As more and more bands rise to the surface throughout their respective scenes, it’s only natural that repetition happens in some form or another depending on what precisely has happened. In some unfortunate circumstances, it leads to uninspired creations that are made simply to ride the waves made by other acts in some pathetic hope to get some residual attention. Other times, it results in a time that many can still enjoy for all that is managed to be summoned forth. The more I find myself within the realm of instrumental psych-rock, I find myself seeing certain trends coming up again as I move from one band to the next. Stumbling upon Apex Ten tonight, their reputation precedes them with the whispers of their name having come to my attention before yet I never actually went forth to see what they were talking about, and now it’s more than obvious why after experiencing their newest creation.

When dealing with a sound as specific as something like instrumental psychedelic rock, there really are a limited number of directions that you can find yourself going because of the inherit specified nature of the sound itself with bands like The Re-Stoned able to find new ways to explore it, but those kinds of works are few and far between. Anyone who ventures into the newest Apex Ten effort, “Aashray”, should temper their expectations if they’re hoping for something wildly different and amazingly fresh for the style, but in no way does that mean Apex Ten hasn’t delivered a more than noteworthy performance at damn near every turn here. A smooth listen that takes more than a few cues from the more spiritualistic aspects of the sound as well as its cosmic tendencies, “Aashray” is precisely what many could hope to ask for out of a creation of instrumental psych-rock as the listener is transported into a completely different dimension altogether as Apex Ten shows us just how adept they are at not just capturing the listener’s attention, but keeping a firm hold of it with the gorgeous sights, irresistible rhythms, and undeniably tasteful passages making these seven tracks nothing that any fan of the style should miss out on.

They still have quite a ways to go before they can be considered even close to the top of the style, but I’ll be damned before I even think to insinuate that this album isn’t a tremendous step in the right direction in virtually every aspect. There is more than enough to fall into once you allow the depths of “Aashray” to take over you with all that it is, and I can virtually guarantee an experience of raw euphoria should you simply like Apex Ten take your hand.

“Aashray” releases on May 5th!

LISTEN to Apex Ten on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Apex Ten on Facebook here.