The End Makes Stunning Transformation With Elementary

When Canadian quintet The End released the album Within Dividia on Relapse Records in 2003, it put the band alongside abstract Metal contemporaries like Dillinger Escape Plan and The Locust with its off-kilter rhythms, complex time changes and abrasive vocals. But as The End reemerges in 2007 with Elementary, it is clear that the band has undergone a huge transformation. This time, the group took a more refined approach and incorporated melody and more traditional song structures into its music. The CD still boasts some extreme tracks, such as the album opener, “Dangerous,” but The End takes the listener into more accessible, melodic territory with tracks like “Throwing Stones” and “My Abyss,” which are highlighted by the emotional vocals and lyrics of Aaron Wolff. The band members have truly outdone themselves with this stunning new effort, so we spoke to guitarist Andrew Hercules to find out what inspired The End’s musical transformation.