Eye for None is getting ready to coast through 2019 with its latest album, End of Communication, an album which fits the definition of modernized power punk but still contains trimmings of several other elements, thanks to each of the band members’ unique musical backgrounds. Every track is held together with heavily reinforced power chords and dueling vocal leads that speak about the nature of human relationships in a digital age. The lyrics cut close to the bone and touch upon the complicated dynamics of the heart-to-heart interactions we sometimes take for granted.
Eye for None is comprised of Kelly Hoppenjans, Steven Edwards, Dylan Callahan, Chuck Stearns and Heather Miller, each one a piece of the edgy, supercharged puzzle. End of Communication is a fun labyrinth to get lost in. It’s hard to pinpoint what makes it so alluring. It could be the band’s colossal stockpile of raw energy or the dramatic vocal presence. Either way, music fans with a sweet tooth for punk-rock are bound to find something. Turn up your volume for every sucker punch to the gut.
End of Communication is far from boring. It’ll likely meet the standards of many veteran punk fans, but that doesn’t mean it’s a grand slam. Some songs on the album sound too much alike to distinguish one from another. Certain sounds begin to recycle themselves about halfway through the record. Plus, it’s hard to listen and not think of Paramore, not that there is anything tragically wrong with that comparison. Make no mistake; Eye for None has a particular vigor that many punk-rock bands shoot for and miss.
Jordan Logue, the credited audio engineer, brought his experience with Halestorm and Rise Against to the album, resulting in an exceptional production. Every song has something good going for it. Across the board, every track has a ruthless drum sound, which is one of the aspects that really sells the record. Kelly is lead vocalist for the majority of the album, but the background vocals from Steven and Dylan add a lot of emphasis to each song, making Eye for None vocally proficient as a band.
It’s also worth mentioning the beautiful songwriting by Steven and Kelly. End of Communication is human. It touches on the everyday and shines a spotlight on topics like depression, feminism, heartbreak, immigration, anxiety and addiction. Artists who know how to connect with an audience on an emotional level stick around, mainly because of the deep emotional relationships that audiences build with well-written music. Overall, End of Communication speaks to music fans who can appreciate honest songwriting and powerful instrumentation.
The band plans to drop End of Communication on Jan. 18.
