This Ending – Needles of Rust

Band: This Ending
Title: Needles of Rust
Label: Black Lion Records
Release date: 11 June 2021
Country: Sweden
Format reviewed: High-quality Digital Recording

Well… I just feel I must start talking a bit about the band. This Ending was formed in 2005 a few years after A Canorous Quintet (a fierce and raging Melodic Death Metal band from Sweden founded in the early 90s) split up. Linus Nirbrant (guitars), Mårten Hansen (vocals), Fredrik Andersson (drums), Leo Pignon (guitars) and Jesper Löfgren (bass) reunited again under a new band’s name and they started they new project, first as The Plague (2005-2006) and from 2006 to nowadays, under the name of This Ending. I must say I didn’t enjoy the style they delivered in their two first albums, with that industrial touch mixed with the Melodic Death Metal style, but this is only a matter of musical taste, my personal preferences. But then… after a bit of change in their line-up, This Ending released “Garden of Death” in 2016, and it was like returning in some way to the great Swedish Melodic Death Metal sound from the 90s. Of course, they were not A Canorous Quintet anymore, but their sound was great on that album, even a bit reminiscent of that previous band. And now, five years after, their 4th full-length “Needles of Rust” is finally out.

Now yes. I’m going to say a few words about this new album…

First thing to comment about the band’s line-up is that Fredrik Andersson is no more playing drums with them, now it’s Peter Nagy at charge of percussion and guitars too (he is in A Canorous Quintet since 2016, and also in Mörk Gryning, and in Eternal Oath…). And all I can say is that Nagy is as great as his predecessor, in terms of energy, technique and intensity at drumming. And that’s a strong point in “Needles of Rust”, the powerful and dynamic drums; besides of the brilliant guitar work (that characteristic fast tremolo riffs!, and some outstanding solo passages), and Mårten’s rough and fierce vocals in contrast with the huge melody present all through this album.

Right from the start, when “My Open Wound” explodes with a combination of said elements, you know you are here for a great ride. And that’s totally right. If you are not breathless after this first track, honestly I don’t know what can do this effect on you! “Annihilate” follows up and is another energetic song (maybe not so fast but music quality is not about speed), with clear hints to the outstanding Melodic Death Metal made in Sweden in the 90s. Some other songs can contain slower tempos (as in “Eclipse of the Dead”, with a soft intro and stunning melodies in total contrast with Mårten’s raspy vocals; that contrast is precisely what makes this song so beautiful, in my opinion!). Self-titled song “Needles of Rust” starts in a soft way with that “metallic” guitar sound, and then, when drums unleash… damn, that double bass pedal seems about to explode! And the guitar tunes in that song have been haunting me for days. Near the end of the album, the song “Devastate” is another great example of what I’m trying to say: right from the start, you notice that A Canorous Quintet reminiscence; it has a very melodic basis that flows naturally between a great amount of harshness and aggression, it’s simply fantastic how these guys make the result so heavy and emotional at the same time.

I’m more than happy that This Ending keeps on with the musical path they returned to with their previous album, “Garden of Death”; “Needles of Rust” is the kind of work I was expecting from them and honestly… it’s one of the best Metal albums from this year that I’ve listened to so far! This is a 9,5/10 for me. Sílvia

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9,5/10 Epic Storm
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