title: Redefining the norm

date: April 27th 2005

URL: http://www.themetalforge.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=216

writer: Justin Donnelly

As little as three years ago, my opinion of Bondi (Sydney) based trio Cog (Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Flynn Gower, bassist/backing vocalist Luke Gower and drummer/sampler/backing vocalist Lucius Borich) was that they were pretty good, but far from great. Sure, their dual E.P.’s Just Visiting Part 1 (Released in February 2002) and Just Visiting Part 2 (Released September 2002) showcased an entirely different sound to what the scene was otherwise producing, but it fell short of the jaw dropping wow factor that seemed to be bandied around from press agent and onto journalists. The single Open Up (Released in March 2003) once again failed to make any real impact apart from it’s obvious reworking (Of the John Lydon/Leftfield collaboration) novelty upon initial listens, and yet ‘the next big thing’ label seemed to loom above the act whenever the crew rolled into town for yet another showcase of new material.

But my, have things changed since then.

After a series of false starts, jilted promises and numerous recording sessions, Cog have, with little more than their own self belief, delivered nothing short of an incredible debut in The New Normal. While there’s no denying that renown U.S. producer Sylvia Massy Shivy (Who in the past has worked with acts such as Tool, Spiderbait, R.E.M. and System Of A Down) played a part in capturing the essence of what the band had hoped to project, but it’s the songs that really stand out, so much so that this is essentially a completely different act to the Cog some (Including myself) had doubted a mere two years beforehand.

Blending hypnotic progressive rhythms with heavy guitars and catchy melodies, Real Life careers from the opening moments and continues to evolve constantly until it’s inevitable climax some six minutes later. Utilizing everything effect wise available in the studio surroundings to create atmospheric progressive rock, Anarchy OK sees Cog masterfully tread the line between quiet moments and full on blast of guitars, while the mammoth Silence Is Violence is a compellingly heavier track in pure atmospherics, without the necessity of relying solely on the guitars to reinforce the potent musical and lyrical message.

Taking a step back, tracks such as Resonate, the single My Enemy and Charades are far more direct by utilising familiar riff structures and stunning chorus progressions, while the soundscape depicted in tribal/percussive driven The Spine and the half spoken/metallic The River Song uncovers the artistic and exploratory nature within the bands complex song structures. Pushing past the musical boundaries of the previous tracks, Doors (Now And Then My Life Feels Like It’s Going Nowhere) and Naming The Elephant (Both running beyond the ten minute mark) allow Cog to craft lengthier pieces that genuinely ebb and flow through heavier passages, melodic moments and solid grooves with incredible confidence.

Like Karnivool’s debut Themata (Released only a couple of months ago), Cog’s debut is definitely on par with the Western Australian group, and lifts the rather insulated Australian metal scene to bold new heights. All I can say is that if what can be expected as The New Normal, the future simply can’t come quick enough.

(Difrnt Music/M.G.M. Distribution)

3 1/2 stars