EP REVIEW: Minds – Apollo Stands
Minds is the new EP from synth-influenced (synthfluenced?) metalcore quintet APOLLO STANDS, and their diverse array of influences can be heard throughout the record. With frantic riffs, psychedelic electronics and vocals reminiscent of everyone from M. Shadows to Dani Filth this is a release with grand ambitions, with the aim of taking the listener on “an exhilarating trip through the infinite universe of your mind.” While those lofty heights might not be reached by the typical sober listener, Minds is still a fun listen, and while it does sometimes overly rely on the electronics, there are still plenty of thrashy riffs and guitar solos to make this an enjoyable metal EP.
Opener Psyparader is arguably the most definitive Apollo Stands track on the entire EP, and is certainly one of the most genre fluid; opening with almost a minute of ambient electronics before any guitars kick in, and there is constant interplay between Edgar Taljaard’s drums and the backing synthesiser. However for those who are concerned perhaps about the prevalence of electronics, this is one of the most electronic tracks on the EP, and while it perhaps comes closest to achieving their aim of exploring the universe of the mind, it is also not for the purist metalhead.
Most of the next two tracks; A Mortal World and Fired Up are pure thrash metal, with big drum fills and guitar solos coming as the order of the day. However there is some synth work on these two still, and it is not as strong as in the opener – especially in A Mortal World, where it feels like the band shoehorned in the electronics simply because they could, and it is in fact more distracting than anything else, taking away the attention from some solid instrumental work. Unfortunately, the main aspect of the electronics in this track is as a rather irritating beeping noise in the background that makes it impossible to concentrate on enjoying the rest of the music.
The second half of the EP picks up a bit more, beginning with Titan, the introduction to which would be right at home in a science fiction film or video game – think Halo’s big space battles and this would be the perfect soundtrack. Beginning with over a minute of riffing before a big guitar solo allows this song to breathe, and by the time Ry Hase’s vocals kick in this song already feels like a return to form after some earlier disappointment. Alongside the electronics also complementing the song, Hase’s vocals are a standout feature on this track – and the contrast between his cleaner vocals and guitarist Alexei Swatman’s harsher voice makes Titan sound like a titan of a song.
Penultimate track Supernova also leans into the sci-fi motif – with the name itself serving as a hint to the song’s content. As one of the faster songs on the EP it is almost a straight metal song, with very little electronic work except subtly in the background. Supernova also gives both vocalists time to shine, with Hase nailing some difficult faster vocals, while Swatman’s scream is given pride of place as a pre-mosh call out. The song’s main bridge is also one of the highlight moments on the whole EP, with the build-up lasting over a minute and a half and incorporating more of the electronic elements to differentiate it from the rest of the song, which returns to the basic guitar, bass and drums format.
EP closer In The Garden is one of the more unique and ethereal tracks on the release, and the transition between slow-paced introduction and the faster-paced main song is abrupt, but works exceptionally well – especially with the electronics mimicking Olly Smith’s guitar solo. This song is the mixture of traditional metal and electronics at its finest on the EP, and it is a shame that Apollo Stands only showcase their talent for blending the two properly on the final track. While some of the lyrics are a bit cringey and traditional metal hard man nonsense: “I’ll put you six feet underground,” the instrumentals are superb, and carry the song to a fantastic electronic and metal synthesised conclusion.
APOLLO STANDS do have obvious talent, and while they have not perhaps melded electronics and metal as consistently successfully as some of the more famous metal acts such as CROSSFAITH and ENTER SHIKARI, the groundwork has been laid for a more consistent offering on the next time out. As long as they don’t simply add electronics to a song that is perfectly fine without, then this is a band who could make some very interesting music in the future, it is just a shame that they felt the need to add too many elements to what could have been a very good EP.
Rating: 6/10
Minds is out now via self-release.
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