The heavy, well-orchestrated sound of hometown quartet Ape Machine is something that draws from bad-ass retro rock. The band uses vintage equipment and tube amplifiers to accomplish dooming deep bass, lo-fidelity fuzz, bluesy guitar stretches and classic rock-n-roll drumming that involves some cowbell. Well tuned cries from Caleb Heinze channel a more intelligible Ozzy from the ‘70s or from the grunge days, Chris Cornell. Songs such as "Can’t Cure Deceit" from 2011’s War To Head are thick in darkness before vocals echo straight in psychedelic form. The song drones slowly, teasing with powerful rumbles and an unexpected stint from a harmonica to lead the listener towards the light and break from meticulous revs of guitar and charging rhythms. Chances are you’ll have a sore neck Monday morning. – Brandy Crowe
