L-R: Orbital Extrema Current Line Up | Robin Stone (Drums) | Sean Dempsey (Guitar) | Sean Ryan (Bass)
Tacoma, WA, USA’s Orbital Extrema aren’t ones to play by the rules, and their sixteen-track debut album “Apsis“, is a flawless example of how they are doing things differently. The galactic instrumental technical death metal album boasts complex arrangements, relentless blast beats, and melodic riffs that will send listeners into space. The band shares their thoughts:
“I think one of the most appropriate ways to enjoy ‘Apsis’ is while driving or during a workout in the gym. Concept albums have always been very inspiring for us and ‘Apsis’ is thematically consistent with a story in mind, despite there being no vocals/lyrics on the record. We wanted to provide music that was thematically consistent with the instrumentation and song titles, as well as order the songs in a way that not only ebbed and flowed appropriately but also made a cohesive story-telling experience through the variety of musical sections present in the album.”
Originally conceived as a 4-song EP, “Apsis” evolved into a full-length album following significant personal events for each band member and the unique creative environment fostered by the pandemic during the lockdown portions of 2020-2021. The album is a labor of love, representing Orbital Extrema‘s commitment to crafting a captivating and intense instrumental tech death experience.
The name “Orbital Extrema” itself is a nod to celestial orbits and mathematical extrema, reflecting the band’s deep-rooted fascination with science, particularly space. “Apsis” defies conventional instrumental metal norms by blending the intensity and technicality of technical death metal with the adventurous spirit of progressive metal. The album delves into the wonders of space, with song titles referencing black holes, exploding stars, and other celestial phenomena. Delivering intensity with purpose, intent, and deliberate choices of harmonies, time signatures, syncopation, and polyphony, it is recommended for fans of Dark Matter Secret, Obscura, and Beyond Creation.
“Apsis” is out as of September 29, 2023, and available on Bandcamp and Spotify.
Track Listing:
1. Apoapsis (0:52)
2. Aphelion (3:15)
3. Impending Armageddon (2:51)
4. Blitzar (3:57)
5. Event Horizon (3:07)
6. Polymetric Substantiation (3:42)
7. Exoplanetary Devastation (2:55)
8. Galactic Magnetar (3:01)
9. Hypernova (3:37)
10. Plerion (3:31)
11. Interstellar Collision (3:46)
12. Singularity (3:08)
13. Escape Velocity (2:03)
14. Hyperbolic Trajectory (3:06)
15. Fractals (3:33)
16. Celestial Genesis (6:29)
Album Length: 53:00
Album Credits:
Nick Nodurft (Rusty Sun Audio) – Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Producer
Davie Brown (Empirius) – Apsis Album Art
Echo Graphic – Band Logo
Sean Dempsey – Songwriting, Guitar Composition, Guitar Performance
Sean Ryan – Bass Composition, Bass Performance
Robin Stone – Drum Composition, Drum Performance
Matias Quiroz – Guest guitar solo for Event Horizon
Dennis Franco – Guest guitar solo for Impending Armageddon
Carey West – Guitar Composition for Aphelion, Polymetric Substantiation, Exoplanetary Devastation, Galactic Magnetar, Escape Velocity and Celestial Genesis
Will Vinson – Guitar Composition for Blitzar
Austin Rolla – Songwriting for Fractals
Joseph Howard – Songwriting for Fractals
Album Band Line Up:
Sean Dempsey – Guitar
Sean Ryan – Bass
Robin Stone – Drums
More Info: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Bandcamp | Spotify
