THE END A.D. - Badlands
Fastball Music
THE END A.D. are a killer semi new band coming out of Hostile City, USA (aka: Philadelphia, PA). So from a place that has given me plenty of metal related stuff to write about over the years. There's also an extreme underbelly of punk /hardcore/ metal sounding stuff that in the past I also use to write about as well. The city of not so brotherly love has graced me and fans all over with some long time favorite bands like the MORE FIENDS, RANCID VAT, THE 440's, DEADSPOT and THORAZINE to name a few. THE END A.D. are just the latest from Hostile City.
THE END A.D. are a four piece female fronted punk/metal act who've been around since 2014. But their present singer, Ami Friend, joined em in 2017. Since that line-up; which also consists of Lorin Savadove on drums, Paul Juestrich on guitars and Steve Rodgers on bass, they've released an EP and a few singles. Now with this debut full length the band gets some room to spread it's filth, aggression and a goddamn legacy.
With this style of extreme music and type of vocalist I'm sure comparisons will be made to some more notable names of the past. But after giving this a few listens I was left thinking this comes across more like a mix of THORAZINE (another Philly band from the 1990's, who are old friends and still around after all of these years) and TEXAS TERRI & THE STIFF ONES from 90's era California Honestly on a few of these cuts Ami Friend sounds exactly like THORAZINE's Jo-Ann Rogan. I'm talking about powerful vocals with added snarls and hellish screams. But then other times she's Texas Terri Bomb all the way.
Another important note, guitarist Paul Juestrich use to be in an old Philly band from the early 90's. That being DEADSPOT, a crossover thrash act who I saw back in the day and still have an EP and full length of there's. Hearing the riffs and heavy rhythms, the punch in the face style drumming on here definitely has a touch of the past greatness. So this release carries that punk/metal aesthetic to the hilt without sounding forced or generic.
The album starts off with it's two catchiest and fast numbers, "Addiction" and "Why Won't You Die". The latter came out as a single back in June. What follows are just a bunch of cool tunes that either burn slowly like "Junkie Logic" or the trudging "Bitch Magnet". And strangely enough the goddamn epic, as in six plus minutes, ending opus of "I Wanna Be Alone". All in all returning to my Scumfeast print days ideal, Badlands is easily one of the best albums of 2019. Play Raleigh, NC please!
http://www.fastball-music.de/
https://theendad.bandcamp.com/album/badlands
https://www.facebook.com/The-End-AD-1523510874587806/
No comments:
Post a Comment