The Apes

The Apes

The Apes are a garage rock band from Washington, D.C., United States. They are active from 1999 to 2010. Their music is described as raw, loud and powerful, and the group is associated with garage rock, indie rock, black metal, grindcore and blackened hardcore.

Line-up and sound

The band’s lineup includes Erick Jackson on bass, Amanda Kleinman on organ, Jeff Schmid on drums and Breck Brunson on vocals. Brunson takes over from earlier singers Paul Weil and Joe Halladay. Their sound combines heavy bass, prominent organ lines and forceful drumming with vocal delivery that drives the songs forward.

Style and themes

Their songs focus on conquest, social alienation and a kind of spiritual connection with the universe. The group’s performances and recordings are presented as an overdriven rock assault built around intense, trance-like incantations.

Context

The Apes emerge from the Washington, D.C. rock scene in 1999. The name is shared by several other acts, but this group is the Washington, D.C. garage rock band active through 2010.