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Review by TREVOR McDONNELL

The artwork for this EP captures the first track ‘Intransient’ perfectly - there’s an other-worldliness to it.  The record begins with keys, some cymbals, a touch of guitar, some subtle bass movements and the strong soaring vocals that we’ve come to expect from lead singer Ryan Carson. Carson has to be one of Perth’s most under appreciated vocalists and his efforts with Rise Apollo are no disappointment.  The track is complimented by some particularly tight guitar harmonies from Kelvin Campbell and Tristan Sturmer, and at times seems to have drums, bass and guitar all working seamlessly as one.  All up it’s a crushingly good track to kick off the EP.

‘Issus’ (the song) comes at you again with a real prog-rock sound:  perfect use of guitar delay, vocals that flow smoothly between near spoken word into soaring melodies and harmonies.  The tune has a kind of Karnivool type of sound to it, bar Ian Kenny’s vocals, (having said that, Ryan Carson’s voice stands strong, with their own unique beauty and range).  This track is a sex and a half minute, wild musical ride and is definitely the stand out of the EP. It isn’t surprising that the band named the record after it.

Third track ‘Venus’ is also in the realm of prog-rock, except it has a touch of Linkin Park in places and a strong alternative feel in others.  It’s heavier, a little chuggier, and the guitar sound has a real indie rock feel to it. Complimented by some grunting bass riffs from Luke York and superbly tight drumming from Nathan O’Brien, it’s a track for those who like a bit more rock thrown in the mix. All the while there’s enough uniqueness to this track to please anyone’s musical tastes.

‘Ender’ rounds off the EP.  Have you ever played a song and found yourself thinking, ‘Wow this sounds like…’, then spent half an hour trying to work out who it reminds you of?  This is one of those tracks.  It’s a complicated one, in that the vocals are, for the larger part, slightly (let me emphasis slightly) more laid back than in the previous three tracks.

Nevertheless the choruses come at you with a vengeance. Most of time, the music slams at your senses, but about two-thirds of the way in, it lulls you into a false sense of peace only to rebuild into a guitar lover’s ending.

All up, this is a beautifully put together EP with each track complimenting the other and showing off each member’s talents perfectly.  Engineered, mixed and produced at his own Darkhill Audio Productions, Tristan Sturmer has managed to cut a pretty impressive debut release (although in the past he has recorded some demos for other Perth acts).

This is a band and an EP that deserves regular airplay.  Pick up your copy in stores anywhere through Firestarter Music.