C.O.G: X – Album Evaluate

C.O.G. – X (Self launched)

CD

Out Now

The debut from the mysterious C.O.G. attracts on punk industrial and steel infuences to ship a darkish, apocalyptic, view of the world.

C.O.G. are a secretive new outfit hailing from the Portsmouth space and have Barry Coward on vocals. Again within the Nineteen Eighties he fronted native punk legends Advert Nauseam which goes to make this launch of curiosity to a good few individuals. A replica of their CD was clandestinely thrust into my hand by a 3rd social gathering (hello, Sam!) at a current Discharge gig. Punk submit nonetheless works wonders.

From the typography on the CD cowl, it appeared to me that C.O.G. don’t like areas or punctuation of their tune titles, every one being an Orwellian newspeak introduction to their world. And what a world. Their apocalyptic imaginative and prescient is a tormented world of misanthropy, warfare and violent cult leaders. When I discovered their video channel I used to be considerably disillusioned to find it was merely the best way issues have been spaced on the duvet. By no means thoughts the information, I’m sticking with my authentic interpretation.

After a Charles Manson pattern (word the X on the brow of the character on the duvet), a chuggy heavy guitar like Killing Joke on steroids heralds the arrival of Machinegunmessiah, a subterranean demonic assault. The vocals throughout the entire CD are guttural and gutter-ful. They spew out bile and contempt. Someplace between the anger of Amebix, the horde of punk bands who emulate them and the theatrics of corpse painted Dying metallers. It’s an aural strategy that labored for Ministry, Swamp Terrorists and a number of commercial outfits which have adopted of their wake. C.O.G. are extra upbeat and punky than most industrial chug-mongers however they’re Heavy AF. Twisttheknife continues in an identical vein, beginning with drums pounded as if being hit with hammers by a minor demon within the bowels of hell or conserving time on a zombie longship.

Thepressing (Sundown On Gallows Hill) has a bit extra swagger on the guitar, channeling the fetid corpse of Marc Bolan by a most grind distortion pedal. A hovering searing solo midway by the tune is nearly too completely happy for the tune. Urgent was a type of torture utilized to individuals accused of witchcraft. Heavy stones can be piled on high of a picket platform slowly crushing the particular person to demise. Within the tune they describe the method from the standpoint of the sufferer. “Burn her” the refrain repeats.

By the arrival of the fourth tune Mychildrenarecoming, they seem to cool down a bit. It’s as if they’ve knackered themselves out, or maybe they knew that they needed to open with probably the most rockin’ tunes to catch your consideration. Opening with a poem and air raid sirens the apocalyptic theme continues in Warmachine, shifting away from industrial extra in the direction of a heavy punk sound, nonetheless with some steel licks on the guitar. Half tirade towards warfare, half nihilistic acceptance that we’re mere pawns. “The Warmachine is coming. The crimson, the white, the blue. burning down the cities and there’s nothing we will do”.

To finish the set, Dunebuggydeathsquad places film imagery to tune. While it initially conjured heavy, gnarling visions of a horde rampaging throughout a post-apocalyptic wasteland, C.O.G.’s clear fixation with Manson suggests vibrant naive hippies excessive on LSD getting down to homicide you on the behest of their chief. The spirited guitar solo is one other reminder of the robust vibrant manufacturing on this recording which has loads of vibrant high finish to enrich the heavy bass tones and booming drum sound that provides this a lot oomph.

Whereas C.O.G. seems to return from a darkish place, they shine mild concurrently. An insert declares that the CD is accessible for “no financial cost”. What they ask in return is that you simply commit a Random Act Of Kindness, particularly suggesting a heat drink or blanket for a homeless particular person. So, regardless of the sensation of acceptance that I picked up, C.O.G. do suppose you’ll be able to change the world, however whilst you can’t do a lot to cease a warfare and save lives, it can save you a life nearer to dwelling.

I used to be gonna exit on a limb and guess that C.O.G. stands for Youngsters Of God. Possibly it’s the picture of Jesus (H) Christ (“on a motorcycle”) within the gatefold. He’s not truly on a motorcycle that’s simply my issue in listening to the phrase Christ with out following it with “on a motorcycle”. Possibly it’s the outline “order of service” above the monitor itemizing. It’s a title steeped in irony. My take, based mostly on the songs on this CD, is that they’re pointing to the truth that anybody can declare to be appearing on behalf of a non-existent deity (my opinion, you’re welcome to show their existence) and commit atrocities that fly within the face of the teachings of whichever faith claims to have the true God. The title might sound acquainted from the Californian cult mired in claims of kid sexual abuse and focusing on susceptible individuals, and was additionally the title of a millenarian Christian group within the 1800s. I say “was gonna exit on a limb” as a result of after I sought out a video to go together with this evaluate they’d given the expanded title in brackets. There go my intelligent bastard factors. Not less than they’ve not missed the chance for a little bit of phrase play. Above the non secular picture they’ve struck the verse “The cogs of warfare have began to show Swap in your TV and watch cities burn.”

The thriller punks will be discovered on Fb

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All phrases by Nathan Brown. You may learn extra from Nathan on his Louder Than Battle archive over right here.