An abstract vortex of riffs
End of Level Boss have a very unique sound. They are a stoner rock band, sticking to the stoner rock motifs of centering their songs around big riffs and mildly psychedelic atmospheres. However, rather than the gigantic grooves favoured by most stoner rock bands, End of Level Boss' riffs are jagged, dissonant, confusing, and abrasive affairs that are designed to blast and slice away chunks of your mind. These riffs, combined with the eerie, Robert Fripp style guitar leads makes me think of a less thinky and more exuberant version of King Crimson's 90s output. Topping it all off is Heck Armstrong's (previously part of the much more normal sounding Hangnail) distinctive banshee wail; his voice takes some getting used to but fits the music like a glove.
Perhaps the main downside of End of Level Boss' sound is that it takes getting used to. Because I was expecting a stoner rock record from them, their general dissonance had a negative impact for the first few listens. Slowly the band's unique energy endeared itself to me; my respect for them also grew as I realized that there are few, if any, bands around who sound anything like these Brits. Inside the Difference Engine's single flaw is perhaps in the riffs; some of them tend to sound a little samey to those in previous songs (most noticeable in the transition from "Mr. Dinosaur is Lost" to "Reticence").
Sadly an underrated band, hopefully End of Level Boss will get the recognition they deserve among those who like their riffs to be big and weird, and their melodies inflated and ignited into abrasive affairs that are more an assault than a hook. Inside the Difference Engine brings to mind King Crimson, Tool, Kyuss, The Mars Volta, Meshuggah, and a passing glimpse of any other number of bands, but is much more cohesive than many other albums that invite such wide-ranging comparisons. Mostly, it's all about riffage.
| Reviewer: Jeff Mcquiggan Added: November 10th 2007 |
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