They say you can’t teach and old dog new tricks, but rules are made to be broken, and who the hell are you calling old, anyhow?
Comprised of true legends of heavy music, End Reign sought to reframe a series of narratives on their debut. Featuring members from Integrity, Pig Destroyer, All Out War, Bloodlet, and Exhumed, The Way of All Flesh is Decay doesn’t really sound like any of those bands, save for a shared love of riffs, metallic hardcore, and screaming about the impending doom of humankind (some things are just natural).
The result is a record that is both a love letter to the classics of the ’80s, ’90s, and now, with a real emphasis on almost maniacal musicianship catchy songwriting. The key to unlocking the immense talent within came together through a ton of creativity, of course, as well as looking at everything from a different angle.
“I set out to make this record with a few rules that I normally don’t adhere to,” guitarist Domenic Romero shares. “First, everyone in the band had to be someone I haven’t collaborated with before. Second, it must be recorded in a new studio. But the most important rule was that all the songs had to follow a traditional verse/chorus structure.
“Normally, I write in a more cinematic style, piecing together a cohesive album (some might call it riff salad, but I digress), but with End Reign, I took a one-song-at-a-time approach. It was a really rewarding experiment that I would like to explore further. Typically, it all begins with the idea of a riff. The first good riff sets the overall mood for the entire song. However, the vibe can shift within the song itself (as seen in ‘Serpent Messiah’). But once I have that starting point, the feeling is quickly established, and the rest sort of unravels naturally until it’s complete. This time around, I tried to think more like AC/DC.”
The Way of All Flesh is Decay is out tomorrow, and you can preorder it from Relapse Records. Follow End Reign on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
Photo courtesy of Blake Roemer
