title: none

magazine issue: Pretty Ugly: Issue #2

URL: http://www.pretty-ugly.com/zine/issue02/cog.htm

date: late 2002

writer: Kelly

"If Cog were a woman I'd marry them!" announced Ben Licht on his radio show 'Low Grooves' (PBS FM) late one Monday night. In the event that the three talented lads from Cog do transform into a woman, Ben better prepare for a scuffle at the alter cos he aint the only one to have fallen head over heels for this amazing band from Bondi.

My introduction to Cog was a rather incoherent report from my brother about this "amazing band" he'd witnessed at the Espy almost a year ago. His description of the band didn't really contain any words as such but lots of 'ohhhs' and ahhhhs, rolling of the eyes and shaking of the head in a disbelieving manner which lead me to believe they were fucking good.

Not long after that a friend who happened to be at the same Espy gig also began making noises about this insanely good band called Cog. I had to find out what all the fuss was about so I emailed the band requesting a copy of their CDEP 'Just Visiting: Part 1' for the radio station I present a weekly show on. As soon as it arrived I chucked it in my stereo and after a few listens I was hooked. Four months on and this CD is still never far from my stereo. There is a certain danger in hyping a band up because more often than not bands that have been hyped don't stack up to it.... however Cog isn't one of those bands.

At this point I'd like to say that I almost enjoy writing reviews as much I enjoy listening to my neighbours down the road play Kylie on repeat at 3:30am in the morning, who am I to tell you what's hot and what's not? My ability to describe music could go toe to toe with my ability to decipher what's under the hood of my car ... but I'll give it a bash anyway.

When I've raved to people about Cog and they ask "what do they sound like" the only band that comes to mind to give people an idea, is Tool... but to lump Cog into the "similar to Tool" category would not do justice in portraying Cog's own distinct style and sound to you.

I draw a comparison to Tool, not for the slight similarities in their music, but more for the sensations and (for lack of a better word) vibe I am left with after listening to both bands. Tool fans know what I'm talking about, that indescribable place their music takes you.

Cog are a bit rock, a bit metal... and tend to gig around with a lot of metal/nu metal type bands.. but from my understanding of the music in that scene, Cog's music has a soul, an honesty and an intensity that their head banging contemporaries just don't have. Not to rip on those bands or anything, they're out there doing their thang and that's great... but they just don't cut it for me.

While pondering descriptives to convey the sounds of Cog to you, I asked a fellow Cog convert for his thoughts on how to describe Cog, he replied with a single word "beautiful"... I'll be the first to admit that beautiful is not a word often associated with a metal type band, nonetheless, it's the best description I've heard yet.

Cog are a seriously talented bunch of guys who deliver in the studio and as I discovered, on stage also. Having heard nothing but the highest praise for this band's live show from a couple of Cog converts, I went to the Evelyn with high expectations and was (as they say) not disappointed. Cog ploughed their way through the five outstanding tracks from their debut EP 'Just Visiting: Part 1' (released earlier this year on Little Samurai Records) and a very impressive cover of Leftfield/John Lydon's 'Open up'.

When Cog finished their 45 min. set, many of the punters headed out the door and walked away from the venue, leaving the headline act 'Another Race' to ponder who farted... or perhaps who should have been supporting who?

Cog are Lucius Borich (drums), Luke Gower (Bass) and Flynn Gower on guitar and vocal duties. (yes Flynn and Luke are brothers!). Cog's second CD EP 'Just Visiting: Part 2' is out now.