A brand new, clandestine, genre-blending project, Apex4X have yet to reveal who is behind it. They’ve just come to my attention through the recent release of their album, The Fire Within.

By Graeme Smith

Though the album feels very “now,” it draws from some very classic influences. Its creator cites Sneaker Pimps, Metallica and The Cure among their influences for The Fire Within and you get a sense of that straight from the off through its opening title track.

There is a range of sounds on display across its thirteen tracks, but what links them altogether is a minimalist moodiness. There is also an intensity to the song writing, suggesting a strong sense of drama. This is backed by equally rousing instrumentals, be it the heavy drums in The Tease, the twinkling synths of Lost in the Fall, or the grungy, bluesy riffs of Drown My Heart.

Poetic imagery runs through it all, drawing on visceral imagery, particularly in poignant moments like Haunted and the seductive The Whetting. The latter leads nicely into Burning Sin, a powerful highlight that would be perfect for your Valentine’s Day soundtrack.

Meanwhile, the cinematic quality of each track means you can get easily absorbed into them. Undercurrent brings with it a folksiness through its meditative strings while My Everything slows things down for a contemplative, acoustic moment. Impossible Love is another highlight thanks to its duetting vocals and delicate electronica.

The album is rounded off by Meeting in the Middle which gives us a bluesy, late album twist thanks to its rhythmic verses and touches of Americana; Beauty and the Beast which pushes boundaries by combining an R&B bed with dark pop vocals; and In The Space Between which provides a final chapter that introduces a cosmic element and a sense of aching yearning.

The winds of change are blowing through the music industry at the moment, and Apex4X feels very much part of that. They are riding the currents. It’s an industry that has become something of a cult of celebrity, where personality trumps all, so it’s a bold decision to stay in the shadows. The result is a focus on the music and the poetry and that’s what makes the Apex4X project so interesting. I took great pleasure in unpicking it all. I can’t wait to see how things unfold for them.

The Fire Within is out now and you can give it a listen below.

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