The Fire Within is a compelling new album from San Francisco-based artist Apex4X, immersing across realms of heavier rock ferocity and hauntingly emotive spaciousness. Citing influences that range from The Cure and Collide to Metallica and Chelsea Wolfe, Apex4x melds personal narratives with consuming structural unfoldings.
The opening title track wastes no time establishing a gripping rock soundscape. Moody guitar twangs and a pulsing bass — finding a place between post-punk and synthwave — complements vocals that further the intrigue. “My restless heart, awakening dream,” they let out, invigorating into the “can’t let go / a silent scream,” emotion thereafter. The Fire Within is full of riveting productions that are both heartfelt and darkly atmospheric, and it kicks off in convincing form with this stellar opener.
The highlights continue throughout, particularly with “Haunted.” Ghostly textures linger amidst a pit-pattering percussive steadiness. Continued lyrical references to shadows, and a state of in-between, move here with a more introspective allure. “Where did you go, when the world turned cold?” the vocals beckon, yearning for companionship. “The Whetting” also captivates, unveiling a different vocalist with dreamy entrancement — escalating into the “I want you too much to stay away,” continuing those palpable themes of coping with a sense of void. From doses of hard-rock familiarity like “My Everything” to foreboding atmospheric intrigue within tracks like “Haunted,” The Fire Within makes for a thorough success from Apex4X.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
