Album/EP

Endeavour – For The Time Being (Album Review)

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Jun 11, 2023

7 min read

Endeavour – For The Time Being
Released: June 16^th, 2023

Line-up:

Gijs Smeets // Vocals
Rob Heyen // Lead Guitar
Anthony Scheijen // Rhythm Guitar
Jan te Velde // Bass
Teun Wolfs // Drums

Endeavour online:

Facebook
Instagram
Youtube/Bandcamp
Spotify

Here at Wall of Sound, we have had our eye on Endeavour for a few months now. The Netherland’s hottest new metalcore outfit has tantalised our eardrums with the three singles ‘Blur’, ‘Aimless’, and ‘Colourblind’. Endeavour’s debut album For The Time Being drops later this week – what else have the Dutch metallers served up?

The album opens with ‘Definite'. A slow eerie guitar melody draws you in, the soundscape filling over time as vocals, bass and drums join the fray, restraining just enough so that when the energetic synth-led breakdown hits, it smacks you in the face with full force. The ebb and flow between controlled melody and uninhibited fury continues seamlessly for the remaining couple of minutes, providing the listener with a hint of what is to come.

Next up is ‘Blur’. Listeners are greeted by a ripper guitar riff that wouldn’t be astray on an early Northlane album. Clean vocals then take centre stage, giving guidance to the anthemic chorus that’s sure to be a big sing-along moment at live shows. Chaos returns as the soaring melodies are suddenly replaced by the ripper opening riff, though the real descent into chaos is bestowed by the rhythm-heavy breakdown. The feeling of ascension is large as the chorus returns to close out this number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z-WWq0uBPM

‘Black Box’ follows and is led by a very 90’s grunge rock guitar riff, complemented by melodic vocals. The audio fades ever so briefly before the stadium-filling chorus launches at full capacity. While this is one of the softer pieces of the album, Endeavour get their hands a little dirty during a mid-song groove-down complete with synth-based leads. Not quite finished yet, listeners are then treated to one of those always popular key-shift choruses, to really set it off.

Second single ‘Aimless’ rises up from the depths of hell with a full-on assault from the get-go. Heavy riffs, pounding drums, and filthy vocals fill the air throughout the song. The chaos subsides just enough during the chorus to let some soaring clean vocal melodies slip into your brain like earworms to make sure your return for more later.

‘Colourblind’, the latest single, is next. This one highlights the bands softer side, with mellow melodies swelling and swirling throughout. The pulsing bassline carries the verses, before chuggy guitars set the tone for the arena-sized chorus, and a short but sweet riff-down.

One of the two unreleased tracks, ‘Sober’ continues the mellow and melodic vibe. The first half of the tune is largely led by clean vocals, with sparse guitar leads and withdrawn drumbeats. However, this purely serves the purpose of subduing the listener before they are pummelled with a crushing breakdown and snarling vocals mid-track. The song continues to build with a full-band version of the chorus and a closing breakdown for good measure.

‘Breathe’ keeps that momentum flowing with an upbeat synth melody kicking this one off. Gruff vocals complement the up-tempo pace, with Gijs Smeets channelling some Marcus Bridge-like tones and flows throughout the track. The riffs are bouncy, the beat is driving, and the chorus is large. Pair that with a gnarly riff infused breakdown and were onto a tuna-sandwich.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8mw6QfFt6E

Riffage slams through your listening device of choice for the first 20 seconds of ‘127’. A slight pullback occurs as bass and clean vocals take the lead for the verse, before the opening riff hits again for the chorus with soaring vocal melodies ensuring this one will be anthemic. Endeavour mix it up a bit for the second verse, getting a bit dirtier with unclean vocals and accentuated rhythmic guitar riffage that flows nicely into a riffdown, before lifting everything up again into the chorus.

Title track and album closer ‘For The Time Being’ draws you in with soothing keys, before quickly picking the pace up with shreddy guitar leads and a double-kick fuelled drumbeat. Rapid-fire delivery of screaming vocals ensures your attention is kept through to the juxtaposition of a very short but angelic chorus. The remainder of this song is pure controlled chaos, pulling and pushing the listener between states of calm, fury, melancholy and relief. A solid album closer.

For The Time Being has all the ingredients you want from a metalcore album, with enough variety between and within songs to keep listeners engaged. My only critique would be that Endeavour haven’t really brought anything new to the game. However, this is their first album, and it is well written metalcore that is definitely worth listening to, so I think if they stick at it, the next album could be monstrous.