Search - Rollins Band :: End of Silence: Demos

Way better than the original album (4.5 stars)

John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 09/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The End of Silence: Demos is way better than the original album that the Rollins Band released in 1992. While that album suffered from a lot of songs that went on too long, the demos cut out the fat. The songs are shorter and the performances are more raw and passionate even if the songs don't quite swing as much as on the original. Henry's vocals are much looser here than on the original where it seems he was being held back. Andrew Weiss's bass playing is way up in the mix and he plays like a freaking monster, especially on the track "Grip." Sim Cain's drumming is thunderous, particularly on "Obscene", and Chris Haskett's already stellar riffs are killer, especially on the heavier tracks. The songs that sound lethargic on the original album ("Blues Jam", "Just like You", "What Do You Do?") are given new life while already strong cuts like "Tearing" and "Almost Real" are downright wicked. Other highlights include "Almost Real" which has some cool sax playing during the breakdown and the previously unreleased track "Human." All told, The End of Silence: Demos, now available in its raw form, ranks just behind Weight as their best work. I would like to thank ifutureman for correctly informing that it was Andrew Weiss that played bass on this album, not Melvin Gibbs, who joined after this album and tour."