title: COG - Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom

date: May 2005

magazine: Beat Magazine

writer: JAMES RIDLEY

[ COG ]
Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom

To find an Australian album launch as hyped as COG’s The New Normal would be an act of futility, because so far in 2005 there hasn’t been one. Produced by Sylvia Massy (Tool, S.O.A.D), The New Normal saw COG sharpen and streamline. The raw power and intensity of their first two Eps, Just Visiting Part 1 and Part 2, honed and molded into a much more accessible end product. Triple J loved it and now the Sydney three-piece are enjoying commercial airplay and flourishing record sales.
With this in mind, it wasn’t surprising to find a large number of COG first timers at the HiFi to add to the hoards of party faithful. The uncertainty and anticipation was thick in the air. Those who knew no better where ready to be blown away, it was all fresh and exciting. For those who’d followed COG’s rise over years (rather than months or weeks) had no doubt it was going to be an awesome show; the question was, how would the new songs come off live?
The room filled early to catch another band of the moment, Perth’s Karnivool, open proceedings with their heavy undertow and rich harmonies. Their current single, Shutterspeed, rousing a hefty reception. Sydney band In The Grey continued heads nodding and banging with their thick, powerful sounds, so by the time COG came on the crowd was well and truly ready to let loose. Downstairs was packed, people hanging of the stairs to get the best position. Eyes were fixed to the stage. It may not have to taken that long for COG to come on, but such was the energy beckoning them, it seemed like eternity.
From the moment they strode onstage and the lights went dark, COG put their heads down and gave it their all. No bullshit, just solid rock tunes. Some have compared them to Tool and having seen them both live, you can see why. They share a common ability to uplift or depress; changing moods with smooth precision throughout the set, sometimes within songs.
Professional sounding and tight as hell, they played My Enemy early on and used this momentum to thunder onto other new tracks Resonate and the cracking Anarchy OK. Older fans were in raptures when both Bondi and Holes from Just Visiting Part 1 started up. The rawer, heavier riffs saw hundreds of heads and bodies swinging in unison. Crowd surfers sprang up like spot fires. The Spine was another highlight, but Real Life took the night.
After so much build up COG came, delivered and didn’t disappoint. Apart from the usual political messages from front man Flynn Gower, it was a very straight-ahead affair; they knew the set and they played it pretty much perfectly. Some may say bands playing songs almost identically to how they sound recorded lacks flair or mystery, but when they’re as good as those COG now have in their arsenal, why change a thing/ JAMES RIDLEY