END REIGN
END REIGN “The Way Of All Flesh Is Decay”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Many names are invoked when trying to describe END REIGN’s sound, but the one name that kept coming up in my mind was CRO-MAGS around the time of “Best Wishes”. That was one of the great metallic hardcore albums of all time, so you can’t go wrong being compared with it. As you might guess, END REIGN play what I call “true metalcore”...this was the combination of thrash and hardcore that we heard in the late 80’s/early 90’s, not the more recent, more melodic version that took over in the early 2000’s. Thank Goodness for that.
The pedigree of this bunch is pretty impressive. Mike Score of ALL OUT WAR does the vocals and as per usual, they are pure hardcore anger. No death growls or black metal rasps, just total rage. Guitarists are Dominic Romeo of INTEGRITY and Seb Phillips of EXHUMED and NOISEM. Drums are mercilessly bashed by Adam Jarvis from PIG DESTROYER and MISERY INDEX, while former BLOODLET bassist Arthur Legere handles bass duties. This is one hell of a potent lineup.
Like so many albums of recent times, “The Way Of All Flesh…” hits with naked force in the first half of the album while the back half shows a more experimental and melodic side. Once “Desolate Fog” rolls in, it just about rips your head off. The next few songs hit hard with that CRO MAGS meets INTEGRITY fury...RINGWORM is another name that can be invoked. There are subtle differences in the songs that give them identity. “Serpent Messiah” is a five minute plus tune that is notably huger and more epic, with colossal mid-paced riffs and even choir like vocals.
From there, things kind of slow down (although not to excess). “Giving Life To Tragedy” and “Chasing Divinity” are more measured and moody, with the former almost having CROWBAR overtones. I don’t tend to like this side of END REIGN as much...they are best when barreling forward like an angry elephant. On the whole, a pretty good album from this project. If they manage to stick together, they might come up with something really monstrous in the future.