Debut EP from Consider The End

Coming out of East Dallas, Consider The End began life in an apartment bedroom sometime in 2023, where a handful of shoegaze songs provided the first outline of what the band could become. It started as a solo bedroom project before blooming into a full band and by October 2024, Consider The End had solidified as a four-piece, providing the setting for a sound that brings together elements of shoegaze, slacker rock, 90s emo, indie rock and slowcore.

The current lineup features the talents of Wade Byington on lead guitar and vocals, Diego Vela on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jake Diaz on drums and Josh Hepp on bass. Over the past year, they’ve been making an impact in the Dallas-Fort Worth DIY alternative scene, surrounded by the dense, distortion-heavy and reverb-drenched Texas shoegaze sound. Their sound has been described as a sort of microgenre, a multifaceted blend of gazey 90s alternative, indie and slacker rock stylings.

The project’s original concept was built around combining a wall-of-sound approach, re-popularised by bands such as Hum and Deftones, with the more melodic, vocal-driven qualities of 90s alternative. As the lineup developed, so did the possibilities and the turning point came through experimentation with original songs written and co-written by the lead guitarist, whose material brought a softer, more singer-songwriter aesthetic into the table.

Their first display of their shared vision arrived last year with the debut single “tightrope,” followed in July by their sophomore outing “Strangelation.” Comparisons to Pixies, Radiohead and Dinosaur Jr point towards the sphere they inhabit but the band’s debut EP titled CTE shows that their ambition extends beyond any labels. The semi-self-titled EP captures the band at a moment of discovery, acting as a snapshot of the process through which four musicians have been finding a common musical identity.

Powerful guitars sit alongside moody atmospherics while thoughtful arrangements and bittersweet melodies provide a more delicate counterweight to the noise. Their music can move from dense distortion and overwhelming guitar textures into more intricate and reflective passages, allowing melody and atmosphere to glide alongside sheer sonic impact.

Opening track “Strangelation” offers a particularly clear display of how Consider The End are approaching their developing sound, serving up an enthralling alternative rock anthem packed full of enveloping atmosphere and ebb and flow. Brought in by the pulse of bass guitar notes, the rustle of drums and intricate guitar tones forms a moody soundscape as expressive vocals enter before the track jumps with crunching chords and punching percussion, delivering gripping surges of grungey energy throughout.

“Shimmering Blades” glides with lightly gritty guitar tones, tapped cymbals and warm bass notes as hushed vocals enter to form an intimate rock scene which builds with crashing energy to craft another epic showcase of the band’s highly original sound. “Woodsorrow” gently forms with delicate instrumentation, pattering percussive and whispered vocalisations before erupting with stacks of distorted guitars to offer a burst of wholly absorbing shoegaze vibes.

With “Mom Saw Satan,” the swell of guitar layers and lively drums ushers in smooth vocal leads which carry instantly memorable melodies and storytelling lyricism, casting a deft balance between the rough texture of instrumentation and tenderness of the songwriting. Closing the EP with “Chlorophyll,” a smokey scene of soothing guitar notes and quiet vocals sets up an elegant soundscape that gradually rises with fuzzy guitar textures, resulting in a superb finale to the band’s incredible debut EP.

From start to finish, the release offers an engrossing run through of a band still discovering what happens when different instincts collide; bedroom shoegaze meeting singer-songwriter intimacy, Texas distortion meeting 90s alternative melody and individual ideas becoming something collective. It is the sound of a project taking shape in real time and we can’t wait to see what this exciting band on the rise has in store next.

Listen to CTE below