‘The End of the Bar’ gives drummer Jason Oosthuizen the chance to stretch his legs a bit with a myriad of showy fills and dense rhythms to match the performance of guest guitarist, Jedd Kossew.
The core of the song is very much Kossew’s playing with a style that evokes a strong Metallica foundation. The song peaks with a wah-heavy guitar solo that proves why Kossew is one of the most formidable guitarists on the scene today. It’s an all-out shred complete with bluesy bends and dive-bombing that guitarist will nod to with begrudging respect.
That aggression stands in contrast to Glen Hodgson’s vocal delivery. His usually laid back vocal is layered, no doubt in order to bolster its presence in the mix to compete with two extremely formidable instrumentalists. The result is robotic and strange. The fact that there’s no significant jump in volume or pitch for the chorus further establishes the feeling of detachment from the circumstances being narrated.
The lyrics focus on a looming evil presence that means them harm and pursues them. When Hodgson sings “There’s a stranger sitting in my car/ He just looks in the mirror” there’s some ambiguity as to whether the stranger is in fact Hodgson himself, an ambiguity that sticks with you through multiple listens.
In the light of Lost & Found’s usual style this feels like a B-side that allows them to explore a new avenue.
