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Picking up pretty much where Clearing Autumn Skies left off, three of the original members of that band are back in Apiary. It’d be easy to label these guys as just a metalcore band, but that would be too easy, neglecting the intricacies of their sound. Off-time tempo changes and crazy guitar fills a la The Dillinger Escape Plan and heavy, plodding Meshuggah riffs help to set this band apart from their contemporaries. It taps right into your most base instincts and compels you to just go crazy, flailing wildly as you laugh maniacally and try to tear off your own face.

I’ve always respected Jason Ingram’s tortured vocals as far back as Syk Lyfe, and guitarist Mike McClatchey has only gotten better since the Dielab days (there’s two names I’ll bet you thought you’d never hear again.) Second guitarist Peter Leyman is no slouch either, matching him note for note, forcing both parties to constantly try to outdo the other. That the rhythm section can keep up with the rest of the chaos says enough about their abilities. If you like the sound of all this, or just recognize any of the names I’ve mentioned, pick this album up with all speed.

- Dave Pirtle