There’s a precise thrill that comes from discovering a band capable of hitting you in the gut musically—while simultaneously asking you to reflect on salvation, sacrifice, and the unyielding gaze of faith. Albuquerque’s Scapegoat, flying their colors high under the boundary-pushing Christian metal label The Charon Collective, are doing just that with their seismic new cover of Beneath The Sky’s cult favorite “7861.” With featured vocalist Andrea Maggioni, Scapegoat go beyond the trappings of genre, merging soul-rending brutality with spiritual symbolism in a way that feels urgent, personal, and undeniably fresh.
The Charon Collective: A New Nexus for Faith-Fueled Metal
The Charon Collective is not your average underground metal label. Since its emergence, it’s cultivated a roster packed with heavy-hitters straddling the worlds of death metal, black metal, industrial and hardcore, each with a bent toward true spiritual exploration (Charon Collective Bandcamp). While indie and heavy acts fight for attention, The Charon Collective’s niche is razor-sharp: extreme music grounded in the raw power of faith. Artists like Burial Extraction, Lazarus Complex, 2003UB313, and now Scapegoat, thrive in the label’s boundary-less creative ecosystem (Metal Archives).
Scapegoat: Theology with Teeth
Scapegoat have carved out their place in this scene by doing what few bands dare—marrying the absolute brutality of death, black, and thrash metal with lyrics that meditate on sin, atonement, forgiveness, and the poignant image of Christ as the sacrificial scapegoat. Their music is a collision, atmospheric and violent at once, of faith and despair, purity and raw aggression (Scapegoat Bandcamp). When Scapegoat take on a track, as with their 2025 release compendium—now including their “7861” cover (listen here)—it becomes more than just music. It’s a catalyst for catharsis, a theological reflection meeting musical exorcism.
“7861”: A Hymn of Loss, Salvation, and Renewal
The original “7861” by Beneath The Sky, itself a staple of the 2000s American metalcore scene, is a song steeped in Christian themes. It tells a story of tragic loss, suicide, the pain of searching for meaning amidst despair, and the possibility of grace (Sputnikmusic). Scapegoat’s 2025 cover—now released with the unmistakable presence of Andrea Maggioni—pushes deeper, reimagining “7861” through the lens of modern deathcore and blackened orchestration. Their version isn’t just a tribute; it’s a reinvention, a sonic barrage that both honors and subverts the source.
The Sound: Deathcore Meets Spiritual Fury
When you hit play on “7861 (Ft. Andrea Maggioni),” you’re thrown headlong into a vortex where blastbeats and guttural screams topple over serrated riffs, all laced with orchestration that adds a liturgical dimension. Maggioni’s guest vocals are haunting, alternating between guttural power and mournful beauty, matching Scapegoat’s trademark dynamic—vicious, but never void of emotional weight (Instagram Announcement).
Why This Cover Matters
Scapegoat’s take on “7861” is more than a show of technical prowess or devotion; it’s an emblem of a genre evolving in real time. It’s a signal: Christian metal, at least as curated by The Charon Collective, is not content to be background music or a safe haven. It’s a living dialogue between raw emotion, spiritual yearning, and a deep understanding of both musical and scriptural history (The Charon Collective Facebook). From “Skirmishes of Existence and Expiration” to “For the Broken and the Fallen,” the band’s thematic core of sacrifice and redemption bleeds through every riff.
Where to Listen
You can stream or purchase “7861 (Ft. Andrea Maggioni)” directly on Scapegoat’s Bandcamp and across all major platforms. Discover more on The Charon Collective.
In an era where sincerity and risk are often in short supply, Scapegoat’s “7861” stands as one of the defining moments of modern Christian extreme metal. Brutal both musically and thematically, it’s a reminder that faith and art are not separate domains but deeply intertwined. This song invites listeners into the space between chaos and grace — where belief screams louder than despair.
For both newcomers and longtime fans, Scapegoat offers a visceral journey through suffering and transcendence — a cry into the void that becomes a prayer, perhaps answered by the raw force of conviction itself.
Scapegoat’s “7861” cover redefines Christian metal, blending brutalism and spiritual symbolism under The Charon Collective, with Maggioni featuring.