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ENDSTAR
ENDSTAR is an prog-metal power-pop concept band formed in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2012, and is signed to indie label West Clark Records out of St Louis, Missouri. ENDSTAR has recorded a full length album under the A Weapon of Light name that was never released, along with an EP titled The Homecoming EP, an LP titled There is Beauty in the Breakdown, and acoustic cover EP titled Under the Covers, and an acoustic LP titled The Butterfly Engine.

As a concept band, all music is tied together into one story

History
The band was originally formed under the name A Weapon of Light after nearly a year of jam sessions between guitarist John Mertens, Brian "Pants" Crangle, and bassist Mike Barclay. These sessions originally consisted of the idea to re-record music from John and Mike's former band, NEOxGEO, in a more modern, aggressive style in John's home studio. Several songs were rewritten and tracked, but plans were scraped in the aftermath of the suicide of bassist Mike Barclay's mother. In the following weeks, the trio converged several times and, after the first two songs were written, a decision was made that they should form a band and begin searching for a drummer.

It was at this time the idea of having one convergent story line through all the songs came forward after several separate conversations between Mike Barclay and John Mertens, singer for St Louis area power-pop band, Apollo's Daughter Lacey Corbett, former band member to Mike and former bassist for St Louis area metal band Final Drive, Chelsea Kinkaid.

In June 2013, the band changed their name to ENDSTAR after original guitarist Brian "Pants" Crangle left the band.