Review: ENDLESS HALLWAY – ‘Autonomy Games’
Posted: May 4th, 2009
Contributed By: Nick
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Purchase @ Amazon.com Release Date: April 28th, 2009 via Wind-Up |
| ENDLESS HALLWAY is: Ryan Jackson (Vocals) Jono Evans (Guitar) Michael Tye (Guitar) Evan McCarthy (Bass) Joseph Mullen (Drums) |
Overview: ENDLESS HALLWAY arose from Los Angeles a few years back, founded by cronies Ryan Jackson and Jono Evans. The duo enlisted guitarist Michael Tye, bassist Evan McCarthy and drummer Joseph Mullen to round out the line-up and the quintet began to chase the dream. ENDLESS HALLWAY completed a demo in 2007 that delighted Wind-Up Records enough to sign the band. Produced by Noah Shain, ‘Autonomy Games‘ is ENDLESS HALLWAY’s debut record, which hit stores on April 28.
The Good: ENDLESS HALLWAY tip-toes in to their sovereign soundtrack with “Autonomy Barrier”, before launching into a sonic blend of thirsty vocals and a transcendental, goth-ish soundscape. “Autonomy Barrier” is daring and enterprising, gushing with melodic firepower. Bouncing off the walls is “A Bad Current”, an eager and revved up pistol grinning with ebullience and a delivery by vocalist Ryan Jackson fashioned from The Used’s Bert McCracken. For such a frisky song, “Cell” has an impeccably tight and graceful flow, instrumentally resembling the best of Army of Anyone and Billy Talent. “Grey Flats” is both epically and sensibly melodic, bolstered by a gently stampeding low-end and an impeccable amount of mood. A rock ‘n roll frolic, “Shallows” thrives on gorgeous, radiant choruses and multifarious angles of harmonizing attack. The pacifying “Remora” is a plaintive fresco best admired lost deep within its entrancing realm of tranquility. Madina Lake would kill for “Games”, a throttle junkie showcasing the more organic side of ENDLESS HALLWAY, while fans of ‘Highly Evolved’-era The Vines will devour the sizzling blister baby “Solvency”. “Toppled Dynamo” is showered by a bracing tidal of surging guitars, imposing drum stabs, and vitriolic vocals, all of which emanate an incredible energy. ENDLESS HALLWAY shakes their Laffy Taffy and backs that ass up with “Gamma”, a dance-floor dreamboat overflowing with bootylicious grooves. ‘Autonomy Games‘ retires with the lofty and captivating “In Transit”. I’m in love with the production of the song, specifically in regards to the way its chorus simply drops into verse two, which is earmarked by a ghostly, sinister progression. “In Transit” is incredibly detail-oriented, a thorough pinnacle as mysterious and irresistible as its ten predecessors.
The Bad: The only specific bruise of ‘Autonomy Games‘ is the unannounced arrival of “In Transit” at its climax too early, a dynamic gaffe that couldn’t come at a worse time. After several listens to ‘Autonomy Games‘, I’ve noticed ENDLESS HALLWAY’s lack of a true defining song. Although all eleven tracks are above average, there is not one above another that is able to carry the torch and be “the rock” this album needs.
Bottomline: In a nutshell, if you are down with bands like Nural, Vaeda, and Abused Romance and you want something a little bigger and better, allow me to introduce you to ‘Autonomy Games‘ by ENDLESS HALLWAY.
TuneLab Rating: 8.5 out of 10
13 Comments
Really? From what I remember the stream on here was pretty bad.
Yeah I didn’t really dig it at all.
yea reviews have been off lately, Halestorm gets a 9?? Hurt gets a 6!?? then this?
And the band using all caps is just childish and annoying.
I think this band is really different and interesting, I really like it. And yet at the same time, I wouldn’t give it an 8.5. Probably a 7.5. Because overall it’s good but still not a completely solid album. It’s competent but not confident.
Also, I love how the bottomline “if you are down with these bands” made me think “if you are Mikel”. ;>)
I hate you pen
And yall are crazy, this album is amazing.
I also could be wrong but I notice that they don’t capitalize their name all the time on their web material, I think it’s just capitalized in press releases to make their name artificially stand out. Even still I’m not real sure why Nick did it.
Well, I like Nural, but I do not like this band whatsoever…to me, they don’t really sound the same
blah. dont care for it but at least its not generic pop rock or cock rock. Sounds like Janes Addiction a bit.
Well IDK what you all think I love them!!!! they are not only great on the album but great live!!!!
Honestly, I think this is a great album. I kind of like that there isn’t one song that “jumps out” because that keeps you listening to the whole thing, instead of just singles. I’m not listening to one song, just waiting for it to be over and the next song to start; I can really enjoy the whole album. I would recommend this band to anyone.
I agree with Phoenix. It’s good that there’s not a standout track. It makes the album more of an entire experience rather than a bunch of tracks you want to skip to get to the one that stands out. It’s a bunch of songs that flow quite nicely. I’d compare it to Disintegration by The Cure because that album is the same way, where there’s no standout track, all of the songs are great and go together to form a complete experience. Every time I put the album on, I want to listen from start to finish.
Mike do some research before you insult someone you douche bag. ENDLESS HALLWAY writes their name in all caps Nick was just doing one more thing right.