Album Review: The End is Begun by Three
Bringing old school Progressive Rock and Metal to a new generation.
Sometimes you can tell a lot about a band from whom they tour with. For example, Three have toured with Porcupine Tree, Coheed & Cambria, and Scorpions. As one might expect from this resume, they sound like a more progressive and more metal version of Coheed - who themselves are both more Progressive and more Metal than most people give them credit for.
That being said, it does a disservice to the band to imply they're Coheed copycats. True, vocalist Joey Eppard is one of many young progressive vocalists trying to emulate Geddy Lee, but he's so much smoother about it than his contemporaries.
While C&C have been incorporating more and more classic rock influences into their work and "The End is Begun" makes some grabs at modern accessibility, let's make no mistake - Coheed & Cambria are a thoroughly modern band, while Three are old school, 70's progressive rock.
Scions of Prog
As proof, the band draws their influences from the titans of the 70s. "The Word is Born of Flame" provides an intro in the vein of Jethro Tull, before it launches into bombastic Black Sabbath style theatrics. Yes makes itself known throughout the album, as does Rush on tracks like "Battle Cry" and the acoustic ballad "Been to the Future." Meanwhile the first single, "All That Remains" is a soulful slice of mid-era Genesis, peppered with the same noodley Steve Hacket style riffs that once made Iron Maiden's Steve Harris say, "Hey, that's a pretty cool sound."
Speaking of which, "These Iron Bones" evokes Iron Maiden nicely, and would not sound out of place on its most recent albums. Three even throw in nods to The Beatles and the Blues Brothers - it's easy to imagine George Harrison smiling as he kicks back with Krishna and listens to "Shadowplay", or Jake and Elwood discovering their first Led Zepplin or AC/DC albums with "Diamond in the Crush."
The Song Does Not Remain the Same
There are two things set Three apart from its competitors here. First, the band never feels like it is imitating. Even when their influences are obvious, Eppard and company create a sound all their own. It's difficult to describe what makes certain bands unique, but for Three a big part of it is infusing each song with a darkness and melancholy that ties together an otherwise eclectic collection. "The End is Begun" is not actually a concept album about the apocalypse, but it feels like it is.
The second is how focused the songwriting is. Most progressive rock bands are notorious for long, sprawling pieces that wander off point. Instead, Three manages to create lush soundscapes within short, tightly written songs. The tracks may build on one another or delve into intricate layers of composition, but they never overstay her welcome. Of the thirteen songs on the album, only one runs over five minutes.
That track is the final one, "The Last Day of the World." Even here, the sprawl feels focused, as Three dials down the metal bombast in favor of haunting atmospheric melodies, Pink Floyd-ian guitars, and a steady, heartbeat like drum line. The track requires more patience to appreciate than its predecessors, but those who stick with it are rewarded as the track builds towards a subtle climax.
Finally the heartbeat stops. The stars fade out with a slight twinkle, and the world ends not with a bang, but a whisper. Somehow, it doesn't seem like such a bad way to go.
The End is Begun
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Three the Band
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