Metal Reviews

Endoxa - A Collection of Songs to Listen to At the End of the World - EP Album Review - Alternative Metal from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

The second evening since Christmas, Endoxa's debut EP, 'A Collection of Songs to Listen to At the End of the World', is playing in my headphones for the third time in the last week. It's a simply fascinating EP by a Raleigh, North Carolina-based new collective who, to me, seem to have so much fresh music to offer.

Endoxa, band photoPhoto credit: Unknown

The EP's opener, 'Magnetic', stands out for its familiar influences from 2000s alternative and melodic metal. The instrumentation lays out a melodic foundation that also carries a radio-friendly structure, providing all the space possible for the vocals to play the starring role and carry the song.

The second song, 'The Winner of Fucking Nothing', my personal favorite on the album, opens with a banger intro with overly loud and constantly peaking beat volume. Despite all the imperfections on the sound side of things, the song never seems to lose its freshness and excitement. This time, it's led by drop-down djent-ish bold guitars with additional performances by the second vocalist, again starring the lead vocalist with his inspiring vocal lines. While it maintains the theme of the EP, it additionally introduces cinematic elements with ideas we usually hear in post-modern progressive metal and metalcore. The vocalist, on the other hand, incorporates both Western and Eastern influences in his musical language, adding another fascinating layer of depth to their concept, along with big expectations for the future.

The third song, 'After All This Time, Always', immediately caught my full attention once again with the difference that the vocalist has made, evoking memories of Leprous and their singer and keyboardist Einar Solberg's musical language. Endoxa's vocalist, in this way, belongs to a much wider world than just rock or metal, playing a profound role in qualifying Endoxa as a real prospect to be watched closely in the near future. Such a beautiful, easy-listening song with a heavy, moody climate; definitely one of the key elements of this EP that will attract many new fans who will follow Endoxa for the particular mood in this song, just like those who followed Black Sabbath for only 'Planet Caravan'.

The last piece in their very limited debut offering, 'Knob', accompanies the listener in the ending chapter, leaving a mark in your memory. Another heavily climatic song with an addictive, moody, melodic approach that never loses a bit of its excitement all the way through. After hearing four different examples with a similar heavy theme, the listener can now picture what Endoxa is trying to achieve.

Lastly, I must say that I am highly satisfied with the musical language of Endoxa. This EP album is the work of a promising collective that is mainly defined by the modern melodic and alternative metal concepts, along with their inspiring vocalist above everything else, reminding me of one of my all-time favorite Italian modern progressive metal bands, Adimiron.

Endoxa, band photoPhoto credit: Unknown

On the other side of the coin, I see clear weaknesses in the making of the album, solely regarding the production and sound work. First of all, it has been a highly satisfying experience from my side, despite all the imperfections in the making, as I mentioned earlier. I’ve found the collective talented, with enough distinguishing personality and character in their music. Although the producer’s work gave me all I needed to know where Endoxa positions themselves in terms of sound character and climate, it does not qualify 'A Collection of Songs to Listen to At the End of the World' as an album that I would play to someone or listen to myself solely for its sound. Numerous times, I remember feeling discomfort from peaking sounds, and I couldn’t think of a reason that justifies pushing everything to sound overly loud, just like in the opening part of the second song, 'The Winner of Fucking Nothing', as an example.

Moreover, while I very much enjoyed the cinematic and atmospheric soundscapes envisioned, the heavy guitars and overly-produced-sounding drums kept me thinking and questioning. They now seem to me as the main weaknesses in their soundscape that don’t have enough listenability value on their own.

Endoxa - A Collection of Songs to Listen to At the End of the World EP album artworkArt credit: Unknown

release December 30, 2023

In conclusion, 'A Collection of Songs to Listen to At the End of the World' is a powerful statement by an upcoming band without any doubt. 2000s alternative metal influences incorporate with rock and modern metalcore under a heavy climate, moody atmosphere, and modern production, led by a fascinating vocalist with a wide musical language reminiscent of Einar Solberg of Leprous. Thank you for reading.