Saturday 31 August 2019

The Beginning and The End - OUROBOROS (EP Review)


Release date: September 13th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Ouroboros – Tracklisting

1.Terminal
2.Room
3.Hydronaut
4.Superego
5.Hiraeth

Members

Matt Jones
Jamie Fraser

Review

Valfader were a UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal band that I enjoyed immensely before they sadly broke up in 2015. Two members Dean and Gaz from the band went onto form Eyes Fly who released their debut EP earlier this year. Now it’s Matt’s turn from Valfader to shine in the spotlight with his new band The Beginning and The End. Matt has teamed up with Jamie Fraser for this Post-Rock/Post-Metal/Industrial Rock outfit.

The band are releasing their debut EP – OUROBOROS – and it’s a mix of Progressive Rock, Post-Rock/Post-Metal with harsh Industrial Rock grooves. The band are inspired by bands such as ISIS (The Band), NIN, TOOL and Rosetta. The EP is over 40 minutes of gloomy rhythms and harsh soundscapes with the band using their real life experiences to shape their overall sound with bleak and hard-hitting lyrics keeping you on edge.

Themes such as personal loss, fear and current political themes run deep with song and each of the 5 songs offer a different and personal perspective that you wouldn’t expect to hear on a debut release with songs such as Terminal, Room and Superego being perhaps the strongest tracks on the EP. As the music is more personal and the lyrics have a hidden anger behind them.

The vocals aren’t the strongest but at least their real and convey a sense of realism against the mass produced bullshit currently being released. The overall production and sound of the EP is good for the most part but I wouldn’t expect it to be perfect. OUROBOROS is an EP showing a band making it’s way into the world and delivering an unflinching style of Post-Rock/Post-Metal that leaves many questions unanswered.

OUROBOROS can be down right heavy in places and the mood changes to a more depressing and gloomy atmosphere.

The Beginning and The End have released a well-crafted debut EP that shows a lot of promise and I’m looking forward to see what Jamie and Matt will release in the future.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

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