The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine

The Appleseed Cast
Peregrine
The Militia Group
Grade: A-

On their debut for the Militia Group, and their fifth full-length, Lawrence, KS’s the Appleseed Cast offer expansive, spacey soundscapes across the thirteen-track Peregrine. After their previous label Tiger Style want RIP, Cast founders Chris Crisci (vocals/guitar) and Aaron Pillar (guitar) landed on TMG, bringing their Midwestern indie-rock to the left coast melodic punk label. Now with Marc Young on bass and Nathan Richardson (ex – The Casket Lottery and Coalesce) on drums, the Appleseed Cast seek to provide you both with Explosions in the Sky instrumentals and poppy, catchy indie rock wet dreams. This is no more obviously established than on the opener instrumental track “Ceremony” that drifts you along on waves that is followed by the slow starting, then smashing “Woodland Hunter (Part I);” when “Woodland Hunter (Part I)” kicks into full gear a minute-and-a-half in, you about lose your indie rock bowls. The rest of Peregrine falls out as a sweet mixture of these two styles – along with electronic flashes on such terrific tracks as “Mountain Halo,” “Woodland Hunter (Part II),” and the Cure-like “Sunlit and Ascending.” You should reintroduce to the Appleseed Cast, as you will likely not be disappointed by the growth.