From Bandcamp, "The term "Endling" refers to the last surviving individual of a species before it becomes extinct. Indeed, the central theme of the album is extinction—a shadow looming over the present that forces us to reckon with the extreme fragility of the balance upon which our entire existence rests. Almost all the tracks on the record draw inspiration from unique war chronicles, with the exception of those songs that instead describe more intimate and personal conflicts. What is happening today is proof of a total lack of will to learn from our mistakes: conflict is an integral part of our history and will accompany us toward extinction, unless we demonstrate a real intention (on a political and social level) to reverse course and make amends."

The album has nine songs, and "Chlorine" is first, setting the tone for what is to follow. The mood is tense, and somewhat somber, and you can feel something held back that is ready to enter with authority. "The Scent" rolls in slowly, and the opening tones are quite melodic. The clean vocals are also a perfect match for the music, which grows darker with the advent of harsh vocals. The chorus has a big, rich punch of melody that you will remember for sure. "Fight Back (The Pike)" has a lot more energy, and urges you to get up and defend yourself. Melodies are still there, although the weight of the music is heavy, and they have a hasty quality to them. You can feel your sixth sense rising, and the harsh vocals represent that fight that we all have within us.

"Nexus" slows things back down, with thick, meaty bass notes and expressive clean vocals. The vocal harmonies are excellent and fit right in with the melody, and they deliver another punchy chorus that smacks you in the face. "Of Birds and Men" moves in with sultry bass notes followed by a riff that's like a stormy sky…sometimes mellow and other times wrathful. The lead breaks are excellent as well, and the story the instrumental tells for me is waiting to see what happens next. "Shell Shock" roars forward with hardened riffs and screaming vocals. The cleans are there to temper them a bit, but this song rages indiscriminately. It's like a fight for supremacy, and neither opponent is giving in. "An Old Beginning" reverts back again to gentle tones, and it keeps in the theme of the album…the inability to learn from our mistakes.

Segueing into the title track, the gentle tones continue. Emotions are very heavy, and the vocal notes draw out like a blade. You can feel a sense of urgency buried here, as well as sense something around the corner in the shadows. It's the culmination of the album. The short "Holotype" closes the album, and the definition of the word is the single, physical specimen designated by an author to officially represent a new species. Could this be humanity finally learning from their mistakes? This was an excellent album, and also one where the themes could not only be heard, but felt...deeply. There was a balance between aggression and melody, and each played a vital role on the album. I have to ask, are we all destined to become endlings?