ALBUM REVIEW: Apex – Mycelia

In this day and age of genre tags, post this and post-post that, it can all become a bit confusing. Throw djent into the mix and a casual music listener is bound to smirk. Music should be just music. Like it or leave it. Simple. Saying that Swiss metallers MYCELIA have thrown just about every genre you can think of at their fourth full length Apex. Scene hangers on they are not, clearly talented in their instrumentation, their muscular modern riffs are strewn throughout this lengthy, thirteen track, record but it’s all ultimately soulless.

To start thirteen tracks can seem overly indulgent, not much keeps a listeners attention for any great length of time these days but its good to see a band play with the album format and produce a lengthy collection of songs, at least at the outset. There is diversity here, undulating riffs and off-kilter tempo changes aplenty. The band are unafraid to experiment with instrumentals East of Eden and Flak showcasing the musicianship mentioned earlier sans vocals to let the listener soak up the musicianship to its full potential. Experimentation though can dilute the overall work as the feeling of the record is unfocused.

Opener Eight Milligrams showcases how the album is as a whole, a reliance on synths making it feel jumbled and the vocal cage fight between Marc Furer and Lukas Villiger comes across with a swing and a miss rather than landing, you are in trouble before you have even really hit full speed. Generic screams, followed by a moment of quiet, then back to chaotic screaming where it feels like everything is being chucked into the pot – a bit more judicial editing wouldn’t have gone a miss. There are even songs here that take left turns so hard you are going full pelt over a cliff. Trying to sound like someone from America’s South Holler leaves you more confused than before you started listening to the song.

At this point on the record, the collection is starting to outstay its welcome and what looks value for money at the beginning, feels like a hard slog. Production wise, djent is renowned for its thick, crisp production but this just feels saccharine and compressed to within an inch of its life. It all feels robotic and inhumane, a little more warmth would do wonders to an album and genre laughed at by musical aficionados.

To compare this to any other artists is hard, there is so much to choose from in progressive metal today. PERIPHERY are the djent godfathers, maybe a sprinkling of FEAR FACTORY at their late 90s. What you want from your artists is the same as before but slightly changed. Something new to get our teeth in but not too far away from what made you get into a band in the first place. Imagine this record like a box of Quality Street chocolates, something you can sink your teeth into but leaves you feeling sick, flabby and unsatisfied once you’ve taken a few things away to digest.

Rating: 5/10

Apex is out now via Eclipse Records. 

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