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Ape Machine: Mangled By The Machine
Ape Machine: Mangled By The Machine
(Melodic) Heavy Rock
4.0/5.0
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Ripple Music
by Craig Hartranft, 05.02.2013
Throwing a monkey in the wrench by their interesting mixture of genres is Portland juggernaut Ape Machine, delivering their third album Mangled By The Machine. The broader category classic heavy rock finding roots in Seventies proto-metal. But Ape Machine's sound is larger than that.
Ape Machine:: monkeying around.
They add elements of stoner, psychedelic, simple rock and, with their arrangements and shifting time signatures, progressive rock. A premium is made of strong guitar work and deep bass lines, accentuated by Damon De La Paz's sometimes steady, sometimes frenetic, drum work. Whether by purpose or as a result of the mix, Caleb Heinze's muted vocals take a back seat to the music throughout the album.
You also need to listen carefully to Mangled By The Machine as it can sound like it plays as one long song made of 10 parts. This has to do with Ape Machine's recording process, where they recorded the entire album in one take. Once you catch the nuances of transition, you'll find some clever groove laden tunes in Angry Man, Ruling With Intent, Grind of Defeat, and Strange Are The People. In the end, Mangled By The Machine may be closest thing melodic heavy stoner prog rock. Recommended.
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Ape Machine's Mangled By The Machine may be closest thing to melodic heavy stoner prog rock that you'll find on the planet. Recommended.
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