Reviews: Cohesion - Lovely Hate
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VERBICIDE (http://www.scissorpress.com)
I still get pumped up when I hear a great new hardcore band. Cohesion (who's name I think sucks) is just that: great. According to the liner notes, Cohesion draws on influences from such hardcore luminaries as Snapcase and Bane. I think this is a little funny, considering that they,re from Pisa, Italy. What,s funny about this to me is that Snapcase and Bane are quintessential N.E.H.C. bands. That,s New England HardCore, in case you,re wondering. And even though the guys in Cohesion were born and raised a half a world away, they aren't kidding about their influences. They sound like they just stepped off the stage at the Chance in Poughkeepsie. Honestly, the first several times I listened to them I could swear that I was listening to something unmistakably 'East Coast,' and more than likely from the Northeast. If you, like me, are a fan of East Coast hardcore or more specifically Northeast hardcore, pickup Lovely Hate. It's just an excellent hardcore album.
Exit Music (http://www.ExitMusic.ch)
"Lovely Hate" - more to the point just won't be possible in that case! Cohesion - the name of this italian quartet - comes from the latin expression "cohaerere", which simply means binding. Allright, for that I had to have a deep look into my old study-books concerning soil mechanics. It's just an earthy thing, anywhere between hardcore and punk.
Binding - and that's becoming obvious with this EP - stays for the structure of the band and its result: Fascinating music. Anyone of the four band members has got its impact of at least 25%, in personal and musical concernings. Nobody seems to be replaceable, it has to be like it is now. No! It only can be like it is now, otherwise it simply won't be anymore the Cohesion that you' re catching right now through your own second sense.
All that is getting underpinned by the track "The Authentic Art Of Feeling Awkward", in which Cohesion clears up: "We could be the worst band, but we are proud to be this way. This time I will not (not this time) be surrendered by the trend!". Exactly.
Alberto - the singer, for my sake the shouter - is able to give its intelligent lyrics the fundamental urgency they deserve, where the same by other bands too often gets lost through entering into economic driven compromises. When he starts charming in their lovesong "Princess": "Spending my time, thinking of you, 'cause you're the one I (fucking) want, because I love you!", then this sounds so real, as if he is standing at the abyss, waiting for reciprocation, just before jumping down. Goose-skin!
It's kind of typical, that such an excellent product has to be done in a low-budget manner. "Lovely Hate" has got a sound that fits. It is dirty and slightly aggressive. But over its duration, you may start missing the presence of the drums. A little bit irritating are some inaccuracies and some staggerings concerning timing. On the other side, it seems to be exactly those circumstances which give this EP an extraordinary live-feeling.
This EP is far away from what you will call sterile or dead, it's simply not overproduced! And hey, the one who has got the opportunity like me, seeing those guys playing live, will ever get the chance to feel how unique Cohesion is. Amen.
Favourite Tracks: From Butterfly To Chrysalis, The Authentic Art Of Feeling Awkward, Princess.
Similar Artists: Stretch Arm Strong, Bane, Snapcase, Drowningman.
True Side (http://www.truesidemusic.de)
COHESION thatīs four kids, which give their anger and agression an outlet. On their latest release "Lovely Hate" released by Engineer Records and Wanted Recordings, seven songs will hit your ears. Fast, brutal, pissed off and angry somewhere between Modern Life Is War, American Nightmare and even some early As Friends Rust. Not posi, not though but real as hell. I like stuff like that. The lyrics and the music truely fit into one. Shit this guys are really pissed by many things and so they gave their agression an really nice outlet. It all goes straight to the point. My favourite song on this record is really "Princess" lonely bass lines turn into heavy breaks, whispers and screamed out vocals in one. Itīs catchy like a car ride during a long cold scary night. If you are into the bands up check out this record. It really rocks. Our rating: 8 of 10 stars
Room Thirteen (http://www.roomthirteen.com/)
'New school hardcore' has never until recently been a genre that has caught the media's attention. Although it creates the liveliest of atmospheres and exposes the most intense of acts, true hardcore has never really made it further than the toilet circuit and the bands usually die out after a couple of years through either disgruntled members or health and safety reasons. The cult genre has only ever applied to that small group of musical fanatics who've been searching for the energy and pace of punk and the depths and dark tones you would find in a metal band. As of recent times, there has been an emerging interest in hardcore bands for example Sick Of It All and Comeback Kid, with the media hype that currently surrounds the 'Straight Edge' lifestyle and kids who are bored of listening to the corporate shit that is rotated on music channels, people have turned their heads towards small bands such as Cohesion who are about to release their EP 'Lovely Hate' on Engineer and Wanted Records.
Cohesion are a band who have been knocking around the Italian scene since 2001 and have been impressing crowds ever since their first show, where the audience witness the band's insane set, watching four men doing what they love most. Engineer Records is renowned for picking up on talented, unrecognised bands and giving them a source of publicity and a push in the right direction in order for the bands to progress. Since their initial demos in 2003, the bands have become a lot more of a unit and have naturally progressed in their sound. Each song has it's good points and features originality.
Cohesion have a complete mixture of Old School and New School hardcore, consider the quartet a hybrid between the two and reviving those refreshing elements that metal add to the mixture. Alberto's vocals are essential to the bands brutal tone and in 'The authentic art of feeling awkward' he screams 'We could be the worst band. But we're proud to be this way', each word he sings is flowing with meaning. This band don't care what everyone else thinks, they are truly in it for themselves.
Overall Cohesions latest release is a great EP from a band who are hardly recognised in the British hardcore scene. Hopefully with their new EP on Engineer records, they may be able to gain the publicity they deserve.
