Weymouth quintet ‘End of Daze’ have unveiled their new 9 track Album ‘Ascension’, and right from the get-go, its pretty clear that these boys are ambitious. The first track of the album, ‘Intro’, wouldn’t feel completely out of place on a movie score, leading in with a ticking clock, followed by rumbles of distant thunder and the pained squawk of a crow. Although effective, it is somewhat predictable. That said, at only 44 seconds long, it isn’t self-indulgent and does act as an atmospheric lead-in and is a satisfying crescendo, which drops seamlessly into the first full song, ‘Waiting’. Again, it’s clear that the band know their way around a metalcore composition, but it feels all too familiar and does unfortunately paint a picture for the rest of the album. The riffs are beefy enough to keep you entertained and are certainly complemented by the production quality, which is excellent; it just feels a bit ‘old news’.
Next up is ‘Awakening’ and for the first few seconds, you would be forgiven for thinking you were listening to Avenged Sevenfold. The track features vocals from ‘Elona Holt’, which bring a pleasant change of tone to the release and don’t feel forced or out of place. The softer, clean vocals juxtapose the harsher vocals nicely, painting an image of light vs. dark. The only criticism is that the vocals are too prevalent. It’d be nice to see Elona’s talents used more sparingly, perhaps just a single verse or bridge to contrast the harsh vocals, which front man Harry Shooter delivers with aplomb.
It is difficult to pick out any other tracks of merit, due partly to the linear feel of the songs, nothing really stands out. The musicianship is on point, the riffs and lead lines are well thought out and well delivered, it just feels a little too familiar. Couple that with some slightly unimaginative lyrics, (“Get the fuck down on your knees”) and we fear this album may just become another release washed away in an already saturated genre.
‘Ascension’ is a bold foray into the metalcore world. There is no doubt that the album is a slick, well-produced piece of work, but End Of Daze certainly haven’t reinvented the wheel. If you’re looking for a tried and tested recipe for a stodgy metalcore pie, look no further.
RICHARD BENNETT