COALESCE

"Ox" (Relapse; 2009)

Reviewed by Jeff Rogers

This band is from Kansas City, Missouri and this is their fourth disc of intense metalcore and mathcore music. Upon first listen they have those trademark vocals that kill any chance of me liking it. The music is heavy in some parts and extremely weird in others. There are off key solos and guitar that is all over the map.

Mathcore music has always fascinated me; I love the time changes and often times it's not well received because metalcore has untuned vocals along with precise and complex rhythms. It doesn't fit well because I'm in it for the music but I have to listen to less than appealing screams and unintelligible lyrics to get it.

Coalesce have been tearing up speakers since 1998 following their debut titled "Give Them Rope." This disc is their first in ten years; their last one was in 1999. I don't know what they sounded like before but this disc is proof they have entered the metalcore/mathcore scene with a strong comeback.

The music is ever-changing and with crunchy rhythms that pound right along with the drums. This is heavy stuff. Because this style of music has the same sound after awhile I can't hear any originality; the only interesting thing is the weird guitar that comes in and out at odd times.

One good note is the booklet, it's got some cool designs in it, the lyrics are printed within but the vocals really don't allow you to follow along.

Coalesce: Sean Ingram – vocals; Jes Steineger – guitar; Nathan Ellis – bass; Nathan "Jr." Richardson – drums.

For more information, check out http://www.crashandbang.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/coalesce.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

 


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