Press

REVIEWS 2
ECLECTIC ULTRA MODERN BAND DISCOVERED IN THE JUNGLES OF LA
"I'm always afraid to share my favorites for guilt of having everyone discover them and then I never get the guilty pleasure of enjoying good music selfishly to myself. Nonetheless, I'll present to you a delight in musicality that you don't come across everyday.
Derived from the Armenian word, apaga, which means 'future' - APEYGA (ah-pay-gah) certainly lives up to its name. The futuristic fusions of jazz, punk, metal, funk and art rock music put this instrumental band in a class all unto its own. It's no wonder that they won the Rock City News Award for "Best Melodic & Instrumental Band 2006."
In 2003, Apeyga was started by two brothers – Justin and John Peloian; Justin plays guitar while John handles the bass. The compositions are based on ideas Justin had while attending grad school for Visual Arts and further developed when John was seeking his Master of Arts degree in Psychology. After playing various open mike nights, they developed a following and were asked to play the infamous Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Boulevard. I'm no stranger to the Rainbow and I know if you get asked to play there, you're obviously worth a listen.
Justin and John describe their efforts as "Instrumental Fusion." They've consciously decided to forgo the vocalist allowing the instruments themselves to provide the verses. However, their latest creations will have lyrics added into the mix of what inspires them in their quest for amelioration. Their next album should have a vocalist joining in on the Apeyga venture to bring life to the lines they wrote for their latest songs.
The guys liken their music to "drinking a shot of whiskey for the first time." They say "It is shocking and you will remember it, however it might take a little while for it to grow on you. For most people, they will try it again, appreciating more each time, and some even become addicted."
After grooving to their sound bites available on their website and Myspace page, I certainly see what they mean! Apeyga hits you like a thunderbolt and jolts you so high you can't help but keep coming back for a more. Their music is intelligent supremacy yet digestible for the mere mortals of music appreciation.
Apeyga's unique style is "created by fusing guitar riffs together until the general structure of the song is built." The bass lines are added in next ascertaining that each piece transitions flawlessly into one another. The drum sections are added in last using their drummer's innovations. A lot of their improv collaborations have formed into bona-fide originals.
Their latest album Forward is a collective ultra mod mix of jazz and metal and was self-produced at their studio in Culver City, CA using a Mac Powerbook and Motu 828 interface and Audiodesk software. Their latest endeavor is currently being played on internet radio collective Live 365. My favorite song is "Traveler" a psychedelic groove of a journey reminiscent of a group called Television from times of yore. I just love the heavy unparallel use of bass lines. "151" is a strange brew of heavy metal and funk with sounds of swans dying in the background.
The jazzy funk-a-delic "Liberatus" and "Pinstripe" add to the diversity of the album. The eerily spacey "The End of Reason" calls out from the dark with metal lurking in the shadows. Another showstopper – "Galaxies" – is an oceanic melodrama dream.
Although they are primarily Southern Cal based, they are generating fans from all over the world and may
subsequently be able to tour outside their locale.
Any fan of progressive music should make an effort to check these guys out. They are not the future; they are the now! Please visit their websites to find out more about Apeyga and how to purchase their albums and get the latest tour information."
- SIRENS OF THE SONIC AGE WORDPRESS




REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS:
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"Speaking of Apeyga,...the track "Traveler" is awesome; a frenetic jam that made me get up & dance, "151" is a bumpin', mad jam that really kicks ass; it has a bitchin' guitar solo in it, in fact there are layers of Justin's guitar tweaking that texturize it, making it sound bigger. I've been sitting here, at my computer, as I write this, listening to the new tracks on the Apeyga website, over & over again, the undulating, fluid instrumental jams just seamlessly flow into one another and it is a blissful sensation." - REVIEWER MAGAZINE


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"Forward is a vibrant incorporation of light, lush melodic numbers like Liberatus and harder tracks like Rise And Shine. Effects pedals are kicked into fifth gear across the disc, flavouring five of the seven tracks. And these jams are tight, with each song under four minutes. Apeyga seem to be shooting here for quality, not quantity. There are a few evident comparisons to other bands here, most obviously King Crimson. Pinstripe and Liberatus evoke Discipline-era Crimson and would not be out of place during the 1983 Champaign-Urbana record sessions for that band's Three Of A Perfect Pair release. The End Of Reason, with its monstrous wall of noise, would sit well aside The Construkction Of Light. Other influences abounding here and there, whether deliberate or otherwise, include Rush, Television, Providence, R.I.
experimental noise-core duo Lightning Bolt, The Cocteau Twins, and indie instrumental band Tortoise.
The self produced disc shines with excellent sound quality and deft musicianship. And judging by the amount of fan testimonials on the band's website, they are apparently a phenomenal band to see live.
According to the date and cities listed on their site they have not toured outside of California. It would be great to see them do that someday.
This is a band with a great future ahead of them, no doubt."
-THE DUTCH PROGRESSIVE ROCK PAGE REVIEW
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LIVE SHOW REVIEW-- Jan. '08-- "In one of the most interesting sets I've heard in a while, Apeyga mesmerized the crowd at the Derby with their melodic yet pummeling riffs. Much to their credit, these guys are completely uncategorizable. They consider themselves aggro-jazz, art-rock or punk fusion, among many labels. The dynamic sounds that come out of Justin Peloian (guitar), John Peloian (bass) and Pete Pace (drums) are nothing short of extraordinary. They played their entire album Forward, which features, among its most diverse tracks, "Rise & Shine," "Galaxies" and "151." If you like progressive rock, jazz and world beats, this is a band you should check out."
-CAMPUS CIRCLE MAGAZINE
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QUOTES
REVIEWS & QUOTES


FAN QUOTES & ALBUM REVIEWS:
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"It's been a while since I geeked this shamelessly over a band."
- getunderground.com
"That was great! I love having you guys play here."
- silverlake
"You have a good thing going."
-new york
"I am a guitar player and I couldn't even tell what (sounds) were coming from the guitar and what wasn't!"
- west los angeles
"Are you guys going to get a singer?"
- everybody
"You're live music made my nose bleed! It was awesome!"
- san diego
"Oh, I remember these guys...
get ready for some craziness!"
- riverside
"Apeyga presents a complex fusion of
Jazz and Rock that defies convention."
- reviewermag.com
"You guys are the tightest band that
I've seen in this place!"
- upland
"That f*@ing rocked! If you have an
album I'll buy it!"
- los angeles
"...a welcome respite for me from all of the dreck available from every channel today."
- cdreviews.com
"Apeyga's compositions have orchestral aspirations."
- univ. of new mexico
"How do you guys get all of those sounds out of your guitars?"
- los angeles
"There aren't any vocals, leaving the listener to go wherever he or she wants while taking it all in."
- cdreviews.com
"You guys have a very unique style."
- los angeles
"Think what Euclid would be doing if he had access to a guitar."
- univ. of new mexico
"Your (live) shows are so much fun!"
- orange county
"I feel like I am in good hands when
listening to your album."
- new york