Although
Snapcase has never broken down the barrier that separates their unique brand of emotional hardcore punk from the mainstream sound, as a band they have been hailed as visionaries in a scene that is generally lacking in any vision whatsoever. Always pushing themselves to the limit, one should not be surprised that End Transmission carries on in the tradition of past releases such as Designs for Automotion and Progression Through Unlearning. While the trademark progressive hardcore sound is still apparent,
Snapcase has gone to great lengths to evolve their musical approach into more of an artistic form as opposed to the traditional hardcore strappings found on their full-length debut, Lookinglasself, and later releases. This artistic approach feels natural;
Snapcase has always been a band to encourage individuality, yet for newer fans this format could appear confusing, instead mistaken as an attempt to sound like artists such as
Thursday and
Glassjaw who have achieved a sort of mainstream recognition. While this may be the case, End Transmission still has a steadfast determination that cannot be overlooked. The lengthier tracks, such as "Ten A.M." and "Exile Etiquette," are arguably some of this group's best material, allowing them to expand on intriguing ideas and impact on a much deeper level than previous material had the ability to. End Transmission does have these special moments, yet the majority of the disc is kept within brief time restraints, never quite allowing the songs to develop enough to be memorable. As always,
Snapcase's greatest strength comes in the lyrical department, and this album delivers with compelling concepts surrounding a futuristic society. In this context, End Transmission is an edgy, artistic album that clearly triumphs, yet still only feels half-finished. ~ Jason D. Taylor