EP REVIEW: Keepsake – Endswell

ENDSWELL are a supergroup from Madison, Wisconsin. Comprised of members of EXCUSE ME, WHO ARE YOU?, TINY VOICES and KULE, their members are no strangers to the emo scene – and it shows.

The title track, Keepsake, kicks the EP off with a bang. The opening line “Was I more than an afterthought?” sets the scene for what goes on to be a gloomy, introspective track. It’s the perfect opener which offers a taster of everything ENDSWELL can do, from consistent, crashing drums, to a guttural scream, to a sudden change in vibe entirely when the track suddenly calms and teases a melodic guitar section. It’s a song that demands to be listened to more than once to fully absorb it all, ending on what feels like a cliffhanger before seamlessly running into the next one.

Cruise Control, unlike Keepsake, picks a strength and runs with it. It’s a faster-paced, higher-volume track, and it is a sound that suits ENDSWELL to a tee. The unfiltered emotion in the clean vocal delivery and the sheer power in the shouted vocals make it hard not to react to the track’s contagious energy with head-banging and foot stomping. It also features a guitar solo that, despite the track’s title, feels like we’re listening to someone freely explore everything their guitar can do. The result gives the song a playful feel without crushing the emotion that builds up throughout it. The track ends in a breakdown that does justice to a heavy, exciting piece of music, and leaves you wanting more of this sound in future records.

With minimal recorded tracks, ENDSWELL have already won over a group of dedicated fans through their live performances. Listening to Heart Container it isn’t hard to imagine why. More of the experimental guitar heard in Cruise Control eases us into the track in a way designed to get a crowd moving, before rapid drums and screamed vocals turn things up a notch. Lyrics like “I never should have told you, told you that I love you” are so emotionally charged that it’s hard not to want to scream along when listening at home, making it easy to picture it going off at a live show.

Spirit Blues is a little more relaxed than the previous two tracks. But, in terms of vocals, it picks up where Heart Container left off. It’s a shout-along track, with simple lyrics like “things haven’t been perfect, this isn’t what I wanted” that while not hugely complex, pack a hefty punch. It’s a bite-sized track, at only two-and-a-half minutes, but this is enough time for Spirit Blues to say what it has to say and it closes the EP on a wistful note.

All in all, Keepsake is an excellent appetizer for ENDSWELL, and it’s hard not to leave the EP excited for a full release. But for now, these four tracks are fleshed out enough to enjoy on repeat for a while.

Rating: 9/10

Keepsake is set for release on June 7th via Thumbs Up Records.

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