Rock In Review

3 - The End is Begun [Special Edition]
Metal Blade Records

* * * * 1/2
4 1/2 Stars

When you look at all the bands on Metal Blade Records, 3 sticks out like a sore thumb, but their newest album The End is Begun helps prove that this band deserves to be on any label they desire to be on! The End is Begun can be looked at as a collaboration of all of 3’s older material to create a unique, Progressive Rock sound involving acoustic guitar, electric guitar, heavy bass, and not just drums from a set but also other percussion. Honestly, this album is one of the most unique albums I have ever heard and I really enjoy listening to it! The guitar work from lead guitarist Joey Eppard and rhythm guitarist Billy Riker is absolutely amazing! Really, I like Joey playing acoustic guitar more than his electric guitar work, but either way, he is an amazing guitarist! As mentioned before, not only are there drums being played on a drum set by Chris Gartmann, there is also extra percussion added by percussionist/keyboardist Joe Stote who also adds in the extra keyboard and sample parts. Putting the finishing touch to this great music is bassist Daniel Grimsland. With his awesome bass parts put together with the rest of the music and Joey’s great falsetto range, 3 has put out a great 13-track album. On the special edition, there is a 14th track that is their cover of Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play”. Out of all the tracks, about half of them are “favorites” of mine including “The World is Born of Flame” combined with “The End is Begun” (title track), “All That Remains”, and “These Iron Bones”. “The World is Born of Flame” is the first track on the album and really rises up as a great track that gives an effect of “zooming in on the band” instead of hitting you full force with everybody. The second track is the title track “The End is Begun”. This track almost “rings” off the first track continuing with the acoustic work of Joey with an almost marching beat to it. These two tracks really provide a great beginning to what is, overall, a truly remarkable album!

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