Embrace The End
Counting Hallways To The Left
8.3
Admittedly favoring the more tech savvy end of the metalcore spectrum (as opposed to overly poppy emo tripe), I am pleased to announce that I have been all but completely blindsided by the brutally bent apocalyptic arrangements that make up Embrace The End’s inaugural release on Abacus Recordings, Counting Hallways To The Left. Comprised of members from Killing The Dream and First Blood, this Sacramento based six-piece are an inescapable avalanche of aggression that is guaranteed to bury you alive, only unearthing your exhausted body moments later with bulldozing breakdowns.
While remaining loyal to melody, each of the ten seismic slabs of earth-shaking annihilation churn chaotic chords of unrelenting savagery. In a cascading myriad of heavy styles, Embrace The End drag you down into bludgeoning bliss with a brand of metalcore akin to Between The Buried And Me, From A Second Story Window, and With Dead Hands Rising, but with a fairly domineering grind mentality, Embrace The End take the genre to a whole new plane. With the same technical prowess, these new kids on the block are destined to join the ranks of the aforementioned elite collective, and further aid the scene’s evolution.
From the throat and for the throat, a dual vocal attack compliments the music justly; despondent grindcore screams (think Pig Destroyer), scathing black metal shrieks, deep guttural grunts, and the occasional gang chant are all delivered with both passion and pain. An added bonus is the fact that not a solitary clean note can be found on Counting Hallways To The Left, making for a real treat for those of us who agree that there is no room for bellyaching amongst the brutality.
The breakdowns are mean and many; however, they lose their effectiveness less than halfway through the disc. Embrace The End are not the only act guilty of this, but they are the ones on trial here, so listen up gentlemen. With better placement and moderate usage, these sections would have much more of an impact (on me anyway). This is part that irks and discourages me about this scene. I always have reservations about committing to the genre because in the end, I have heard it all before. It really kills the replay value, but now and then I am able to sift through the garbage and discover a real mind-blowing gem – Today, Counting Hallways To The Left is just that.
Though Counting Hallways To The Left is a very impressive album on a grand scale, Embrace The End (like so many others) have a bit to learn about the phrase ‘less is more’. Employing curb-stomping breakdowns where they are needed should be used only then and never just because. They are a young band and have time to take in my little word to the wise. I myself am anxious to see what the future brings for this amazing act.
If you enjoy any of the bands previously mentioned in this review, then you are just as well off investing some time acquainting yourself with Embrace The End. Fans of God Forbid (pre-Gone Forever), Despised Icon, and All Share Perish may also want to take note.
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