Endless Chain – Forthcoming Past | Album Review

Over the course of the last 18 months, musicians & artists worldwide have managed to take some time to reflect, sit down and begin to pen another stroke of brilliance. Over the course of the last 18 months, finnish songwriter Timo Mölsä has taken his melancholy brand of metal to new heights. Well executed guitar licks, and just the right fusion of a wide spectrum of influences seem to be the order of the day for Endless Chain - and with the project announcing their signing to Rockshot Records we could be at the turning point of the band's career.

Since the project’s emergence in 2019 we’ve witnessed a steady stream of stand alone singles for a small but committed fanbase, however there’s a tone to the new LP Forthcoming Past that seems aged & matured – more like a band several years into a well rehearsed career as supposed to one only just preparing their debut album. An eclectic mix of contributors unite under one banner to deliver ten tracks of well articulated metal, and by the end of a morose listening experience any listener should prepare to feel exhausted, intrigued and curious about which direction this ambitious collective will take next.

Whilst the instrumentals provide a powerful foundation for the record, it’s really the wordplay that takes centre stage. Mölsä has used every opportunity to showcase his aptitude as a lyricist, there’s a haunting poetry to every verse with tracks such as ‘The Memories’ showcasing a dark and brooding flare. A series of guest appearances sit as a firm highlight on the album, including performances from Blackstar Halo’s Ville Hovi on the fourth track in the form of ‘All of The Above’.

The record takes a solem retrospective theme throughout, with an interchanging narrative across each of it’s ten chapters. There’s a heavy set grit to the guitar lines that fill every corner, yet are finely tuned to sound less intimidating over the course of the production – an even mix of thick chord progressions and technical playing ability.

Forthcoming Past is an interesting piece of metal escapism and it’s orchestrating counterparts have set the bar high at an extremely early stage. Whether it’s a one off surprise entry, or the start of something much bigger – anyone who takes the time to listen is sure to find themselves captivated by a hardworking band of metalheads who are set to release their best body of work yet.