Here we have the latest offering
from Ape Machine. I'm just going to get this out of the way right up
front. The only thing wrong with this release is that it is too short at only 6
songs. Other than that I'm all like, “Yay, new Ape Machine!!”
I will readily admit that I like
this band a lot. The first time I saw them live my post on social media was
along the lines of, “I've found my new favorite band”. So we'll just stipulate
that I am biased. But this is a really fantastic album and if you're a fan of
straight ahead rock and roll this is one of the better albums this year in that
vein.
As I mentioned I've been a fan
for several years now, and in the back of my mind I've always thought that
singer Caleb Heinze really reminded me of another singer, but I could never
place just who it was. After blasting through this album a few times it finally
hit me. To my ear, he sounds like Myles Goodwyn from Canadian rockers April
Wine, and I mean that as a sincere compliment. Those guys are probably my
favorite Canadian rockers (no, I'm not forgetting about Rush). Mr. Heinze
sounds in top form on this release, as does the rest of the band. They don't do
anything really groundbreaking, but that is not the point or purpose of a good
rock n roll band. They are supposed to come to your town, put on an ass kicking
show, and then move on. This is a band you really need to see live, because as
good as they are in the studio, they are way better on stage.
There are a couple of songs that
are worth noting because to me, they are really cool and a little bit of a
departure from what they have done before. I like it when a band stretches out
and tries something a little different, but they don't go so far off the deep
end that you wonder what the hell you just listened to. (Lulu, anybody?).
“Under This Face” is one of those tracks. These guys are definitely rooted in
classic rock, with a little groove and swagger thrown in for good measure, and
this track shows the band flexing a little bit. “Never My Way” is a killer
track. It reminds me a bit of “Dazed And Confused”, and I don't recall the band
doing anything quite like this before. I always like to see a band show a
different side and they definitely do that with this track. And for the cool
factor, there is a cover/re-vamping of the Edgar Winter chestnut
“Frankenstein”, nicely re-titled and made their own, called “Ape'n'Stein”. It
is a very cool version and something you must hear.
Overall, this is a very solid
release from a band that continues to grow and develop. They tour a lot so
check them out when they come through your town. And pick up some music from
these guys. You'll be happy to have this as part of your collection.
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