Customer Reviews

New Normal

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every once in a while, there comes a time when you purchase a CD, listen to it through once, take off those headphones and are so awe-ridden, that you are unable to speak for the next hour or so. This is the kind of album that can be so devastatingly awesome that this kind of a scenario that will happen to a large portion of those who purchase it. It is the kind of music that envelops your consciousness if you let it, it is a blanket of sound that captivates, resonates and elevates.
Cog have done well to release this album to the public. Almost every song was written and demoed by the end of 2003 or the start of 2004, but they did not have the funding to go into production. For around half a year, Cog was without a record label or management, shopping their demos around to music labels, and even to private investors. During the middle of the year, luck found the band, they signed to Aloha Management, and to independent label Difrnt Music run by former Universal Music Australia head Paul Krige. They recorded the album with Sylvia Massy Shivy (Tool, System of a Down) during the latter part of 2004, and the results are mindblowing.
The first thing that hits you when you listen to this album, with a knowledge of this bands earlier work, is the massive sound. Compared to some of the demos (one of which had been released on a compilation prior to the recording of the album), the sound of the band has been captured in a light that finally does justice to the band's live shows. The production and engineering has firmly put away any distractions that may have been present in the music, if it had been handled by lesser personnel.
However, while the production is slick, if there is no decent matter for it to capture, it sounds like a lot of Protools editing and probably a little sugar (formulaic bubblegum pop I'm looking at you). Cog have written and extremely good album. It is very much a progressive album, varying more in texture than their earlier music, while incorporating a fairly free song structure resulting generally in longer songs. Sound on this album varies from shatterings of distorted guitar powerchords, to vast, minimal ambient soundscapes, all the while, still keeping a sound that is devoid of the pretension that accompanies much of progressive music (Symphony X, please leave the stage).
Cog's sound is mainly driven by the rhythm section, though this has tuned down slightly for this album, to compensate for the more diverse guitar sound. The Spine is an example of this. Its verses are driven by a 4/4 beat, coloured by the off-beat quirks that grace the drum parts of almost every song on the album. All parts work together more through the rhythms used than the tones used, counter rhythms in the guitar parts, syncopation everywhere, creating a bath of activity that gives the music a direction to go.
The greates quarrel i have with this album is the quality of the vocals and lyrics. Lost is the colourful quirk that textured earlier cog releases, and in is a more conventional, rock'n'roll roar. Perhaps it is this also that takes away from the genuinity of this record. Though it sounds huge, it does somewhat take away from the smalltown integrity that litters the just visiting EPs, and achieves a great effect most noticeably in part two. However, despite this, vocals are not unbearable, but merely mediocre.
Awesome album, awesome response: debut at 19 in Australia.

So new, So exciting. This is a new beginning for Australian music and the world should keep an eye out for these 3 guys from Bondi.

While you may initially compare the music to Tool, this does the band a massive injustice. What they have done is taken any influences on board but made them their own. This is what all great bands do. The New Normal needs a few spins to let the music start sinking into your brain, and once it's done that - it won't let you go. There are many levels & layers to explore.

How these guys make such a huge sound is beyond me, but they really are that talented. Lucius on drums is a monster, and his use of electronics, while quite subtle, is thoroghly thought through and adds another dimension to the band when you see them play live.

Watching bass player Luke command the stage with his huge bass sound is always a highlight - his occasionally anthem like shouted backing vocals are sensational.

Then there's Flynn. A great singer and very underrated guitarist. He isn't one to do back flips on stage, but will make you do back flips at what he can do with a guitar while singing such complex arrangements.

This album is a brilliant debut, with a refreshing message. The music can be at once uplifting, but angry - and it's always thought provoking without being pretentious. Their intent to make people aware of the state of the world we're living at the moment can only be highly commended.

Stand out tracks are Real Life, Resonate & Doors (now and then my life feels like it's going nowhere)

Simply Awesome

An amazing debut release that over time you only grow to love more and more and... more as time goes on, it has not strayed far from my cd player in almost a year now. A truly unique take on rock by three guys from Bondi, i haven't heard anything like them before or after. Do yourself a favour, if you like good layered and complex rock with AMAZING DRUMMING get yourself this album, see this band live if you can..

This album and band is without a doubt the greatest Australian musical achievement in decades..if not forever.

Don't miss out on this CD. Cog are a great band from Australia who have finally captured the intense energy of their live act on CD. Cog's music is heavy and intense with awesome chanting vocal lines. Drummers will especially like this CD as Borich is a very powerful drummer who focuses on complex grooves that utilise the entire kit. These guys will be huge in the next few years so check it out now before it becomes popular! Fans of Tool's music will probably enjoy to this.

Will keep it short. I agree with everything everyone else has said in their reviews. I've seen the band a few times live, they are superb. I'm actually going to see them in Melbourne, Australia tonight.
Australian album and band of the year without a doubt!

This debut album is nothing short of impressive. These three guys definately have the talent and this album displays that and these guys definately rock out live. I have seen them around nine times now and they keep getting better. The early EPs are just as good as well.

One can not simply sit around and wait for another TOOL album to come out. Therefore the true music afficiando will search and search untill he finds an album worthy of goosebumps and enlightenment....

On that note, enter COG. The Australian TOOL, but completely different than TOOL. COG delivers what will probably be the best album of 2005. It's ironic that Sylvia Massy produces this album (her last masterpiece was TOOL's 'Undertow'). And though the comparison's will fly, there is clearly a difference between these 2 band's. COG will mystify you with an excellent arrangement of Heavy & Slow riffs. I will not go into detail on this CD because after all, it's your enligthenment; who is to tell you how to enjoy it? Just buy it, and the visions will come.

I concur with the other reviewers, but could have done with a little more light and shade. What we have here is a power trio who play like it is external sex organ cutting time as heavy as anything with a few lighter touches such as the intro to track 7. A passing whisper of Spy Vs Spy aside, comparisons being odious, this band bears a passing one to the Experience of Ultimate Mystic Yore without the air, hippie clothes and early effect pedals. The whole thing is polished and raw at the same time, capable of gear stripping changes in midstream, monstrous skills, seamless production values and philosophical lyrics. The big phat sound says hear me out and turn me up and to hear is to obey.