Undeterred, we turn our attention spudger to the rubberized control panel at the other end.

With some assertive prying, the plastic clips give way to reveal a control button breakout board featuring some buttons, a microphone, and a lone IC:

National Semiconductor LP55231 Programmable 9-Output LED Driver (as seen in the Echo and Echo Dot)

Unfortunately, there are no fasteners lurking at this end either. Time to get creative destructive!