COG „Culling”

Music: Experimental
Website: http://www.myspace.com/cog
Country: Philippines
Duration: 59:23 (13 songs)
Cool Songs: I Am The Storm, Calliope, The Sky Is Falling

Cog have been around for the better part of this decade and to their credit, the sextet easily rank among South East Asia’s most promising bands. Their sound the sum total of influences whose breadth spans several familiar genres, for this sophomore album titled “Culling” the band remain ever unpredictable and begin matters on an interesting note with the riveting opener “Dissolve.” Comparing Cog to any modern band would be difficult, so let’s just forget the references and dissect the songs here. Past the unavoidable heft and grooves of the first track, the band loose the fast paced “Promethean” before pulling the reins once “Illumination” pours out your speakers. Between its initial stretch of tunes alone, expect confusing tempos and enough complexity to fill several lesser albums, plus alternating harsh/clean vocals from Yagi Olaguera, whose lungs don’t implode despite the extreme throat calisthenics.

Whether you lop them into the ‘post metal’ or ‘progressive’ genres, it hardly matters when the pounding “This Means War” falls on you like a ton of bricks. Ever flexible, Cog can be as heavy as the most uncompromising death metal band and then pull a 360 to allow Garon Honasan’s sax to join the guitar-driven melodies of the songs. Garon is one of the album’s highlights; just hearing his sax ooze licks as if it were a third guitar rather than a Jazz afterthought is a refreshing experience that leaves you grateful. He’s quite the subtle fellow though, so keep the ears focused on the songs, which are complex to the point of mind boggling. However, despite the sheer breadth of their repertoire, Cog never lose sight of their goal, which is to execute a diverting album that sucks you right in. Its pace unravels as if it were concept-driven without the benefit of a story, thus “Culling” enjoys its climax towards the end before the falling action compels the band to go a tad mellow for “Calliope” before the anthemic “I Am The Storm” gets underway.

Once the album folds on the haunting outro “Congeal” expect a moment’s catharsis and its resulting shivers before returning to your favorite songs, which come thick and plentiful. Cog wouldn’t deserve to be among Asia’s underground gems if it weren’t for their chops, lyrical imagination, and professional delivery. This is a flawless album that treads the fine line that separates precision and cinematic grandeur. Don’t miss it.

note: 10/10

Tracklist

1.Dissolve
2.Promethean
3.Illumination
4.This Means War
5.Culling
6.Millipede
7.The Sky Is Falling
8.So Be It
9.The Onus
10.Calliope
11.I Am the Storm
12.From These Ashes
13.Congeal

Line-up

Yagi Olaguera- Vocals
Eric Perlas- Guitars
Joel Patricio- Guitars
Garon Honasan- Saxophone
Richie Ramos- Bass
Alan Po- Drums