Coagula – “Rehearsal Demo 2015”
Coagulate- to change from a solid or semi-solid state. To change from a fluid into a thickened mass; curdle; congeal
Example: Let the pudding stand two hours until it coagulates.
My example: So stop pulling your pudding for at least two hours. Use your ears instead of your genitals to appreciate something for once. I congratulate you on your coagulation. Your thoughts that were once fluid, are now in a congealed mess.
Now, that you have all you need to know about the band Coagula, I can turn off the lamp and put my electric typewriter away.
(Slimedog)
…
Wait- that was not the ending. Merely, the ending of my train of thought, from my mind. Which was derailed years ago when the conductor, who was suffering from an unintentional angel dust overdose, while texting at the same time, failed to observe the international laws of occupational health and safety.
Ah, yes…where were we?
Coagula is a band that uses bandcamp tags such as crust and punk, which is fine, but to my ears are a metal/thrash band with an influence of hardcore.
And to my ears they exceed greatly in using their influences in order to create one awesome, whole “whatever tags” you wish to bestow on them. Because this is some exciting, powerful stuff.
Let’s put their record on the turntable and give it a spin.
“Womb” has the cool, low, growling death vocals like Satan vomiting a million souls upon your nice, manicured front lawn. But what’s cooler is the music. Minor key, doomy Sabbath chords with a slow beat that instead of suggesting lethargy infers intensity along with ominous, brooding emotions. Soon, though the rhythms stays the same, the guitar slices into a thrashin’, groovin’ sound that alternates with the beginning. I immediately started headbanging until I realized I had no hair! This is a great beginning to this group of songs and this is a great, intense, powerful song.
After some nice sinister guitar chords, “Tortured” leaps into action like a pit-bull of sounds ready to rip your ears off. Following a building up by the drums with rolling rhythms we’re then jerked forward into a hardcore/thrash part that has guttural vocals answered by some spasmodic, hyper guitar. After that we then descend into a slower part with a cool, minor key guitar lick that is harmonically doubled. “We will never forget/ We will never regret.” I will never regret hearing this roller coaster horror show ride of passion, intensity and guts.
“Earthbound” starts with some foreboding guitar notes that wouldn’t be out of place on a Blue Oyster Cult or King Crimson album and, to me, that’s not a bad place to be. Then we quickly move into a headbanging from hell groove with a reprise of the beginning all before the vocals blast in again. But once the growly, croaking voice appears we’re off on a rollicking hardcore/thrash of a tornado of sound. This song combines elements of traditional metal, thrash and hardcore all whipped up in a recipe that is passionate, exciting and fun. In other words, a great tune.
“None Below” starts with a thrashin’ guitar fluttering like a demon butterfly trapped in a glass jar until some deadly guitar notes, like gargoyles from hell, ascend upon the proceedings. Soon we’re into a very effective part where the drums either bashes away for a few measures or stays silent to let the guitar buzz like an angry beehive. All this while the vocal bellows like a hibernating bear disturbed. This song is propulsive, intense, headbanging and kicks ass like hell.
For me, Coagula is a band that takes all the best of traditional metal (minor key chord changes and heavy riffs) along with what’s the best of modern metal (the incorporation of hardcore rhythms and death vocals) while wisely excluding the unnecessary trapping of long solos or mythic imagery.
Hey! I made sense for a paragraph! I think I ought to pat myself on the back or an otter ought-a swim to Ottawa.
But I’d rather congratulate Coagula for laying down some awesome, true grooves. And for using their musical expertise not to showcase but to display some passion, some guts. Some real emotions and feelings that in the “real world” others want to suppress, or at least, are sorely lacking.
And rather then congratulate them, you can give a listen here. Right at the tip end of this sentence.
(Slimedog)
