Review: Endless, Nameless – Living Without

Endless, Nameless 
Living Without

Silent Pendulum Records
Street: 02.24
Endless, Nameless = Paramore–Sweet Spirit + Suicidal Tendencies + stage equipment falling off a cliff

Hailing from the Bronco country of Denver, Colorado, the clusterfuck band of Endless, Nameless was assembled. Lead singer Elle Reynolds has vocals that could range with Hayley Williams if Paramore dabbled heavily in experimental rock. Guitarist Ricardo Bonilla and bassist Bradley Thill drag mad licks with every ear-tearing screech, and drummer Jackson Lacroix makes cymbals splat and snares boom to utmost satisfaction. With a band name inspired by a Nirvana track, their eruptive ensemble is a mirror reflection of what the bands from yesteryears have tried to accomplish. Themes of guilt, moving on and, above all, the “sticking it to the man” persona is clear in view, so cranking out their very first album was necessary … right? 

Very few words can reflect the feeling and blaring sound of Endless, Nameless’ debut LP, Living Without. Words like “punk” or “thrash” merely scratch the surface. The band’s genre-bending sense of musical prowess throughout can be alternately labeled as “black metal” or a sheer fever dream. However, the only way I can truly describe this album is “interesting.” 

The beginnings of tracks such as “A World So Kind” and “A Gradual Unwinding” draw you in. You’re bobbing your head, trying to get into the groove of what seems like poppy Lemonade Mouth only to get bombarded by a lyrical collision. Reynolds’ speaking style of singing doesn’t pair well with clunky riffs that stretch on for far too long. It sounds as if the band missed a few notes at rehearsal in every single song.

The real deal-breaker, the stitched-together magnum opus that drives home the true animal rage through the entire record, is “Propaniac,” an almost 5-minute jam session that pairs perfectly with brawling in a mud-splattered mosh pit or grinding through Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. Energetic, thriveful sounds reach toward the album’s climax. It’s here where you can fully appreciate the band’s raw chemistry. Although the track is heavy in its pounding bass chords and silver stream distortions, it almost seems personal for the band. Its fun and fancy-free nature gets the juices flowing.

Endless, Nameless’ debut album is as bold and in-your-face as any black metal track, but the kitchen sink approach to taking listeners by storm seems a bit too much to enjoy. Each member is equipped with rock talent to easily turn out hits left and right. However, blindly unloading their skill set in their very first LP like a cloudy-eyed firing squad makes it hard to listen to. For the future projects of Endless, Nameless: less is more. –Alton Barnhart