Mt. Helium

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-apex-theory-mn0000751245/biography |title=Biography of The Apex Theory |accessdate=December 15, 2008 |last=Wilson |first=MacKenzie |publisher=Allmusic}} The band released its first extended play, Extendemo, in 2000. The following year, they signed with DreamWorks Records,{{cite book |last=Iannini |first=Tommaso |title=Nu metal |year=2003 |publisher=Giunti |language=it |isbn=88-09-03051-6 |pages=22–23 |chapter=The Apex Theory }} releasing their second EP The Apex Theory on October 9, 2001. The band performed at the main stage during the 2001 Warped Tour,{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=MacDonald |title=Punk rock and extreme sports collide at Vans Warped Tour |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010629/vans29/punk-rock-and-extreme-sports-collide-at-vans-warped-tour |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 29, 2001 |access-date=December 15, 2008 |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001210133/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010629&slug=vans29 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Ramiro |last=Burr |title=Apex Theory set for Ozzfest Quartet mixes hard rock, funk |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F5FA1A9991C7683&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=September 7, 2002 |accessdate=December 15, 2008 }} and as co-headliners at the 2002 MTV2 tour.

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.{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r564950|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and awards for Topsy Turvy |accessdate=December 13, 2008 |publisher=Allmusic}} Months after the album's release, Khachaturian left the band, 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.{{cite news |title=For The Record: Quick News On Limp Bizkit, Wes Borland, Apex Theory, Coal Chamber, Rival Schools, Kiss & More |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458771/11192002/rival_schools.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021212144738/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458771/11192002/rival_schools.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2002 |publisher=MTV News |date=November 19, 2002 |accessdate=December 15, 2008 }}{{cite news |title=For The Record: Quick News On Mary J. Blige, Guided By Voices, Kid Rock, Elephant Man, Metallica, Billy Joel & More |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486602/20040426/blige_mary_j.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040908172956/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486602/20040426/blige_mary_j.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2004 |publisher=MTV News |date=April 26, 2004 |accessdate=December 15, 2008 }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001A660KW/ |title=ASIN: B001A660KW |website=Amazon |accessdate=December 15, 2008 }}

Former vocalist Ontronik Khachaturian described the band's sound as a "heavy Mediterranean groove".{{cite news |first=Sonya |last=Sutherland |title=World music collides in Apex Theory |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/world-music-collides-apex-theory |work= Michigan Daily|date=November 12, 2001 |accessdate=December 15, 2008 }} 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." The band's musical style was influenced by Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Near Eastern music. PopMatters described Topsy-Turvy as "an energy-filled fusion of progressive and modern rock."{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/apextheory-topsy-2495826713.html|title=The Apex Theory: Topsy Turvy|date=January 14, 2003|website=PopMatters.com|accessdate=October 6, 2020}}

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".{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Wiederhorn |title=Apex Theory Offer 'Hope' To Metal — Diggy-Da |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452687/20020228/apex_theory.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020409101935/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452687/20020228/apex_theory.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 9, 2002 |publisher=MTV News |date=March 1, 2002 |accessdate=December 15, 2008 }} Deseret News said that "Apex Theory's progressive punk mixed exotic music signatures with psychedelic rock".{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/3/18/19643861/adema-emerges-as-sno-core-favorite|title=Adema emerges as Sno-Core favorite|first=Scott|last=Iwasaki|date=March 18, 2002|website=Deseret.com|accessdate=October 6, 2020}} Mt. Helium's style has also been described as nu metal,{{cite magazine|first= Bob |last= Massey |title= Noise live |magazine= Spin |volume= 18 |issue= 7 |date= July 2002 |page= 44 |issn= 0886-3032 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BHViszhzqIgC&dq=%22nu+metal%22&pg=PA44}}{{Cite web|first=Kaj|last=Roth|date=March 13, 2006|title=New Ep Available With The Apex Theory|url=https://www.melodic.net/news/new-ep-available-with-the-apex-theory|access-date=May 18, 2024|website=Melodic}}{{Cite web|first=Mark|last=Jenkins|date=April 4, 2002|title=THE APEX Theory "Topsy-Turvy"|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/04/05/the-apex-theory-topsy-turvy/0059616c-582b-4389-95ca-43a770d7b565/|access-date=May 18, 2024|website=The Washington Post}} alternative metal and post-grunge.

• David Hakopyan — bass guitar (1999–2008)
• Art Karamian — guitar, vocals (1999–2008)
• Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian — vocals (1999–2002)
• Sammy J. Watson — drums (1999–2008)

• Topsy-Turvy (2002) (as The Apex Theory)
• Faces (2008) (as Mt. Helium)

• ''Extendemo (2000) (as The Apex Theory)
• The Apex Theory (2001) (as The Apex Theory)
• Inthatskyissomethingwatching (2004) (as The Apex Theory)
• Lightpost (2007) (as The Apex Theory)

• Random Bursts (2001) (as The Apex Theory)

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{{Mt. Helium}}

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Category:Armenian rock music groups

Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles

Category:Musical groups established in 1999

Category:Progressive rock musical groups from California

Category:American musical trios

Category:1999 establishments in California