EP Review: Obey The Kraken – Apocrypha (Seek and Strike)

Germany’s deathcore outfit Obey The Kraken return with Apocrypha, a new EP arriving April 10th via Seek and Strike.

Obey The Kraken released their debut, Worship The Sunken God back in May 2025 but Apocrypha is seen not as a follow up to that. It came about naturally and acts more like an extension of the world they began building in that debut. What started as an unplanned release has taken shape as a natural continuation of the band’s identity, pushing further into darker territory while staying rooted in their hard-hitting foundations. With a clear conceptual thread running throughout, Apocrypha tells the story of a fallen angel aligning with hell in a bid to conquer heaven, each track acting as a chapter in that unfolding narrative.

Sonically, the EP doubles down on Obey The Kraken’s core strengths, tightly constructed song writing, deliberate pacing, and breakdowns designed for impact rather than excess, all produced in-house to maintain a focused, oppressive weight that serves both the music and the story it drives forward.

Speaking about the new release, Obey The Kraken state:

“Apocrypha means a lot to us, especially as we hadn’t planned this second EP. After finishing our first EP (Worship The Sunken God) last year things developed naturally and we realized we had more to say within this world and sound. We consciously kept the formula of the first EP intact, so anyone who enjoyed EP1 will feel right at home with EP2. Listening back to the final masters, we’re genuinely happy with how consistent and powerful the release feels as a whole. Everything was designed to feel massive, heavy, and epic, supporting the narrative without overcomplicating the production approach”.

Apocrypha comes with four tracks, kicking off with lead single Betrayer and it’s a banger. It’s direct and tight, bringing real brutality and weight in an aggressively focused track. Symphonic backing guides the intro before waves of crushing riffs and pounding drums take over, while the vocals shift between growls, screams, and squeals with ease. However, the stop-start section in the final third does disrupt the flow slightly, even if the overall impact remains strong and purposeful.

From there, Netherworld leans into a more progressive edge, introducing creative effects and subtle twists in the band’s sound. It’s still fast, heavy, and punishing, but those added layers give it a sharper, more chaotic feel, making it come across even more aggressive. The vocal performance continues to impress too, with a range of styles delivered with power and control. Crucially, the shorter runtime of these tracks works in their favour, ensuring each hit lands hard without drifting into repetition or fatigue.

War Awaits follows and stands out as a clear highlight. It carries the same brutality and tight production but adds more depth and a stronger sense of hook. There’s a noticeable lift in memorability here, helped by those Hellraiser-like spoken word moments and a vocal performance that feels especially venomous. It raises the bar and shows just how effective Obey The Kraken can be when they balance sheer weight with a even more character.

Obey The Kraken close out Apocrypha with Bow To Darkness. Stylistically, it sits firmly within the EP’s established sound, but still finds room to push things a little further. At just over three minutes, the band pack a lot in without it ever feeling cluttered, layering in more symphonic touches, added effects, spoken word sections, and even flashes of cleaner vocals.

Of course, all of that is wrapped in crushing breakdowns, sharp stops, and a relentless barrage of varied vocal styles. The riffs land hard, the leads add texture, and the rhythm section drives everything forward with real force. Despite that density, it never overstays its welcome. Instead, it reinforces one of the EP’s biggest strengths, these songs hit fast, hit hard, and get out before anything starts to feel repetitive, leaving a stronger overall impact because of it.

Apocrypha is a short, focused statement from Obey The Kraken, delivering four tracks built on weight, intent, and a clear sense of identity. There’s no wasted time, just direct, hard-hitting deathcore that knows when to hit and when to move on. While some transitions can feel a little abrupt, the overall impact is strong, with the shorter runtime working in the EP’s favour and keeping everything tight and purposeful. Apocrypha is a confident and fully realised EP. It’s a heavy and effective follow-up that builds on their debut and shows real promise going forward.

Track List:

01 – Betrayer
02 – Netherworld
03 – War Awaits
04 – Bow To Darkness

Obey The Kraken Links

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