End Boss Post New Video; Heart of the Sky EP Available Now
Posted in Bootleg Theater on May 5th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
Ominously-named New Zealand-based four-piece End Boss have unleashed a new two-songer EP called Heart of the Sky, and its two component tracks, “Heart of the Sickle” and “Queen of the Sky,” both act quickly to follow-up on the potential the band began to show on their first single “Feral” (posted here) late last year. We’re still in formative stages, but you can listen to the depth of tone that comes to bear in the guitar, the plod of the drums, the melody and interplay of vocals, and it’s way easier to get a sense of who End Boss are looking to be as a band as they lumber through “Heart of the Sickle” — the video for which you can see below — than it was even just a couple months ago. Expanding context will do that, but I think there’s also a manifestation of songwriting and dynamic that’s starting to happen between crush and melody and, golly gosh, I hope they keep pushing it forward.
“Queen of the Sky” has a
little bit of shuffle to go with the heft consistent with “Heart of the Sickle,” and it also shows a greater melodic reach. Again, there’s growing to be done, but there’s growth happening too, and End Boss already have a formidable command of their impulses. What I’m telling you is watch out. You already know Aus/NZ is a hotbed of underground heavy — so is just about everywhere at this point — but with two guitars and no bass, End Boss conjure atmospheric range while remaining forward thinking in terms of craft and infusing their material with exciting turns like the culled-from-noise-rock crashes at the finish of “Queen of the Sky.” They make it easy to dig what they’re doing and the largesse of their sound clearly isn’t the only weapon at their disposal.
Heart of the Sky is just two songs, and “Feral” was just one, so obviously we’re dealing with early days here, but on that level, the grip End Boss have on what they’re doing is striking and it speaks to the sense of purpose driving them. I’m interested to hear what comes next, and I think if you take the time to listen, you might be too.
Check out the video and see what you think. Some comment from the band and more info follows.
Please enjoy:
End Boss, “Heart of the Sickle” official video
E.J. Thorpe on Heart of the Sky EP:
“I wrote the lyrics for ‘Heart of the Sickle’ when I was really hurting over the Australian bushfires. It’s pretty much a stern mama warning to remember that we are at the mercy of the earth (not the other way around) and to reconnect or else… ‘Queen of the Sky’ is a reflection on both the Queen of Swords and Tower archetypes, how we can choose to develop strength of character even when it feels like life is falling apart. Basically it’s a take no shit song.”
The End Boss emerges from its cave, powered up with two monstrous new songs, recorded by the band at home before isolation, and released now under lockdown. EJ Thorpe’s haunting yet soulful vocals ride the crushing waves of guitar and thundering drums – the heart of the sickle is the flame.
End Boss is:
E.J Thorpe – Vocals
Greg Broadmore – Guitar
Christian Pearce – Guitar
Nathan Hickey – Drums
