Snapcase - End Transmission

Snapcase
End Transmission
Victory Records
Grade: A-/A

As the fourth full-length from these Buffalo, NY legends, End Transmission is a tremendous record guided by the principles and innovations that have lead Snapcase through the years. Moving into their 12th year on Victory Records, and amassing a broad and deep catalog of releases, End Transmission should take Snapcase beyond the level that Progression Through Unlearning initially placed them. That is, although Lookingglassself made them legends, Progression Through Unlearning allowed them to breakthrough to the heavy music mainstream. This in turn helps(ed) them influence a generation of new bands.

If you are like me, their latest release Designs for Automotion in 2000 lacked the intensity and quality of Progression. Hence, I was worried that End Transmission might once again not provide the chills that Snapcase is characteristic in providing. Pleasantly, the chills are back, as Snapcase have produced one of their best records in End Transmission. Most poignantly, it seems that Snapcase took the flavor from all of their past releases, mix it together and produced a list of hits. The songs move between slow, brooding numbers (e.g., "Ten A.M.") to faster straight-ahead hardcore (e.g., "First World) to a greater reliance on harmonics (unfortunately absent in Designs). Interestingly, the record has this Fugazi-type feel to it, as if Fugazi decided to turn up the distortion and get a bit heavy. Snapcase have also brought out a vast array of sounds to fill out the album. For instance, and I swear, there are a few breakdowns where you hear the echos of piano. That's right there is piano on a Snapcase album. Out of the 13 tracks, it is difficult to point a few out as the stellar. Each has its own quality and appeal, and thus End Transmission possesses that rare quality on records where the songs must be digested as a whole.

If you had any interest in Snapcase in the past, End Transmission should make you believers once again. If nothing else the Empire Strikes Back-esque artwork, showing Buffalo in the winter (scary), should make you take a moment to appreciate it at the record store. End Transmission reaffirms the faith that Snapcase is one of the best, brightest and most innovative bands in the heavy music world. Look for them to expand their international appeal and influence as the music gods bow to this five-piece from Buffalo. If you are pathetic enough to not have seen them live (and you missed years of the tightest live band, with all of the guitar throws and acrobats), you can catch them on the road now with Boy Sets Fire and Atreyu.