Apogean's sophomore album, Waste Where Life Begins, is a letdown after their impressive debut, Cyberstrictive. The band's shift towards deathcore and blackened death, marked by chugged riffs and knuckle-dragging rhythms, feels like a step backward. While the album showcases impressive performances by vocalist Mac Smith and drummer Doug Noel, the disjointed sequencing and repetitive songcraft make it feel long and unengaging. The band's talent is evident, but the album's lack of cohesion and departure from their signature style leave listeners wanting more of the technical death metal that made Cyberstrictive so memorable. Apogean's struggle to maintain their initial success highlights the challenges of the sophomore slump, leaving fans with a mixed bag of emotions and a question mark over their future direction.
