Snapcase
End Transmission
(Victory Records)

End Transmission is Snapcase's fourth full-length, and sixth release on their long time label mainstay, Victory Records (now ¼ major label owned). This album, like all their previous releases, pushes Snapcase's sound one step further, in their most experimental effort yet. The 13 tracks provide a new, more dynamically aware sound and structure, that injects both synthesized space effects as well as piano interludes, into the heavy and intense hardcore that has defined Snapcase throughout their 11 years as a band. The new experimentation is similar to the likes of Cave In, the Deftones, and the Refused, who have all helped push hardcore to new heights.
Although Snapcase's new twist displays a significant amount of progression, there are a few songs on End Transmission that are reminiscent of tracks that appeared on their two previous full lengths. The first track titled "Coagulate" brings forth the upbeat rock edge present on Designs for Automotion, while tracks like "Aperture" hit hard like the deep, dissonant and heavy head-bangers that appeared on another full length, Progression through Unlearning. While there are a new variety of elements on this release, the distinctive yell of Daryl Taberski still emanates throughout every song. Daryl's introspective lyrics again explore revolution, and the reclamation of identity in a consumer society, and his words and thoughts are as poetic and developed as ever. All 13 tracks of End Transmission (plus additional writings) document a fictional story of oppressed workers of a future society, who rise against their executive, Big Brother keepers to exit the planet and begin a new life of freedom on uncharted lands. The story travels through all stages of the uprising and escape, and includes testimony from eyewitnesses as well as skeptics of the movement.
This fantastic trek is packaged in a beautifully designed booklet, and the recording is remarkably produced by Brian McTernan (Hot Water Music, Thrice, Texas is the Reason, Promise Ring). All these facets come together to add another hardcore staple to the Snapcase discography. Although this album does not break the ground that Progression through Unlearning did, I imagine that End Transmission will push Snapcase, as well their style of music, further into the mainstream than ever before.

--------kory