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September 2023

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End of Level Boss: Eklectric

Progressive Stoner Rock/Metal

3.0/5.0

Exile on Mainstream
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by Craig Hartranft,  07.11.2011

Honestly, with UK's End of Level Boss, I was taken in by the name and album art. Then I previewed the tracks from their sophomore effort Eklectric. Worth a listen, I'll take my chances. Indeed.

Angular and edgy, Eklectric could also be defined as eclectic. It's progressive rock, or more likely metal thanks to the pervasive and inherent heaviness. But this is not Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, or Muse. It's more prog meets stoner rock with parts screamo and post grunge. There's nearly nothing accessible or pedestrian about anything EOLB is doing here. As The Earth Forgets Us delves into that plodding stoner feel while offering some quirky prog appeal. Mouth of Hats is angular and shrill, filled with raw riffage. Riffage is big throughout. So also is a chaotic nearly cacophonous motif. You'll here it in starts as on Red Grey Eye or in breakdowns as within Thud.

Possibly, but ever so unlikely, accessible moments come. The beginning of Senescence offers a mellow (by contrast to the whole) and moderate start only to drift into doom/stoner, then screamo rock. In turn, Blueshift is very heavy, blurring doom and stoner elements, but then offers an ear pleasing accessible guitar segue about half way in. These are not necessarily the best moments. But against the whole, they are interesting diversions.

Otherwise, Eklectric is a blur of heaviness, shifting time signatures, screamo vocals, and nearly unfeasible dissonance. Yet, there's something intriguing and spooky about End of Level Boss's obtuse inventiveness. Rather then taking my original course, dive right in if you dare.

Eklectric is a blur of heaviness, shifting time signatures, screamo vocals, and nearly unfeasible dissonance. Yet, there's something intriguing and spooky about End of Level Boss's obtuse inventiveness.

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Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]