From the quiet corners of Salisbury, England, comes END! Begin, a collective project armed with a meticulously crafted concept album. Six years in the making, the eponymous project is a deep dive into themes of death and innocence, presented through a rich tapestry of post-rock, alternative rock, and progressive rock influences.
This isn’t an album built on bravado. It’s a rare, often tender exploration of sounds, styles, and moments that searches for something deeper. As the band themselves put it, "If one stranger listens to what we created and enjoys it, we have achieved more than we set out to do, and we are grateful for your time."
Called a "love letter to our favourite artists who influenced our lives and art," the album explores an impressive array of styles, weaving together strands of folk, art rock, and ambient textures to create a truly diverse soundscape. The band's signature style of starting slow to mid-tempo builds that blossom into a wall-of-sound crescendo is on show, executed with a masterful touch that’s impossible to ignore.
The album opens with 'New-Born Lamb', a track that immediately draws you in with its delicate acoustic guitar and the gentle sound of lambs, an auditory echo of the album's evocative artwork. This serene beginning is beautifully contrasted by potent vocals and stark lyrical imagery, setting an intriguing tone for what's to come. As the journey progresses, 'The Hunter, Theme Tune' unfolds over nearly seven minutes, a captivating instrumental piece that gracefully shifts through tempered melodies, sweeping strings, and subtle folk elements. This seamlessly transitions into 'Safe Embrace of You', an almost whispered, ambient offering that drifts through dreamlike sonic landscapes before blossoming into a truly rousing crescendo.
A standout moment arrives with 'I Want To Be a Flower', the album's longest track at over ten minutes. Despite its considerable length, it never feels stagnant, instead gently building into a riveting maelstrom of sound. It’s a prime example of END! Begin’s core sound, executed with remarkable precision. Elsewhere, the semi-eponymous 'END! / Begin' captivates with its spoken word passages and dark, poetic atmosphere. The album then concludes with the serene, neo-classical tones of 'Turquoise Tranquillity' and the vibrant, almost jaunty close of 'Bless the Arc', leaving a lasting impression.
'END! Begin' is a remarkably cohesive and emotionally resonant work, something that doesn’t immediately grab your attention, but rewards focus and careful attention. It's a journey well worth taking for any listener seeking depth, artistry, and a truly immersive musical experience.
You can stream the album above via Bandcamp, and for more, follow the band today on Instagram.
