Review / 200 Words Or Less
Apiary
Lost In Focus

Ironclad/Metal Blade (2006) Kevin Fitzpatrick

Apiary – Lost In Focus cover artwork
Apiary – Lost In Focus — Ironclad/Metal Blade, 2006

Lost in Focus is the debut release from a Southern California five-piece know as Apiary. I listen to a lot of music, and have jaded fucking ears that just don't prick up the way they used to. It takes a good shot of aural Viagra to get my attention. My attention was grabbed not long into "Pain Is The Reason" when I realized that this was probably the best drum sound I've heard in a long, long time - something that's sorely lacking with a lot of today's heavy music. Not to mention, when you have a drummer as good as Adam Elliot behind the kit - this is always a good plan. What came to my mind halfway through "Extract", the third song on the album is that these guys are fucking brutal. In the good sense. In short, Apiary is wicked good. To summarize for the lazy reader: ...think God Forbid meets Dillinger Escape Plan. A great heavy album that makes you want to drive into a wall, steal another car and then do it all over again. Buy this album.

Apiary – Lost In Focus cover artwork
Apiary – Lost In Focus — Ironclad/Metal Blade, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

Six Going on Seven

Human Tears
Spartan Records (2026)

Late 90s post hardcore and emo feels impossible to recreate now. That’s not because the sound itself is gone, but because the tension behind it was so specific to that era. Six Going on Seven’s Human Tears, their first full length in roughly twenty-four years, captures that feeling perfectly. Having a wonderful history by having done a split with Hot … Read more

The Bug Club

Every Single Muscle
Sub Pop (2026)

  I got kind of obsessed with reviewing this record after I heard the first single “Watching The Omnibus” which they released digitally earlier this year. I could probably just write a whole thing about how hard it was to get an advance download of it for review, but I try to keep my reviews positive so I will steer clear … Read more

The Cascadian Divide

To the Sky
Independent (2026)

The Cascadian Divide is a Washington state based melodic skate punk band that formed during the infamous COVID lockdown. Although it started as an experiment, it soon became a passion project for the band members. The band has seen its share of line up changes over the years, but the commitment to maintaining the sound and integrity of the band … Read more