The Apex is a mathcore/metallic hardcore, or as they put it “ghetto tech metal,” band from Windsor, Ontario. If you haven’t already, you should check out our previous review of their excellent self-titled LP that came out last year. In any case, this week they are following that one up with a new EP titled Underbelly. The music has been recommended to fans of various technical groups like The Dillinger Escape Plan, Meshuggah, The Red Chord, and Candiria. If you thought you had heard it all this year, you’d best clear the next few minutes for this one.
The Apex can be described as The Dillinger Escape Plan bereft of any of the playfulness. Despite the chaotic riffs, there is a grim aesthetic that recalls a certain greyness. Concrete slabs, chain-link fences, all that. It comes across in the tone, but also in the vocals, which are some of the most extreme I have heard for a band in this style. There is something so invasive about them; like I should feel bad about myself. Screams seem to barrel straight from the gut, completely bypassing the usual barriers. It’s more a complete evacuation of air than what might normally be called “shouting.”
Perhaps part of this delivery comes from the fact that frontman Darren M. suffers from Neurogenic Stammering. This affects his speech in that his brain won't tell the mouth what to say. As a result, he is reportedly unable to carry on a normal conversation, but quite capable at expressing himself through screaming. Interesting and admirable stuff.
Of the three songs featured on Underbelly, the title track is my personal favorite. Despite being the longest, it comes off as the most concise and balanced in terms of anarchy to order ratio. That first few seconds after the transition from “Scabs and Sheep” blows my f#$king scalp off. The riffs sound like my car desperately needs an oil change, but I’m too busy banging my head to care. Mathy grinding of strings is perfectly punctuated by groovy hooks and devastating breakdowns. All three of these tunes are solid, but this one raises the bar.
If you dug The Apex’s last outing or were a fan of Left Behind’s latest album, Underbelly should scratch that same itch. The songs are intense, the musicianship is madness, and the atmosphere is thick with dystopian high rises and nihilistic bile. Maybe you’re already pissed off, maybe you just want to feel something, or maybe you just want to slam dance a bit. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to fuel the fire.