CD Review: The End - Elementary

"Have you ever heard of The End?"
"The end of what?"
"The End the band."
"The end of what band?"
"Never mind, just go get that album called Elementary. It is really good."

The above is an actual conversation I had with a friend about The End's third outing.

Before this album arrived at my door, I had never heard of The End either. I can't really blame my friend for never having heard of them. I mean, I hadn't, and they aren't exactly a band that is tearing up any charts. Still, this first experience with this metal/math-core band out of Canada can be called a successful union of music and potential audience.

The End is an intriguing mash of alt rock, doom metal, metalcore, screamo, extreme metal, and prog metal. I have also seen the term mathcore used in describing them, though I am still trying to figure that one out. Regardless of how you choose to categorize them, there is no denying the songwriting ability they have. While comparisons can be made to the likes of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Isis, and Tool, The End manage to remain separated from the pack.

Elemental has a strong focus on the song. The sound is at times chaotic, but it never loses focus on the song. Unlike other experimental bands I have listened to, The End has a stronger focus on the creation of the song. Rather than having odd time signatures and rhythm patterns for the sake of having them, the sound is considerably more restrained. That restraint is not a bad thing. It is the sign of a band with a different focus. Rather than indulge their talents for the sake of indulgence, The End has taken their skills, refined them, and took the time to craft interesting music.

As I listen to the album, I get a strong sense that this band is on the verge of breaking out in a big way. In particular, the first single, "Throwing Stones," seems to be a cut that was created in a calculating manner to get them noticed. I am not saying that it is a bad song, but it has SINGLE written all over it with its primarily clean vocals and strong Tool overtones. Sometimes you need to have a song like that to get over to a wider audience, something a little more accessible to reach out to a larger audience. Once you have them at you attention, you unleash something a bit different like "Animals" or "The Moth and I" or "Awake?". You use the single to draw them in before springing the trap. "Throwing Stones" is still a good song, don't get me wrong, but the tantalizing mainstream feel of it has that "break-out hit" aura.

Elementary gets off to a heavy start with "Dangerous" a song that makes me bang my head and pump my fist. The heavy riffing and crushing drums must make this an insane live track. Track two introduces a slightly less heavy and more atmosphere and doom with "The Never Ever Aftermath." We also get a more screamo style clean/growl vocal performance from Aaron Wolff, a style that permeates the album, but in a good way.

Personally epic, that sounds like a good way to describe the album as a whole. The music provides the expansive epic feel, while the vocals deliver a more heartfelt and personal side. It is definitely intriguing. The twin guitar interplay, backed with sporadically excellent drumming, and a bass sound that reminds me a bit of when I saw Mudvayne live (not the studio recorded version) all build this wall of sound that is absolutely massive. This while the vocals draw you in for a more personal experience.

Through all of the aggression and power shown, there is still another side left to show. A side that you would probably not expect from a band such as this. The final track, "And Always...," is an acoustic driven song which borders on a power ballad. It is vastly different experience from all that had come before. I can honestly say that I was caught offguard by the quiet acoustic guitar and piano keys accompanying the soft vocals. It is a sprawling 9 minute song which builds dramatic tension and gloom. It is eerily beautiful, and a different way to end a metal album.

Bottomline. This is a good album. Perhaps not as envelope pushing as other similar bands, they still stand apart with this solid genre mashing release. If you are looking for a solid, heavy, and will structured album, Elementary is going to be well worth your time. The End has a strong future ahead of them.

Recommended.