Melbourne melodic masterminds To An End release their debut album Redefine.
When you hear the term melodic and put it in front of metal, any die hard fan would expect to hear the very best of what this genre has to offer. Catchy riffs and hooks, groove and massive sing along choruses. To An End are much more than this, and their full length debut is right up there rubbing shoulders with the big heavy weights we all know.
First up, the intro. A clean guitar passage that has an eminent build up with big power chords blasting through. A melodic rhythm/solo layered over a massive groove avalanche, leaving the listener wanting more, and more there is.
From Grace To Demise is the second track and wow, what a stunner. In Flames and Unearth come to mind with the unbelievably memorable catchy opening riff. Al Gammie provides such a diverse vocal range, strong and driving through the main chorus guitar hook. A very subtle acoustic half time feel changes the tempo momentarily with more vocal hooks. A definite stand out track.
Groove laden Fracture is the next track. Different to the previous track, still melodic, still massive in sound. What some bands lack is the colour within the straight out riffing/groove. This track retains the essence of colour by the busy guitar work provided by Matt Turner. A very Mark Tremonti feel. Metal anthem is written all over this track, a fantastic chorus that will have the whole stadium singing along.
The metal anthems keep rolling in with this solid slab of the track Wasteland, which is also accompanied by a video clip. A great example of how heavy these guys can get, with once again Al Gammie’s vocals hitting home, ranging from James Hetfield’s gravel to Corey Taylor’s aggression and a half time tempo change carrying this track into heavier territory.
Just when you think there can’t possibly be any more catchy goodness, We Are Infinite hits you like a Mack truck. Resisting your head to move backwards and forwards is impossible with the intro
guitar hook. Chris Clancy’s guest vocals really add to the soaring vocal harmony choruses and will have the listener whistling these vocal parts for days.
Hear No Evil is another demonstration of the sheer power and heaviness of To An End. Absolutely crushing intro riff with steam rolling groove verse riff with another memorable chorus.
Short and sweet is Out Of My Hands. Sevendust feels on this track, with solid grooves and aggression.
The metalcore madness continues with Left Untold. Driving bass lines provided by Yiorgs Sgourakis is complimented with the flourishing groove guitar riffage with a very Killswitch/Light The Torch vocal chorus, absolutely brilliant!!
Slowing it down a tad is New Prescription- Old Addiction. How much can these guys play unrelenting melodic groove and still pull vocal hooks out of nowhere?? Well done boys.
Even having a stab at Faith No More‘s Digging The Grave. Not a bad cover, featuring a slightly improvised half time drum fill that actually sounds great. Al Gammie can definitely nail Patton’s higher end of the scale vocals.
Before we had MP3 players and Bluetooth in our vehicles, we had CD wallets. Flicking through, To An End – Redefine sits proudly inside amongst the likes of Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Stone Sour and Alter Bridge. 9/10
TRACKLIST
Intro
From Grace Into Demise
Fracture
Wasteland
We Are Infinite (feat. Chris Clancy)
Hear No Evil (feat. Chris Amott)
Out Of My Hands
Left Untold
New Prescription-Old Addiction
Digging The Grave (Faith No More)
Open Season
Collide
