The End Is Near
Nothing Is Real
From Bandcamp, "Like someone ranting on a street corner, THE END IS NEAR preaches the end of days and welcomes it with fervor. Nothing grows continuously and all things must die. This album is an acceptance of this fact and the fact that humanity's current course cannot be sustained, and most likely not repaired either. This album is about accepting our true nature and accepting that all things must come to an end. And the only ones who will be saved amidst this glorious and hellish rapture will be the ones who realize: NOTHING IS REAL." The album has eleven songs, broken up into four movements based on the four words in the title.
"THE" is the first movement. A buzzing sound is joined by spoken words, recounting events of the 1960's. Ominous tones hang in the background, which swell throughout the song. It dies before it can reach a climax, and is replaced by a tense clean guitar intro. What follows is a fast, energetic sound of heavy rhythms and thumping bass notes, accompanied by harsh vocals that stay in the background for the most part. A little bit of melody seeps out around the half-way mark, but this is nihilistic music with a dangerous message. The final portion of the movement begins with a slow grind that picks up to a faster pace with weighted, dissonant guitars. The second half of the song returns to another slow grind that sound like a chainsaw idling.
"END" is divided into two parts. The first returns to spoken words again, warning of man's overpopulation and overuse of resources. In the background, threating tones abound. The second part is a lengthy ten-minute song. The opening tones are almost docile, while you wait for the storm moving quickly towards you. It arrives with a punishing sound of grinding, dissonant guitars and harsh vocals. Around the half-way mark, the song shifts with a slightly faster pace, some harmonic guitars, and meaty bass notes. The big wave arrives and is ready to crash over you. "IS" is also divided into two parts. The first are more prophetic words. The second is marked by more totally desolate elements with an infectious energy. The final few minutes mark a bit of sun peeking through the clouds, only to be later swallowed by the raging storm.
"NEAR" is divided into three parts. The first are more spoken words regarding the inevitable end of mankind. The second is another heavy five minutes of varying pacing with harrowing ramblings still very high in the sound. The final movement begins with clean tones but transitions to heavy, punishing tones thereafter, that are very hasty and full of might. The final minute are more spoken words, with soft, easy sounds. This was a very nihilistic and prophetic album that told the story of the end of mankind with vibrant, but very dark leanings, done with a perilous aura. The music is cold, bleak, and desolate, and the message is forbidding, warning you to take heed.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"The End Is Near" Track-listing:
1. THE (Intro)
2. THE (Pt. 1)
3. THE (Interlude)
4. THE (Pt. 2)
5. END (Intro)
6. END
7. IS (Intro)
8. IS
9. NEAR (Intro)
10. NEAR (Pt. 1)
11. NEAR (Pt. 2)
Nothing Is Real Lineup:
Nothing Is Real - Guitar, Bass, Synth, Vocals
Jeremy Lauria - Drums
Jared Moran - Drums
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