A Tribute to Tigers

Insound Favorite! By the End of Tonight released their debut EP, Fireworks on Ice, last fall to resounding acclaim for its unhinged, caffeinated histrionics. It also met admittedly deserved criticism for its drum-heavy no-fi production. With the arrival of their debut full-length, A Tribute To Tigers, the band refines its strengths and strengthens its weaknesses to create a transcendent melting pot of rock and metal. Produced in an actual recording studio (albeit for only $300) the four boys of By the End of Tonight almost stand still for a couple moments during the album. The scorching metal riffs of Fireworks on Ice are distilled through hyper-emotional crescendos and vivid, playful melodies. The drums -- which overwhelmed previous recordings -- are more subdued, the controlled chaos propels the dynamics of each song to new heights. Yes, he still plays a child's drum kit; and yes, he can still muscle more out it than Tommy Lee and Alex Van Halen combined.