Review
Red Room Cinema
Apsis

New Grenada (2012) Sarah

Red Room Cinema – Apsis cover artwork
Red Room Cinema – Apsis — New Grenada, 2012

You know what makes me feel really good about myself? Post-rock. I'm not talking about the overwrought, nihilistic, dreary stuff (though I do like that too!), but the kind that just brings you up so much that it's quite literally impossible to feel bad about anything while listening to it, the kind of music that forces you to feel happy and enjoy its sublime melodies. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then you're absolutely going to love the new album from Red Room Cinema, 2012's Apsis.

The album may only consist of three epic-length post-rock excursions (the first four tracks are indexed separately despite being part of the same overall song), but don't let that fool you. Clocking in at over forty minutes long, this is not a short album that can be easily dismissed as a mere curiosity. This is truly a fine work to listen to, and exactly as long as it needs to be to convey the band's message.

And what message is that, exactly? Tons and tons of straight-up melodic post-rock, à la sleepmakeswaves and Explosions in the Sky. It's clear that Red Room Cinema aren't out to bust any genre-barriers, but it's also clear that they're out to compete with the best. Though they may not be as explosive or ostentatious as their peers, it's hard not to hear how all of their compositions are immaculately performed and executed with those lofty goals in mind.

The twenty minute title track is clearly the highlight of the album, featuring the band at their most moving as they travel from soft and contemplative to large and formidable--the fourth part in particular, "A Storm of Meteorites", is nothing short of euphoric. As for the other two tracks, "White Arros" is a softer, more contemplative piece; this stands firmly in contrast to the closer "Shadows of a Forgotten City", which starts loud and stays loud up through the end, acting as a fitting climax to the album.

Red Room Cinema aren't presenting anything new or revolutionary with Apsis, but what they are showing is that they know what they want to do and they like doing it. It's hard not to listen to this album and enjoy yourself as much as the band is. If you're a fan of the traditional upbeat post-rock sound, you're going to love Red Room Cinema, and if you haven't gotten into post-rock before, give Apsis a try--it's as friendly and inviting as they come.

Recommended if you like: Explosions in the Sky, Loss of a Child, sleepmakeswaves

7.0 / 10Sarah • March 25, 2013

Red Room Cinema – Apsis cover artwork
Red Room Cinema – Apsis — New Grenada, 2012

Recently-posted album reviews

Middle-Aged Queers

Theatre of Shame
Engineer Records, Sell The Heart Records (2025)

Theatre Of Shame is the third LP from Bay Area band Middle-Aged Queers, a band whose moniker definitely gives away the plot. The band celebrates community with party punk songs like "Glizzies Banging" and "Pajama Party," but it also has pointed political commentary about the dangers of a bigoted society. In equal parts, Theatre Of Shame is about celebration and … Read more

Sleep Pod Two

Rehearse Your Future
Mindpower Records (2025)

You can always tell when a band contains seasoned musicians. They give off a different aura through their music and it sounds complete. It just meshes better. The songwriting is well done, the vocal melodies are catchy, and the transitions from verses, choruses, and bridges are complex but accessible. That is the case with this band. Let me introduce you … Read more

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die

Dreams of Being Dust
Epitaph (2025)

I’m instantly drawn to bands that have intriguing or long names. Without even listening to the first note of the band, I know it’s going to be pushing the boundaries of normalcy in music. Which is why it should be no surprise that TWIABP, in certain spots through this album, remind me of the band ...And You Will Know Us … Read more