The End Is Near unleashes their ferocious debut EP, led by the relentless title track “Executioner.” Blending hardcore grit with deathcore brutality, the band delivers an unfiltered, high-impact sonic assault.
Executioner is the Title Track and Intro to our Upcoming EP. It's short and sweet by design, as it sets the stage for the rest of the EP.
2. Your influences range from early 2000s Hardcore to modern Thall bands.
Can you name a few specific artists or albums that helped shape the sound of
this release?
100 Demons is one of our favorite bands from the early 2000s, without them, I'd say a portion of our sound would be missing. The raw aggression and attitude of that record has made a lasting impression and If you have listened to some of the brialliant riffs on it, you will heaer their influences in our music.
3. The song is described as a "one-minute sensory assault" that
demands a physical response. Was this short, high-impact format intentional
from the start, or did it evolve naturally during the writing process?
It was actually very intentional, It's the Intro to our Debut EP. It teases the vibe of the whole record and paints a vivid picture of the overall themes we visit on the EP.
4. The EP was recorded in Tim Baker’s garage. How did that DIY setting shape
the final product, and what were some challenges or advantages of working in
that environment?
The fact that we are able to get the quality of recordings that we have been all out of Tim's garage is something that is a huge point of pride for us. We feel like we are putting out a quality product, and it's a testament to the engineering knowledge and experience Tim has garnered over the years. It gives us the creative freedom to write and add as we go, and know that our sound will be captured exaclty as intended.
5. You tracked drums using an electronic kit to capture MIDI. How did that
impact the overall production, and do you think this approach will become more
common in metal production?
Well, in the modern age of Metal production, recording Drums Midi gives us options sonically over our overall tone. Nick's performance on this track was abosultely insane, and the Drum Processing does his takes justice without having a world class drum room to track his acoustic kit in. Most engineers will trigger Metal Drums in the studio anyway, so the workflow is the same for the most part.
6. Deathcore has seen a resurgence with bands blending different elements
into the genre. What aspects of Hardcore do you feel have been missing in
modern Deathcore, and how are you bringing them back?
We think the attitude of Hardcore has been missing from the Deathcore genre for a long time now. Today's deathcore has very little representation from the Hardcore Scene in it anymore. There are bands now doing synth heavy, Black Metal arrangements in "deathcore", and in some instances doesn't sound the like the genre at all. We'd like to think getting back to our roots so to speak, and adding Beatdown Hardcore Elements in our sound In a way that is a nod to the days of old, while remainign contemporary in our ideas and execution.
7. Your lineup has been involved in the Orange County Metalcore scene for
over two decades. How has the scene evolved over the years, and where do you
see it heading next?
In some ways the scene has changed alot, and in others it hasn't changed at all. At the end of the day, hardcore for us has always been a refuge away from the tumultuousness of life. We still have our staple venue in the infamous Chain Reaction and its been a home away from home in multiple age periods of our lives. We still get amazing tour packages coming through here, and have multiple venues that are booking bands of all sizes. If theres one thing that will never change, Orange County will ALWAYS have scene for this music. It wax's and wanes, but it hasn't gone anywhere for well over 25-30 Years.
8. Many bands struggle to balance heaviness with catchiness. How do you
approach songwriting to ensure your music is both crushing and memorable?
I don't think we put that much thought into it. We just try to make songs we would want hear and songs we think will translate to a high energy and engaging live show that we would want to play. I feel like we've accomplished that with our upcoming EP, and Executioner is song that we think will go off live.
9. "Executioner" is the title track of your debut EP, set for
release on February 25, 2025. What can fans expect from the rest of the record,
both sonically and thematically?
Our upcoming EP will have "Executioner" and our previous single "Grindhouse" on it. I think those 2 songs paint a pretty vivid picture of the overall themes, but this EP is definitely aggressive, dark, and heavy with themes of Self Loathing, Death, and Destruction.
10. What’s one moment during the recording or writing process that stood out
as a defining experience for this release?
The moment that sticks out is that we had to record vocals twice because our Vocal mic couldn't handle Chris's voice. Chris's scream is so loud and raw (Exactly how we like it), and we were using a condesnor that had too low of an SPL threshold that we needed to upgrade our mic to handle the strength of his scream. After a quick trip to GC, we were back in the studio for the 2nd session an hour later, and got takes that speak for themselves. Chris Hagen is madman, and we are pumped to have one of the best front men in the game.
11. If someone is hearing The End Is Near for the first time with this
track, what do you hope they take away from it?
We hope they take away a track they can listen to repeatedly on their favorite heavy playlist, and know they found a new band that is going to consitently release viceral, heavy, and quality songs to bang their head to.
12. With "Executioner" out now and the full EP on the way, what’s
next for the band in 2025? Any live shows, music videos, or future releases in
the works?
2025 is gonna be a huge year for us as a band. We are releasing our Debut EP, writing and recording our Debut LP, launching our Merch Store, and will be playing some Debut Showcases across Southern California.
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