Feature: The End Is Near Decodes ‘Executioner EP’
How did you come up with the theme?
The Theme for this EP came together naturally as we started writing. We wanted something that felt intense, cinematic, and visceral—something that wasn’t just heavy in sound but heavy in concept. The idea of the Executioner as a figure represents judgment, inevitability, and the weight of consequence, which fit perfectly with the atmosphere we were creating. It’s a theme that carries a lot of depth—there’s brutality in it, but also a sense of fate, almost like a story unfolding with no escape.
Lyrically, we pulled inspiration from history, dystopian themes, personal struggles, and ruthless aggression. We wanted each track to feel like a piece of a bigger narrative. It’s about power, fear, and the thin line between justice and cruelty. Once we locked into that theme, everything came together naturally.
Was there any challenge that you encountered while making this EP?
Absolutely—bringing ‘Executioner’ to life wasn’t without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was the logistical side of things since we don’t all live in the same city. That meant we had to be really intentional with our time, making sure every session counted. It pushed us to be hyper-focused in our writing and recording process, which actually worked in our favor because it kept us from overthinking things too much.
Creatively, we also struggled with how much music to put on this EP. We are currently working on our first LP and we wanted to put an EP out before we dropped our LP, but didn't want to put out a 30 minutes worth of music with our LP on the horizon. We wanted it to feel immersive, almost like a horror film where every sound and transition builds tension. That meant spending extra time fine-tuning details, experimenting with layering, and making sure every lyric and riff hit with purpose, and being decisive with the tracklist and being okay with an 8 minute run time.
What impact do you hope 'Executioner EP' will have on your audience?
We want ‘Executioner’ to hit people on a visceral level. This isn’t just a collection of heavy songs—it’s an experience. We want listeners to feel the intensity, the weight of the themes, and the raw emotion behind every riff and lyric. Whether it’s adrenaline, catharsis, or just that deep connection you get when a song speaks to something primal inside you, we want this EP to leave a mark.
Beyond just the music, we hope ‘Executioner’ introduces people to the world we’re building as The End Is Near. This is our statement of intent—we’re here to make music that’s unapologetically heavy, immersive, and meaningful. If this EP makes someone stop and go, “Damn, I need to hear that again,” or if it gives them an outlet for whatever they’re feeling, then we’ve done our job.
How did your band members initially come together?
We have all played together in different projects here in the Orange County Metalcore Scene since the mid 2000s. We had been planning it for a while, but we finally decided it was time to get together and start writing music together again. There was an instant chemistry in how we approached songwriting, and it became clear early on that this wasn’t just a one-off project—it was something we wanted to take seriously and push as far as possible.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
Emotions are everything in our music. ‘Executioner’ isn’t just about being heavy for the sake of it—every riff, every breakdown, and every lyric is fueled by real intensity. Whether it’s aggression, despair, defiance, or even a sense of eerie calm before chaos, we channel those feelings into every aspect of our sound.
When we write, we’re not just thinking about structure or technique—we’re thinking about how a part feels. Does this riff hit like a gut punch? Does this section create tension before the breakdown lands? Is the vocal delivery raw and powerful enough to cut through? Those emotional choices shape how we perform, too. When we’re playing, we’re not just going through the motions; we’re tapping into that energy, letting the music take over.
That’s what makes metal so powerful—it’s real, it’s visceral, and people connect with that. Whether someone listens to ‘Executioner’ and feels rage, release, or something deeper, we want them to feel something.
