The Apostates

Wide-Eyed and Determined (2012)

Rich Cocksedge

The Apostates, a three-piece from London, have been around for some time now and with the release of Wide-Eye And Determined it seems as if the band are intent on finally making their presence known on a wider scale. These thirteen songs are an amalgam of influences all brought together to allow the band to deliver quite a lush-sounding that lands somewhere between indie and punk. There's more of a jangle to the guitar throughout which allows for quite an upbeat quality. Even when you're being taken one way lyrically, the music has you in another place; a nice combination.

The vocals of Adam Stone are very distinctive, and I find myself hearing a bit of Giles Bidder of Great Cynics in them at times, so assume they're from the same part of the UK. As with any band, sometimes the music, as good as it is, needs the right vocalist to add the icing to the cake and Stone certainly makes these songs come to life, whether it's the more plaintive numbers like "One Ear To The Wall" or upbeat offerings "Acrylic Friends," "Travellers (Don't Get Many Hugs)" and "That's Not Dancing … That's a Seizure!!!" Stone provides all of the lyrics on the album and they're far from being bland and uninteresting, with pictures being painted using a broad pallet of references.

In all the plaudits being given to Stone it should not be forgotten that Mike Saminaden (drums) and Steve Reynolds (bass) do a sterling job in creating the backbone that allows these songs to flow so well.

There are a number of standout moments on Wide-Eye And Determined, with the most notable being "Sixteen," a great track that has the feel of a single to it, as it seems to bring together all of the best elements of the Apostates into less than three minutes. "Fire Blanket" brings to mind Nirvana's Unplugged material and shows a s slightly different side to the band in a positive way.

I'd put the Apostates in the same sort of musical environment as the aforementioned Great Cynics and somewhat reluctantly, Apologies, I Have None; reluctantly because I thought the latter's London album was extremely lacking in good songs (a statement that is likely to cause myriad of comments below but one which I fully stand by), something that cannot be levelled at Wide-Eyed And Determined.