title: Just Visiting Cog

URL: http://www.anemicmagazine.com/coginterview.htm

date: sometime early 2003

writer: Simon

2002 was a telling year for Sydney based trio Cog. Releasing two Ep's throughout 2002 Cog's name quickly spread around the States of Australia which built the bands reputation up to be very telling and very successful. Many describe this band as being the Australian version of Tool. The lyrics are far from Tool status but their sound could quite warrant a Tool vibe if you ask an average music fan. Their moody sounds brace people to believe that this could be quite the comfort of Australia's pride with the years to come.

After capping of a wonderful 2002 the band are currently getting ready for this years Big Day Out which they will be touring every Australian city on. Having that in mind their was no better time then to ask band drummer Lucius Borich a couple of questions on just how the last year has been, this is what he managed to come up with:

Anemic: Hey Lucius, how are things in Bondi today?

Lucius: Today, well very, very windy. It's good though, I hope that brings the surf up...it's been to small lately...I just got a new malabu surfboard so i'm keen to walk up and down the thing....

Anemic: How has the band been going, you guys just released your second Ep this year "Just Visiting Part 2", and the response from the Australian public has been huge, this must be a great thing for you guys with people liking what you are producing?

Lucius: It's great...you never no how your music will be taken..JV Pt2 is quite different from Pt 1 so we were interested to see if their were still EARS out there for COG's sound. I'm very happy the emails from people, reviews ECT, it all makes it worth while...

Anemic: With the release, you guys also release "Just Visiting Part 1" at the start of the 2002, Gold Coast band Devolved done a similar thing with releasing two parts instead of one whole album, can you give us a run down into why you guys chose to get your material out in this format?

Lucius: We just liked the idea...We hadn't herd of anyone doing it before with Ep's so we though let's give it a go...Also our music can take awhile to sink in, theirs a lot in it.....Doing it like that wouldn't drive the listener nutty...It seems to me that the listening public at times can only take small doses of music...that's why their's pop music...it's like fast food....

Anemic: Do you see the second Ep as a progression to that of the first?

Lucius: No, all the songs on Part One & Two were written at the same time..The songs are one big family.

Anemic: From all reports your live shows are Cog's trademark, would you rather the live scene or do you prefer the record side of things?

Lucius: Both have great things about them....The live thing is a great thing, connecting with other people, making them have some kind of experience is very cool. The recordings are great because you can really zone in on the music..Cog are very much perfectionist...

Anemic: You guys have done some live shows with the Further. Knowing them lads I would imagine there would be some funny backstage antics taking place?

Lucius: To tell you the truth I didn't really get to hang out with them....I think I was trying to get some rest before the show somewhere....

Anemic: Many people are saying that Cog are going to be the Tool, how do comments like these make you guys feel, is it a build up of pressure or just a shrug off?

Lucius: Cog are going to be Cog. There's no pressure at all...we are trying to be our own entity..People who say we are like Tool don't know Tool's music very well...they are very much an untouched band..It's good to see..I know Tool fans can hear and tell the difference between both bands.....

Anemic: How do you find the Sydney music scene, there are certainly some good bands coming through down there, how do you see it from a bands point of view?

Lucius: It's not that good...We have 4 million people in this city and I think only about 10 OK venues...Their's alot of work to be done I think...With the bands it's great, Brace, Three second Memory, Bob Sledge ECt, I say we are getting some really great bands...

Anemic: You guys are doing Big Day Out in a couple of weeks, you must be thrilled about being on the bill?

Lucius: Very much...we have worked very hard...it's the biggest festival so what can I say?? Can't wait to dance my ass off to Underworld.....

Anemic: As well as playing of course who are you looking forward to seeing?

Lucius: Well, Underworld, The Deftones, PJ [Harvey], Sparta, Queens.....

Anemic: What are the plans for the band after the Big Day Out, will you be planning to release a debut full-length this year?

Lucius: We hope to have a full-length album out at the end of the year or early next year (Marcus: you absolute bastards!! We're still waiting in 2004!!).....We are releasing a single, it's out in late Feb early March...it's a song we have been playing live, it's by a band called PIL but but we are doing Leftfields version with a big Cog twist...

Anemic: That should do it Lucius, anything else you would like to add?

Lucius: If you can "own your own time" people...

Anemic: Thank you kindly for answering these questions, see you at the Big Day Out.

Lucius: Thank you..cheers.

Interview by Simon