Set on End - Album Review: The Dark Beyond
There is nothing more pleasing than finding something new out of nowhere that is utterly enjoyable. I will be honest, personally, I have not find anything recent on the NZ metal scene that gives me butterflies in my stomach. Now, before I get burned at the stake for this blasphemy, let me redeem myself with this little gem that was blessed upon me.
Set On End. These dudes from Auckland have been on hiatus from the metal scene in New Zealand but this would only strengthen what would come in 2016. On the 15th of July 2016 they released their first studio album, The Dark Beyond and it is currently on sale as a USB dongle. Nifty looking dongle I might add, go check it out for yourself at http://setonend.bigcartel.com/. I've been listening to this album a lot lately and this is exactly why I feel super excited to share something awesome with you guys, especially if you have felt like myself, that on our ever growing Metal scene, we have been missing something and I do believe we have found that something.
The fiery riff opener of The Wayfarer sets the tone perfectly for this album. The manner in which The Wayfarer unfolds is very reminiscent of Monuments or the what seems highly influenced sounds of Periphery. One of my favourite songs so far on this album is definitely Claw at the Thrown. This song has a really awesome throwback riff reminiscent of Getting Away With Murder by Papa Roach, but don't be fooled, the flavour of this song is set still very highly in the sound of what Set On End has to offer. What I find extremely refreshing about Set On End is that they don't have to try hard to "sound good", they just are. No over the top gimmicks, only a sense of sincerity in what they are doing. Don't get me wrong, this album is by no means "simple" it is just a well produced album consisting of very well written songs.
The Dark Beyond does have intricate parts with jolts of progressive sound and if it was not for the obvious pause between tracks, you'd feel as if you are on a continues roller coaster, looping from one song to another. Each song builds into the other from spiralling harmony leads to brutal riffs. Set On End offers a dynamic brilliance on this album. Their sound is admirably different to other similar sounding bands on the NZ metal scene. Set on End seem to exist, making perfect metal isolated from the rest of the native progressive scene. This idea might be due to the fact that they are new, but still, you have NZ metal and then you have NZ METAL, with a bar being set very high for others, thanks to Set On End.
Yes, their sound is progressive and they offer familiar shadows to the metal scene, but as a whole, Set On End offers something unknown to us. That is at least my two cents on it. There is a subtly placed sense of urgency on this album and so far I can't fully place my finger on it, but what an experience it has been listening to this wonderful ear-candy. I am looking forward to see how they next revolutionize our local metal music.
Overall the album is tight, consistent and coherent. This is of international quality, I had to remind myself that this was a band that I could just hop into a car to go and listen to live. Even before I checked, I could tell that the mastering was similar to that of a band like Periphery's', and indeed it was the work of Ermin Hamidovic who mastered the Juggernaut albums. I would not hesitate to buy The Dark Beyond USB as it has far more to offer than just an mp3 download, more than just a CD and more than just going on Spotify and streaming it. This really does take band merchandise to another level that should be considered more. I truly do love holding a CD, but this does just make more sense in such a fast moving world. This album should set the bar for all future New Zealand releases to put NZ the same playing field as those playing the Warp Tour and beyond.
About Set on End
Recorded between Mindset, and Zorran Mendonsa Productions in Auckland, The Dark Beyond was mixed and engineered by Zorran Mendonsa (Blacklistt, New Way Home, Saving Grace) and mastered by Ermin Hamidovic (Periphery, Plini, Haunted Shores) at Systematic Productions in Melbourne.
"The album explores humanity's journey as a species and as individuals, striving for a better world, striving to further our knowledge of who and where we are. Sometimes the path we should take is obvious, and at other times we simply wander into the dark, reaching out for the unknown."
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Set on End
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