Artist: Endif
CD Title: Meta
Label: Crunch Pod
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 11-16-06

From the slamming beats of "Crackpipe" to the distorted electro programming of "Retina," Endif's debut full-length is a masterpiece of rhythmic harshness that establishes programmer Jason Hollis as one of the rising stars of the new American power noise scene. There's some great minimalist stuff here, like the grim opening track "Rhomboid" and the hard-hitting "Gritscape," a collaboration with Polluted Axis, but unlike a lot of power noise acts, Hollis is often at his best when he allows a little melody or even vocals to mitigate the drum machines and feedback. "Sleeper Cell" features vocals, but they add to the paranoia instead of detracting from the cold mechanized beats. Likewise, the German-language vocals (courtesy of Apraxia's Siren313) on "Totenplatz" just add to the song's glorious electro chaos. Occasional synth melodies also add a bit of flavor; "Bolter" and "Blotter" have a bit more harmony than one usually expects from rhythmic noise tracks, while the fuzzy trance-inspired leads on "Antilife" are reminiscent of Terrorfakt's early hit "ALF." Of course, for diehard noise addicts, "Memebomb" is solidly brutal, and "Syncrete" provides a bit of chilling meditation with its hollow ambience and eerily clicking rhythms. More abstract than C/A/T, more serious than Caustic, and more mechanical than The Operative, Hollis's compositions should nonetheless appeal to fans of his Crunch Pod label-mates as Endif joins the growing ranks of cutting-edge U.S. noise artists.

For more information, visit www.endif.org.