Release
date: February 29th 2016. Label: Listenable Records. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Apex
III - Praise For The Burning Soul – Tracklisting
1.
(Alien grounds)
2.
Apex 3
3.
The Whinery
4.
Mindreader
5.
Under the hood
6.
Friendly fire
7.
Prodigal sun
8.
Shot in Providence
Band
Members:
Julien
Pras (vocals, guitar)
Jimmy
Kinast (bass, vocals)
Matgaz
(drums)
Review:
One
of the things that I dig most about Mars Red Sky is their exceptional
ability to gel incredibly delicate, mesmeric melodies with such
powerful stoner grooves and execute each beautiful track in a way
that seems autonomous and visceral. If you enjoyed 2011’s
self-titled release or 2014’s ‘Stranded In Arcadia’ then you’re
in for a cosmic treat of the highest order. This breath taking record
burns bright and slow with the inexorable force of a distant star and
produces an experience equal in enthrallment and wonder to witnessing
The Aurora Borealis. Whilst getting head. Stoned off your melon.
Intro
track, ‘Alien Grounds’ plays like a space age lullaby. It is the
soundtrack to the waking aspirations of a star ship’s crew as they
emerge from their cryogenic slumber. Fans of Baroness will be drawn
in as the music swells slowly into life before bursting into a brazen
display of light and colour as ‘Apex III’ prepares the landing
thrusters for a harsh landing onto hard rock. The title track serves
as a heady appetiser for the banquet of lumbering noise to come, with
plenty of hulk-sized offerings to bang your head and spill your pint
to such as the crushing ‘Mind Reader’ and ‘The Whinery’.
As
it is kind of easier for certain bands to stick to an all-out heavy
format, I feel that exploring a more melodic creative energy can
often be over-looked when it comes to writing new material. Mars Red
Sky show no qualms when it comes to pushing such boundaries in
pursuit of a well-rounded and colossal sound. ‘Under The Hood’
and ‘Friendly Fire’ make for bold and intrepid additions to the
album; the latter beginning with a kind of Red Right Hand-esque
bluesy jaunt that in the blink of an eye becomes an anthemic and
emotive explosion of out-right feels. It is an audacious expedition
into elating territory that elevates the music and creates a potent
dynamic arrangement that really seems to increase the density of the
heavier elements in the record.
The
soundscape explored on this record is a vast terrain so eclectic in
its land mark influences that attempting to list them almost seems to
be a superfluous task. Apex III has so much to offer; from spaced-out
psychedelia with hints of The Beach Boys and The Beatles to a
devastating sonic might reminiscent of Pelican and Russian Circles,
as well as a brooding, fuzzed-out nod to Acid King and Electric
Wizard. All knitted together with the kind of astute, dynamic
expression of Pink Floyd and Rush. All in all, a superb album that I
couldn’t resist pre-ordering after the third track.
Favourite
track: The Whinery
Words
by ThisHariyGuy
Thanks
to Mars Red Sky for the promo. Apex III - Praise For The Burning Soul
will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Listenable Records from February 29th 2016.
Links:
