Search - 3 :: End Is Begun

Doesn't get much better than this

Christopher Bradshaw | Winston-Salem, NC USA | 11/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How rare is the 'perfect album'? Rare enough that when one comes along--and I say perfect based on its own merits, not comparitively--it inspires grass-roots action, evangelizing the band and its music to anyone and everyone. 3's music is technical and sophisticated, pushing progressive rock in a strange trajectory, the short prog rock song. All songs but one on "The End Is Begun" are about 4 minutes or less, a definite departure from the genre but an indication of it's flexibility.



The vocals are crisp and distinctive, ethreal without being passive or straying into New Age melodrama and the music is tight and inventive. 3 can get intense, with some truly epic riffs and solos crammed into a song's short run time but counter-balanced with lighter bridges and choruses that are the definition of "hook", musically speaking. Eppard can alter the direction of the melody without warning, keeping the songs fresh through multiple listens and the drumming actually comes to the forefront without overwhelming the other members stellar musicianship.



On a personal note I didn't take to their previous effort "Wake Pig" as I have to "The End is Begun". "Wake" is a good album but "The End" is 3's bar and I have full confidence that they'll clear it on their next release.



I've seen them 3 (!) times on their tour with Porcupine Tree (see my review of Fear of a Blank Planet). I'd never heard of them before but not only did they pack the house I was inspired to give their albums a listen based solely on their live performance, something hasn't happened with me since I saw Tool at Lollapolloza back in the early 90's.



Check out Coheed and Cambria and Porcupine Tree if you like 3."

Amazing.

The Wickerman | Austin, TX | 01/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A lot of great bands put out some really great music this past year. However, this album by this unfortunately little-known band is one that's really stood out for me. 3, the brainchild of the multi-talented Joey Eppard, is truly an experience like no other.



A lot of people tend to compare them to their sister band, Coheed & Cambria, as their former drummer Josh Eppard is Joey's brother. However, while the comparisons aren't completely out of line, they are very different bands. 3's music tends to be much more multi-layered and experimental, while mostly eschewing the huge epic cheese prog style that Coheed does (and does well, might I add). Still, as dizzyingly complex and multi-faceted as their music is, it still manages to be fairly approachable. They occupy a sort of middle ground between the more pop-oriented prog style of Coheed and the intimidating madness of something like the Mars Volta (another frequent comparison). In short, their songwriting is simply immaculate, allowing every aspect to perfectly coexist with the rest.



I always say that I hate to single out any one musician in a given band, but Joey's talent deserves attention for sure. He's got that rare distinction of being an amazing singer, songwriter, and musician. Of course, his guitar work is incredible. Ranging from metal shredding to mad finger-tapping techniques to Michael Hedges-style slapping to flamenco, he is undoubtedly one of the most gifted and creative guitarists out there today. Better yet, his playing stands out, but doesn't completely take the focus away from the rest of the band, which in my opinion is exactly what a great guitarist should do.



As a singer, he definitely stands out as well. While I wanted to try to avoid too many Coheed comparisons, one can't help but notice he has a very similar style to that of Claudio Sanchez. However, Joey's vocals are much less "Geddy Lee-like", and utilize more range and versatility. At times, he almost reminds me of Stevie Wonder, although I'd call his style very much his own. His voice adds more of a pop element to the music, which tempers the mad complexity very nicely.



Describing the songs is nearly impossible. There's so much going on, it's difficult to put into words. Songs range from metallic ("Diamond in the Crush") to proggy ("The World Is Born of Flame"), to more catchy pop ("Bleeding Me Home"). There's also the very plaintive ballad "Shadow Play", and the hugely epic closer "The Last Day", which brings together many different shades of the band's style. At 53 minutes, the album feels like it goes by really fast. Songs are mostly concise, packing in a ton of greatness in their brevity.



As I said before, I've really just heard nothing quite like this. A lot of bands today are claiming to make progressive music, but this is one band that truly is progressive in every sense. I need every album by these guys, right now. I would advise you to do the same.





(EDIT: Just as a small addendum to this review, if you buy and enjoy this album, I also recommend going to Joey Eppard's Myspace page, and checking out the song "Dead". Unfortunately it is currently not available on any album, but it must be heard, because it's so freaking good.)"

A Masterpiece

Matthew Schneider | Earth | 04/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one encredible album. While some albums of th progressive naturre take several listens to fully graps, the genuis of this is apparent on the first listen. Beautifully melodic acustics are blended with just the right amount of heavy elctric guitars to form a unique and oginal sound without coming off as pretentious, as many prog bands do. The vocals are cealr and clean, providing the perfect voice to go with the music. The drums are perfect without overdoing it. I can't reccomend this album enough. If you are a diehard prog rocker, enjoying the most complex and intricate music, don't pass this up thinking it is a "poppish" passer by, because it is an excellently written album that is a great breath of fresh air to the often pompous prog scene. If you are sick of the same old, but still don't want to venture into intensly complex prog bands like Pain of Salvation and the like, this is a great starting point for crossing over into a whole new realm of music."