EP REVIEW: Lapse: The Guilt We Hold – Endless

Armed with a new EP, post-hardcore quintet ENDLESS are here to capture the complexities of the human condition. Despite only being their second extended release, Lapse: The Guilt We Hold is a masterclass in mesmerising song structures; pairing cut-throat breakdowns with dreamy soundscapes, ENDLESS have crafted a hypnotic sonic experience that is sure to leave listeners begging for more.

Sun Poisoning kicks the EP off with a flare of grandeur; Dan Ward’s vocals dominate the track, a pseudo-preacher beckoning the listener in with a powerful flow of spoken word. The sharpness of Ward’s message lingers, before a guttural cry of “REBUILD THESE WALLS” tears the track in half. Poised spoken word morphs into melting, painful yelling, desperate for change. This brutality then bleeds into Tributary, a track that floats and snarls gorgeously, driven by a backbone of fierce drumming and impassioned vocals.

Ward’s vocals entirely shift the mood of ENDLESS’ instrumentals. Title-tracks Lapse and The Guilt We Hold are undoubtedly elevated by Ward’s emotive, commanding voice. As Lapse’s magnificent drums thrash, Ward’s raw, unclean vocals make each crash cut a little deeper. Vocals also shift the mood of The Guilt We Hold entirely; as instrumentals sparkle, Ward’s sharp, pained vocals morph the track into a desperate, sickening lullaby.

This ability to combine dark and light textures is undoubtedly ENDLESS’ most impressive skill. Tracks like Thorns showcase this perfectly – as instrumentals absolutely soar in the background, Ward’s vocals crash in the foreground. In this respect, there is a definite melodic post-hardcore sensation to the band’s sound, similar to the likes of DEFEATER or TOUCHÉ AMORÉ. The combination of textures creates a brilliant sense of depth, each track feeling huge and easy to lose yourself within – a sensation heightened by how each track bleeds into the next, making it impossible to escape the flow of the EP.

ENDLESS are refined beyond belief. Melding cinematic soundscapes with agonising vocals, Lapse: The Guilt We Hold serves as a cry for change, a desperate howl searching for meaning in a painful world. This is an EP sure to leave a mark on just about any listener, and a surefire sign of sharper, bolder, and even more powerful releases in the future.

Rating: 9/10

Lapse: The Guilt We Hold is set for release on October 8th via self-release.

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