Portland heavy rockers Ape Machine are at it again. After touring Europe this Spring, the four-piece are headed out for a West Coast run starting next Friday in Sacramento in support of their recently-released Ripple Music debut, Mangled by the Machine (review here). No word on when or if their good-time heavy boogie will grace the Eastern Seaboard, but hell, if you’re these guys coming from the West Coast and you’re going to go that far, you might as well stay on the plane until it lands in Europe and you can get paid, so I get it.

If you’re out that way, and even if not and you’re just generally interested in what cool bands are up to, dates follow:

APE MACHINE Announce West Coast Tour Dates

Portland, Oregon’s Ape Machine is hitting the road for the third time this year, once again plowing their way across the urban wastelands of the U.S. West Coast!

For the first time since the band’s landmark European tour this past June, Ape Machine is revisiting the frequent haunts of past West Coast tours, all in the support of the band’s critically-acclaimed Ripple Music debut, Mangled By The Machine. The quartet that admittedly is “out to melt faces and pound the apathy out of otherwise jaded listeners” is eager to bring the live Machine back to stages, and show the masses what hard and heavy music is supposed to do to the senses.

“We spent sixteen days trekking across Europe and that experience helped us refine our live set to be much more precise,” states guitarist and band founder, Ian Watts. “We’re a live band. The album (Mangled By The Machine) was recorded in a live setting and all in one session. It’s a natural setting for us and a place we itch to get back to every time we get off the road.”

APE MACHINE West Coast Tour Dates:
Aug 16th @ Blue Lamp – Sacramento, Ca.
Aug. 17th @ Audie’s Olympic – Fresno, Ca.
Aug. 18th @ The Local Bar (Hangover Sundays) – Anaheim, Ca.
Aug. 19th @ Soda Bar – San Diego, Ca.
Aug. 20th @ The Royal Dive – Oceanside, Ca.
Aug. 21st @ On The Rox – West Hollywood, Ca.
Aug. 22nd @ Dex Records – Chico, Ca.
Aug. 23rd @ Oak Street Speakeasy – Eugene, Or.
Aug. 24th @ New Frontier Lounge – Tacoma, Wa.

Mangled By The Machine was released in early May of 2013 by Ripple Music, and is distributed throughout the North America through Nail/Allegro Distribution, the UK through Code 7, and Continental Europe through Clearspot International.

Ape Machine, Mangled by the Machine (2013)

With their third album and Ripple Music debut, Portland, Oregon, four-piece Ape Machine take something of a turn toward the straightforward within heavy rock. The semi-retro vibes they presented on their prior outing, 2011’s War to Head (track stream here), still show up on Mangled by the Machine, but tonally the focus seems to have moved somewhat more toward crunch than fuzz, and the songs by and large are crisper, higher tempo and shorter. It all makes for a quick listen throughout the album’s 38 minutes, and where Mangled by the Machine does not at all falter is in the quality of the songwriting, which if anything is all the more highlighted by this somewhat stripped down approach. Seeming to nod at latter-day Lo-Pan, “Gun You Down” opens the record with a fervent groove and soulful vocals from Caleb Heinze, the band’s stated affinity for recording analog showing itself through a natural feel and warmth in the guitars of Ian Watts, the bass of Brian True and Damon de la Paz‘s drums. Songs move quickly and smoothly one into the next, the strong hook of “Everybody Bleeds” taking hold quickly before it seems like the introductory rush of “Gun You Down” has had time to develop. That ethic plays out over the course of the vinyl-ready offering — the tracks don’t sound hastily composed, but the album has a rush to it all the same — and the material is further tied together by Heinze‘s consistent vocal approach, which keeps largely to a higher register and adds to the energy of the instruments behind (and sometimes in front of) him.

There’s an angularity underlying some of Watts‘ riffing that seems to be filtering classic prog through the Melvins, and it can be heard on “Everybody Bleeds” as well as several of the other cuts’ chugging progressions, but it’s not jagged enough to make the several guest organ spots from Ikey Owens seem out of place, the first of them arriving on “Everybody Bleeds” with others showing up on the title-track and side B cuts “Ruling with Intent,” “Grind of Defeat,” the ultra-catchy “Strange are the People” and closer “Pay Attention.” If that seems like a lot, it is, but Ape Machine put the organ to good use within the tracks, bolstering the classic rock atmosphere and adding to the melodies in what’s still definitively a modern sound — that is, not given to the same kind of retro audio manifestation as any number of European acts working with similar influences. And still, the riffs lead the way, which makes me think the songs were composed before the organ was brought into the process, and as “Tyrant’s Arm” gives way as the third in a raging opening trio to the more landmark riffing of “Angry Man,” there isn’t so much a change in tempo as one in energy that suits the band well, True‘s bass stepping in to fill out the guitar work with some of the album’s best fills, which of course also lets de la Paz deliver choice freakout fills. The whole album is impeccably constructed, but the most satisfying change of all might be “Angry Man” running headfirst into “Mangled by the Machine” to close out side A.

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The new album by Portland-based heavy rockers Ape Machine, Mangled by the Machine, was released May 14 on Ripple Music. Next Friday, the band starts a run of shows alongside Greek riffers Nightstalker (new video here) that includes a stop June 1 at the Freak Valley fest.

Kudos to the band for getting out and getting their passports together and all the rest of it. Mangled by the Machine is available to stream following the PR wire info below, courtesy of the Ripple Music Bandcamp:

APE MACHINE Gearing Up For European Tour

Portland, Oregon heavy rockers APE MACHINE are set to kick a 13-date trek across Europe next week in support of their newest release, Mangled by the Machine.

The tour, which begins on Friday, May 31st in Münster and includes an appearance at the Freak Valley Festival (June 1st in Netphen – www.freakvalley.de) will see APE MACHINE providing direct support for Small Stone recording artists NIGHTSTALKER. Tour dates are as follows:

MAY 31st – Münster @ Rare Guitar
JUNE 1st – Netphen @ Freak Valley Festival
JUNE 2nd – Antwerpen @ Antwerpen Music City
JUNE 4th – Paris @ Glazart
JUNE 5th – Leuven @ Rockbar
JUNE 6th – Aachen @ Wild Rover
JUNE 7th – Hasselt @ Carpe Diem
JUNE 8th – Würzburg @ Immerhin
JUNE 9th – Salzburg @ Rockhouse
JUNE 11th – St. Gallen @ Rümpeltum
JUNE 12th – Feldkirch @ Graf Hugo
JUNE 13th – Erfurt @ Stadtgarten
JUNE 14th – Berlin @ Dazzle Berlin

Mangled by the Machine was released on May 14th via Ripple Music. This already critically-acclaimed album was immediately made available on CD, black vinyl and digital formats. Earlier this week, Ripple Music issued a limited edition (100 copies only) Splatter Vinyl that comes with a signed poster of the album’s original cover concept. To order, visit ripplemusic.bigcartel.com.

A conceptual album that mixes animal aggression and technical precision, APE MACHINE’s Mangled by the Machine carries an organic depth and warmth rarely heard since the time of rock’s glorious early years, and infused with an exceptional modern sensibility. When the pissed-off, protest-minded lyrics lock in with the band’s stone-cold groove, APE MACHINE demonstrates an earth-shaking ability to rock. A true four-piece, the group has been called real heavy-psych for the iPhone generation that delivers true guts and glory rock and roll. Mangled by the Machine will be available as CD, digital, and vinyl releases. For Fans of: Quicksand, Led Zeppelin, The Sword, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Jethro Tull, and The Rival Sons.

Ape Machine, Mangled by the Machine (2013)

The expansion of Ripple Music continues unabated with the addition of Portland, Oregon’s Ape Machine to the roster. Ape Machine have two records out and Ripple‘s lined up to handle the third, reportedly dubbed Mangled by the Machine. That’s out soon, and in the meantime, sink your teeth into the weighty info below:

APE MACHINE Signs Worldwide Deal With Ripple Music

RIPPLE MUSIC is proud to announce the signing of acclaimed, hard-hitting American heavy rockers, APE MACHINE to their ever-expanding roster!

The band’s third album, Mangled by the Machine, is set for worldwide release on RIPPLE MUSIC in the coming months as the band takes off to plow over the masses on a full-scale European Tour, including appearances in all the major heavy rock festivals.

APE MACHINE commented yesterday upon the new alliance; “We are very excited to be a part of the Ripple family and to work with one of the most genuine heavy rock labels in the world! It’s clear that these guys don’t compromise in terms of putting out creative music and are true believers of heavy rock. The variety of bands and the sheer quality of music they’ve released speaks for itself. We’re very honored that our music earned its place among their ranks!”

APE MACHINE have established a worldwide reputation with their effortless blending of Rock n’ Roll, Blues, Stoner-Rock, and Psychedelia. APE MACHINE is out to pound the apathy out of otherwise jaded listeners with a wall of heavy Rock n’ Roll. The name APE MACHINE is a nod to the days of reel-to-reel magnetic tape audio recording; a fitting moniker for the heavy-hitting quartet as the band plays through vintage tube amplifiers and lays down its songs using exclusively throwback quality studio equipment. With a heady mix of animal aggression and technical precision, APE MACHINE’s music carries an organic depth and warmth rarely heard since the time of rock’s glorious early years (or your Dad’s bad ass record collection) infused with an exceptional modern sensibility. When the mystical lyrics of vocalist Caleb Heinze lock in with the band’s stone-cold groove, APE MACHINE demonstrates an earth-shaking ability to rock. A true four-piece, the group has been called “a rock and roll band with a finger on the pulse of the 70’s and their asses firmly in the present” and “real heavy-psych for the iPhone generation” that delivers “true guts and glory rock and roll.”

Keeping in line with their proud “retro” heritage, the new album, Mangled by the Machine, was recorded on analog tape and is being pressed from analog lacquers and plates, which will ensure the highest quality analog sound and fidelity.

With a catalog of underground releases, APE MACHINE has gained accolades, awards and a hard earned cult-like status. They have established themselves as the go-to band for those searching out more than just a few killer riffs; a foundation of heavy that will flourish under the Ripple Music banner.