Anthology of Dead Ends [EP]

Botch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Hydrahead Records
• ASIN: B00006L3MC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,436 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as it gets, February 12, 2004

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Wheelchair Assassin (The Great Concavity) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Anthology of Dead Ends (Audio CD)

Botch are one band that will be sorely missed by avid noise freaks like myself. Words like "genius" get thrown around a lot, but these guys may well have deserved such a label. Even in a somewhat crowded noisecore/math-metal field (think Meshggah, the Dillinger Escape Plan, Burnt By the Sun, Converge, Coalesce, etc.), they more than managed to stake out their own ground during their all-too-brief career. Their inventiveness was immense, their songwriting ability limitless, and their musicianship nothing short of incredible. And they left us with a classic valedictory in the form of "An Anthology of Dead Ends."

What has always struck me first when listening to Botch is that utterly amazing guitar sound that Dave Knudson so effortlessly conjured up. Conventional riffage is almost nowhere to be found here; in its place is one of the most mind-warping displays of technical wankery in recent history. Knudson cranks out an unpredictable onslaught of astringent noise that lends itself perfectly to the band's freeform song structures without ever going over the top. Throw in some fearsome, screamed vocals and drumming that's all over the map and you've got everything noisecore is supposed to be on one little 20-minute disc.

Since the opener "Spaim" is only about 10 seconds long and the closing "Micaragua" is more or less a filler track tacked on at the end, the meat of this disc is found in the middle four songs. The first three, "Japam," "Framce," and "Vietmam," are all sonic roller coasters, suddenly shifting form just as you're starting to get a grasp of what's going on. "Japam" is probably the most fascinating, brilliantly exploiting dynamics as it slows down and speeds up for a true mental bludgeoning. "Framce" provides convincing proof of Knudson's spastic fretboard mastery, while "Vietmam" boasts a time signature that you'd have to send away to NASA to calculate.
What's more, after these three sonic brain-teasers the guys throw a major curveball in the form of "Afghamistam," a slow, eerie seven-minute mini-epic that actually demonstrates a keen grasp of melody and atmosphere. The vocals are all sung cleanly, and done very well if I do say so myself.

Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay to this CD is to say that I've listened to it about fifty times in the past three months, and I'm still picking up new details. If you're a fan of noisy, abrasive music, "An Anthology of Dead Ends" is a must. And while you're at it, pick up "We Are the Romans" as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swan song of one of the finest noiscore/metalcore bands, January 13, 2005

By 

WelcomeTheAbyss "destroy:yourself" (The Flatlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anthology of Dead Ends (Audio CD)

I don't know how they do it...but Botch are simply incredible, being instantaneously catchy and technical with their amazing musical chops and songwriting abilities. I'm going to keep this review short just like this album...if you're into or just getting into the "scene" and haven't heard Botch do yourself a favor and pick up "We are the Romans" and "Anthology of Dead Ends", you won't regret it. Easily some of the best noisecore ever made.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great finale for great band, November 26, 2002

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"simpsonsxcore" (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anthology of Dead Ends (Audio CD)

Botch was one of the most amazing metal/hardcore bands of all time. Their guitar lines were mind-numbingly complex and the lyrics had a great black humor to them. There simply was no one else like Botch and very few bands (Coalesce, Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, Cave In...) in their class. This EP is their final release ever as Botch played their last show over the summer in Seattle. Botch apparently decided to go out on top b/c this album is amazing. There are only 6 songs (only 4 of which have lyrics) but it's worth every penny. There are no lame breakdowns or chugging parts, there's no whiny singing, there's no tough guy posturing. This is hardcore/metal the way it should be done. The songs on this album feature Botch's characteristic time signature changes and complex guitar lines (their guitarist was called the best guitar player in North America by AP Press shortly before Botch broke up). If this were a full-length, it might even rival the awe-inspiring "We Are the Romans" LP. The last "real" song on the EP "Afghamistam" is a slow song with singing and even piano and strings at the end and it turns out to be one of the best things Botch has ever recorded. Botch went out like Michael Jordan, as the best ever in their field. Buy this album and you won't regret it.