# Mt. Helium

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American rock band

"The Apex Theory" redirects here. For the band's 2001 extended play, see [The Apex Theory (EP)](/source/The_Apex_Theory_(EP)).

Mt. Helium Background information Also known as The Apex Theory (1999–2004) Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S. Genres Progressive rock alternative rock alternative metal nu metal (early) Years active 1999–2008 Labels DreamWorks Toys of the Masses Past members David Hakopyan Art Karamian Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian Sammy J. Watson

**Mt. Helium**, formerly known as **the Apex Theory**, was an American [rock](/source/Rock_music) band from Los Angeles, California, that was known for playing [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Basin) music[1][2][3] mixed with [progressive rock](/source/Progressive_rock).[3][4] The band released three studio albums and three [extended plays](/source/Extended_play).

## History

The Apex Theory was formed in 1999 by Armenian-American musicians [Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian](/source/Ontronik_Khachaturian), David Hakopyan (drummer and bass player of [Soil / System of a Down](/source/System_of_a_Down#Soil_(1992–1994)) respectively), and Art Karamian 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](/source/Extended_play), *Extendemo*, in 2000. The following year, they signed with [DreamWorks Records](/source/DreamWorks_Records),[5] releasing their second EP *[The Apex Theory](/source/The_Apex_Theory_(EP))* on October 9, 2001.[1] The band performed at the main stage during the 2001 [Warped Tour](/source/Warped_Tour),[6][7] and as co-headliners at the 2002 [MTV2](/source/MTV2) tour.[1]

On April 2, 2002, the band released its first album, *[Topsy-Turvy](/source/Topsy-Turvy_(album))*. It peaked at No. 6 on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Heatseekers chart](/source/Top_Heatseekers) and No. 157 on the [*Billboard* 200](/source/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](/source/Quartet) to a [power trio](/source/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]

## Musical style

Former vocalist Ontronik Khachaturian described the band's sound as a "heavy [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Basin) groove".[1][2] The *[Michigan Daily](/source/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](/source/Middle_East) and [Near Eastern](/source/Near_East) music.[2] [PopMatters](/source/PopMatters) described *Topsy-Turvy* as "an energy-filled fusion of [progressive](/source/Progressive_rock) and modern rock."[4]

The [MTV News](/source/MTV_News) writer Jon Wiederhorn wrote that "the Apex Theory's multi-textured music [...] combines [metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music), prog-rock, Mediterranean music and even [jazz](/source/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](/source/Psychedelic_rock)".[12] As The Apex Theory, they were also labelled [nu metal](/source/Nu_metal).[5][13][14]

## Band members

- David Hakopyan — bass guitar[1] (1999–2008)

- Art Karamian — guitar, vocals[10] (1999–2008)

- [Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian](/source/Ontronik_Khachaturian) — vocals[9] (1999–2002)

- Sammy J. Watson — drums[1] (1999–2008)

### Timeline

## Discography

### Albums

- *[Topsy-Turvy](/source/Topsy-Turvy_(album))* (2002) (as The Apex Theory)

- *Faces* (2008) (as Mt. Helium)

### Extended plays

- *Extendemo* (2000) (as The Apex Theory)

- *[The Apex Theory](/source/The_Apex_Theory_(EP))* (2001) (as The Apex Theory)

- *Inthatskyissomethingwatching* (2004) (as The Apex Theory)

- *[Lightpost](/source/Lightpost_(EP))* (2007) (as The Apex Theory)

### Promotional releases

- *Random Bursts* (2001) (as The Apex Theory)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1-6) Wilson, MacKenzie. ["Biography of The Apex Theory"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-apex-theory-mn0000751245/biography). [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sutherland_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sutherland_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sutherland_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sutherland_2-3) Sutherland, Sonya (November 12, 2001). ["World music collides in Apex Theory"](http://www.michigandaily.com/content/world-music-collides-apex-theory). *[Michigan Daily](/source/Michigan_Daily)*. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wiederhorn_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wiederhorn_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Wiederhorn_3-2) Wiederhorn, Jon (March 1, 2002). ["Apex Theory Offer 'Hope' To Metal — Diggy-Da"](https://web.archive.org/web/20020409101935/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452687/20020228/apex_theory.jhtml). [MTV News](/source/MTV_News). Archived from [the original](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452687/20020228/apex_theory.jhtml) on April 9, 2002. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-popmatters_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-popmatters_4-1) ["The Apex Theory: Topsy Turvy"](https://www.popmatters.com/apextheory-topsy-2495826713.html). *PopMatters.com*. January 14, 2003. Retrieved October 6, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Iannini_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Iannini_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Iannini_5-2) Iannini, Tommaso (2003). "The Apex Theory". *Nu metal* (in Italian). Giunti. pp. 22–23. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [88-09-03051-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/88-09-03051-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** MacDonald, Patrick (June 29, 2001). ["*Punk rock and extreme sports collide at Vans Warped Tour*"](https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010629/vans29/punk-rock-and-extreme-sports-collide-at-vans-warped-tour). *[The Seattle Times](/source/The_Seattle_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121001210133/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010629&slug=vans29) from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Burr_7-0)** Burr, Ramiro (September 7, 2002). ["Apex Theory set for Ozzfest Quartet mixes hard rock, funk"](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). *[San Antonio Express-News](/source/San_Antonio_Express-News)*. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Charts and awards for *Topsy Turvy*"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r564950). [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved December 13, 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MTVNews-November02_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MTVNews-November02_9-1) ["For The Record: Quick News On Limp Bizkit, Wes Borland, Apex Theory, Coal Chamber, Rival Schools, Kiss & More"](https://web.archive.org/web/20021212144738/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458771/11192002/rival_schools.jhtml). [MTV News](/source/MTV_News). November 19, 2002. Archived from [the original](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458771/11192002/rival_schools.jhtml) on December 12, 2002. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MTVNews-April04_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MTVNews-April04_10-1) ["For The Record: Quick News On Mary J. Blige, Guided By Voices, Kid Rock, Elephant Man, Metallica, Billy Joel & More"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040908172956/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486602/20040426/blige_mary_j.jhtml). [MTV News](/source/MTV_News). April 26, 2004. Archived from [the original](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486602/20040426/blige_mary_j.jhtml) on September 8, 2004. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["ASIN: B001A660KW"](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001A660KW/). *Amazon*. Retrieved December 15, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-deseret_12-0)** Iwasaki, Scott (March 18, 2002). ["Adema emerges as Sno-Core favorite"](https://www.deseret.com/2002/3/18/19643861/adema-emerges-as-sno-core-favorite). *Deseret.com*. Retrieved October 6, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Massey, Bob (July 2002). ["Noise live"](https://books.google.com/books?id=BHViszhzqIgC&dq=%22nu+metal%22&pg=PA44). *[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))*. Vol. 18, no. 7. p. 44. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0886-3032](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0886-3032).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Jenkins, Mark (April 4, 2002). ["THE APEX Theory "Topsy-Turvy""](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/04/05/the-apex-theory-topsy-turvy/0059616c-582b-4389-95ca-43a770d7b565/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. Retrieved May 18, 2024.

## External links

- [Mt. Helium](https://www.discogs.com/artist/398500) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

- [Mt. Helium](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000751245) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

v t e Mt. Helium David Hakopyan Art Karamian Ontronik Khachaturian Sammy J. Watson Albums Topsy-Turvy Faces EPs The Apex Theory Lightpost

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mt. Helium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Helium) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Helium?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.