Mt. Helium | |
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Also known as | The Apex Theory (1999–2004) |
Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1999–2008 |
Labels |
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Past members | David Hakopyan Art Karamian Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian Sammy J. Watson |
Mt. Helium, formerly known as the Apex Theory, was an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, that was known for playing Mediterranean music[1][2][3] mixed with progressive rock.[3][4] The band has released three studio albums and three extended plays to date.
The Apex Theory was formed in 1999 by Armenian-American musicians Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian, Art Karamian and David Hakopyan (first drummer and bass player of Soil / System of a Down respectively), following Khachaturian's injury and subsequent departure from System of a Down. Sammy J. Watson joined the band after they were unable to find a committed drummer.[1] The band released its first extended play, Extendemo, in 2000. The following year, they signed with DreamWorks Records,[5] releasing their second EP The Apex Theory on October 9, 2001.[1] The band performed at the main stage during the 2001 Warped Tour,[6][7] and as co-headliners at the 2002 MTV2 tour.[1]
On April 2, 2002, the band released its first album, Topsy-Turvy. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 157 on the Billboard 200.[8] Months after the album's release, Khachaturian left the band,[5] and they began to audition new vocalists before deciding that Karamian would take over as the band's vocalist, shifting the band from a quartet to a power trio.[9][10] The band released an EP in 2004 entitled inthatskyissomethingwatching. After changing the name to Mt. Helium, the band released its second album, Faces, as a digital download on June 3, 2008.[11]
Former vocalist Ontronik Khachaturian described the band's sound as a "heavy Mediterranean groove".[1][2] The Michigan Daily writer Sonya Sutherland wrote, "The Apex Theory combines a heavy drum support, melodic guitars and honey sweet vocals to provide an entertaining and emotional message."[2] The band's musical style was influenced by Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Near Eastern music.[2] PopMatters described Topsy-Turvy as "an energy-filled fusion of progressive and modern rock."[4]
The MTV News writer Jon Wiederhorn wrote that "the Apex Theory's multi-textured music [...] combines metal, prog-rock, Mediterranean music and even jazz. And the off-kilter rhythm, skittering drums, whirlpool guitars and aggressive vocals of 'Shhh ... (Hope Diggy)' are a perfect taster for the band's debut album".[3] Deseret News said that "Apex Theory's progressive punk mixed exotic music signatures with psychedelic rock".[12] Mt. Helium's style has also been described as nu metal,[5][13][14][15] alternative metal[1] and post-grunge.[1]