It was the great LA prophets, Downset, who spoke to me in 1994 with the almighty adage: “Anger – hostility towards the opposition”. The ever growing ferocity in the repetition of that statement is something that I will never forget. So when I hear the utmost of anger after hitting play on an album, a giddy fucking grin appears on my face, and I am utterly ebullient. To say The End Of All Good Things by West Texas trio, Aneurysm, embodies the basest of human anger would truly be doing a disservice to this EP. It is a fucking reckoning in audio form.
Woven throughout this EP are audio clips from disturbing and unsettling psychiatric evaluations (similar to clips used on END’s Splinters From An Ever-Changing Face) and those clips help create the tapestry of chaos. More importantly, the breakneck speeds and unyielding assault begin promptly with “No Salvation” and continue throughout the entirety of the 5 song EP. Moments of pure Powerviolence (“Dust Idol”) and crowd-kill worthy breakdowns (“Dilate”) encapsulate what Aneurysm are here to accomplish: lay waste to the weak.
Instantly, I am reminded staunchly of Nails and Todd Jones’ penchant for writing similar tunes of “fuck-it-all” and “fuck-you-too”. There are blast beats galore but the moments of groove interspersed throughout are a welcome albeit bone crunching reprieve. Most notably these elements are prevalent in “Lost”. A head nodding half time bridge is overwhelmed by the song’s intense breakdown. Unlike some deathcore peers, Aneurysm doesn’t go for a “modern” breakdown, per se. The ending of “Lost” would feel comfortable on Shattered Realm’s Broken Ties, Spoken Lies aka this shit will fuck you up.
Another name that floats around in the old noggin while listening to The End Of All Good Things is Tyler Mullen (formerly of Year Of The Knife but in my humble opinion, laying waste to suckers in the inimitable Scarab). I have no ill intent in making that comparison as I believe it is a fantastic asset of lead singer, Jonah. The rawness with which he is able to spew his lyrics and the strength you can feel in his vocals are one of my favorite parts of Aneurysm. To scream is to make heavy music but to do that so much better than most vocalists in heavy bands is a skill unto itself.
Lest I have been remiss to sing the praises of the rest of the band, be assured that Sidney (drums) and Casey (guitar) are fucking superb at what they do as well. Notably, “The End Of All Good Things” serves as the perfect EP closer showcasing the best of what the band has to offer. Powerviolence, D-Beat, and hardcore seem to be the main components that build the Voltron that is Anuerysm but if you’re gonna form the head, why not sprinkle in a little Slayer worship in the main riff of the title track?
This is not an EP for punk ass bitches. This is pure anger, spit rage, and a dash of we are here to fucking frighten you. The End Of All Things is just the beginning for these Texans.
- Fav song: “Lost”
FFO: powerviolence, two steps, BBQ, steers, existentialistic madness, breakdowns, belt buckles
Follow this fucking link to listen and while you’re there, fucking buy something from the band:
Windmills, Spinkicks, Headbangs, Push Pits 
Leave a comment