title: COG, Snap To Zero @ Adelaide Uni Bar, Adelaide

URL: http://www.ozmusicproject.net/magazine/gigreviews.asp?ID=226

date: 2/10/02

writer: Sean

Ok, I will admit it; I'm a big Snap to Zero fan. And its because I've been watching them for years and have had the pleasure of doing the odd gig with them when I was playing around the traps here in Adelaide. Snap to Zero always pulled a big crowd and Sam Morrison is a very talented performer and musician. They used to have a lead singer 'Shari' but she has now moved on to other pursuits, leaving Sam (vocals, guitar), Seb (bass, Vocals) and former Kinetic Playground drummer 'Sam' (yes another one) to explore new musical ground and as a result of the line-up change, Snap to Zero have become an excellent rap, rock, groove laden outfit with plenty of style.

As some of you may know, the guys won the Triple J Unearthed here in Adelaide a month ago and I'm glad they did as they have an awesome live show to prove it.

'Beats is the Drug' followed by 'I may not be the Quickest, and I may not be the slickes', brought the tentative audience to the front as Snap to Zero belted out a cover of Basement Ajax 'Where's your Head at?'. (Is that the name if the song?) Anyway, I enjoyed it and it seemed everyone else did because from that point on the guys had the building crowd converted to their sounds. I felt a little sorry for them, as a Wednesday night support gig at the Adelaide UniBar can be a huge task to bring people through. But it was free entry and The Adelaide Uni is holding the 'Uni-Games' at the moment, so floods of Uni students would come through the back of the Uni, out to the Bar every twenty minutes. 'Uni-Games?' I was pondering, more like the Uni Drinking games from my observation. You have to appreciate the University though. I'm glad I didn't go to Uni, as I would of spent most of my time in the bar!

Amazed would be an appropriate word for the way COG set the stage. Chinese Lanterns, huge rigs and proberly the biggest drum-kit I have ever seen on-stage at the Uni-Bar.

COG command attention. Luke (Bass) started the set by playing haunting bass, which lead the way for Lucius (Drums) and Flynn (vocals and guitar) to start the rollicking, tidlewave of sounds. Lucius Borich on drums was practically a virtuoso. He reminded me of Danny Carey from Tool with his fast fills and inventive style. Everyone has their eyes on him. Mr Borich is the best young drummer I have seen in Australia, and that's a big call for me because I am a drummer myself. Just his precision and timing had jaws dropping all over the place. Simply un-believable stage performance from three diverse individuals.

I think I get COG now. They are a musician's band, not a band that are out to saturate the radio with happy-go-lucky pop songs. COG pushes musical boundaries that you would otherwise find in TOOL or King Crimson. 'Paris Texas' and 'The Truth and other Lies' from their Debut EP 'Just Visiting Part Two' were stand out songs for me.

Definitely a band for people that enjoy experimentation in heavy music. It's not nu-metal as such, but a cultural display of dark, melody driven moments. Musician or non-musician, go and see COG and witness some brilliance.