With few boundaries in its avant-garde, haunting post-rock, Apse formed in Newtown, CT, in 1999. The original lineup consisted of high school friends Robert Toher (guitar), Ezer Lichtenstein (drums), and Ryan Todd (bass). By 2001 they recorded the first EP while another high school friend, Aaron Piccirillo, joined on guitar. Two more EPs followed. In spring 2003 Michael Gundlach joined on guitar, while Toher began providing the otherworldly vocals. Later that year, Apse signed to Spanish label Acuarela Discos and got to work on the next record, resulting in a self-titled EP, out in early 2005. Fleshing out more of the percussion, they added Matthew Wick as a second drummer for tours. In summer 2005, Todd and Wick left while Piccirillo switched to bass and new member Albert Gray was added on guitar. In late 2006 an album appeared, titled Spirit.