mtv way back in the late 80's. The Riders are coming, crank it up to 11 and give them a fitting welcome already!

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Joshua Craig

Riders of the apocalypse

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2013

Demonoid is a band comprised of members of chimiria and therion and they have come together to compose music in the death/thrash vein. On riders of the apocalypse you will not find triggered drums or much time to catch your breath what you will find is blast beats and punishing, ripping riffs and a atmosphere very suited to a record dedicated to the arrival and punishment by the four horsemen. Some of the best moments are found when they slow the pace down 14th century plauge is a perfect example a song about the black death it creates a great atmosphere through slower riffs and menacing vocals. The song that opens the cd wargods is one of my other favorites it is a pure rager in which blast beats and razor sharp riffs abound. Witchburners is another great song. Without a doubt though my favorite song on the cd is hunger my consort with its contagious riff that you can't help but thrash madly too or get out of your head. Arrival of the horsemen is a highlight as well though it starts slower it doesn't stay that way long blasting into killer riffs and choruses. Which brings me too my only complaint about the cd i feel it losses some steam and becomes a little too predictable near the end of it. But its definitely a good purchase for anyone interested in the more extreme side of metal.

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jason farrell

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2014

Great band great cd worth buying

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Metalhead

All of the things that make metal great

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2005

Seeing how this album has been out for months now, and I am the first person to review it, it would seem that the metal masses are sleeping on this brilliant release from Demonoid. Demonoid contains members of Therion and Chimaira, but sounds nothing like either. The sound on this album left me speechless at first listen. The opening track "Wargods" starts with a pummeling drum solo followed by a crisp, heavy guitar line and gruff, low vocals. This set the tone for the entire album. This album is extremely heavy and diverse, and at the same time melodic. What's more, the album tells a story. It's the story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, split into three parts. Tracks 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9 each tell seperate portions of the story. Rather than me imparting the story bit by bit, just read for yourself in the liner notes. Just another incentive to get a "Top 5" metal album for 2004. This easily takes the title for "Best Metal Side Project" ever recorded. Any fan of European metal will not be disappointed by this one.

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Matthew Z. Coombs

The Riders Are COMING!!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2005

After reading a few great reviews I dedided to pick this one up. WOW, it's quite a stunning release. Generally fast and heavy death metal but not sounding like melodic death metal. It's more like heavy/thrash metal with death vox. I don't want to label too much as I really don't have anything to compaire this one to. It's quite unique. The sound is very good. My only complaint would be a small one that the vocals could be recorded a bit higher in the mix and clearer.

The bottom line is this. If you like death metal in general then this is a must have because its unique, powerful and creative. On the other hand, if you don't like death metal vox much then this might not be for you.

One more thing. Although this is a very heavy release as you would gather from the cover art that perfectly fits the music you should also know this is not senseless speed or harshness. It is a very aggressive but yet done in a classy way and with a good sound.

I won't give 5 of 5 stars because I am not convinced it deserves that but 4 of 5 is definitely reasonable and not a stretch.

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