They might be a side project—their name comes from the bands they’re in—but for 15 years, that moniker has ensured quality.
Everything W.E.T. does is class. The playing, the songwriting, the hooks, the choruses—to know them is to love them.
“Believer” is the perfect starter, while the groove of “This House Is On Fire” is exactly the sort of stuff Bon Jovi should still be doing.
There’s just a swagger about them. “What Are We Fighting For” is particularly anthemic, given the state of the world right now.
Some bands just have that in their DNA, right? That ability to sound massive. W.E.T. does, which means the power ballad “Love Conquers All” delivers exactly that. And the full-on ’80s freak-out of “Where Are All the Heroes Now” is exquisitely done.
“Breaking Up” is the type of song you’ve heard so many times before, but arguably, few have done it this well.
It rocks pretty hard too. “Nowhere to Run” has that Extreme vibe (the Gary Cherone sort), and “Pay Dirt” is one of several tracks that will sound brilliant live.
Of course, one of the band’s trump cards is the wonderful Jeff Scott Soto. He has one of the best voices in hard rock, which means that when there’s a change of pace—like on “Pleasure and Pain” (and of course, a hallmark of these bands is the ballads)—he handles it with ease. And the guitar work? Wonderful.
Although this is familiar, it never sounds dated—largely thanks to the modern edge in tracks like “Stay Alive.”
The songs might sound like epics, but they don’t indulge in excess. As “Day by Day” thunders to a close, one thought is clear: W.E.T. might just be rock’s greatest side project, and Apex might be the highlight of their careers.
Rating: 9.5/10
REVIEW: W.E.T – APEX (2025)
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