Review Summary: An engaging and unique experience that should be of interest to anyone who can appreciate the beauty in noise.
EndAnd are an interesting phenomenon. Combining punk, noise rock, alternative, math rock and hardcore to create a wonderfully unique sound,
Mechanics & Energetics of Stilt-Running is the type of album that will have genre elitists running for the hills.
The sheer variety on display makes this a difficult album to discuss. The fact that it only clocks in at little over 20 minutes means that multiple listens are required to fully understand what the music is all about, but
Mechanics... is fundamentally an album that captures the essence of punk rock in all its different forms and the various emotions that come along with them. Anger, frustration and apathy are just some of the feelings that are explored sonically, with lyrics revolving around vocalist/guitarist Daniel Fern’s former illegal immigrant status and the feeling of being trapped mentally and physically in an uncontrollable situation.
There is an apparent darkness underlying this release but it is not always easy to identify. The group favours melody, harmony and an oddly ‘fun’ aesthetic at many points throughout
Mechanics..., which occasionally undermines the lyrical intensity. However, songs such as “Vessel”, “Weapon” and particularly “Strong” always bring the music back to a more chaotic, claustrophobic environment. There are even moments of quieter, oddly nostalgic-sounding guitar-led moments, such as the openings to “Snow Song”, “The Hypocrite Mourns” and “Strong”, where the band seems intent on creating a different kind of atmosphere – one that sucks you into a place of desolation and loneliness, without the anger to accompany it.
Most of the time, though, EndAnd opt for a more energetic and (dare I say it) catchier approach that works extremely well, considering the length of the album and the individual tracks.
Mechanics & Energetics of Stilt-Running is an engaging and unique experience that should be of interest to anyone who can appreciate the beauty in noise.
