Sideblast - Cocoon

For the first three songs there is plainly nothing artful,innovative, or inspiring. I was hoping down deep. that work submitted to a site named Brutalism would have the bravery to try and actually sing. Possibly even show some interesting guitar work, or maybe a love of the drums that made menacing use of the tonalities of a well tuned kit. The beginning of this album is completely unexciting. By the time The Shape rolls around I found myself desperate to hear something substantial in the way of guitar lines or a good angry guitar rhythm. Though you could hear faintly some guitar back there, no pay off for the waiting, and that dead typewriter snare was beginning to become pesky. The mix crowded with background effect noises, and no attempt that any one might want you to understand the lyrics. As much as I loved the cookie monster as kid, this really disgraces his vocal style. Discordant Symphony starts out with a slight taste of guitar work, but never gets brave enough to let it past the wall of keyboard busyness that offers little build up of energy, but for a scant few seconds. The guitar got to peak its head out a little for Demigod, not enough to save it. The thing the first half of the album has said is that there was nothing musically to say. Where is the guitar bravery that is metal? Then the Signs a glimmer of hope, showing of some potential, why didnt they start with this? Not stellar but on the right track, and a least raising the listeners hopes for strong finish. Dirge showed another sliver more of potential, but doesnt quite deliver, and the time spent on the background effects could have been spent making it a stronger song. The Fall is more soundtrack jam than finished song. I am beginning to wonder how this got called a finished release or got funded. Insomnia showed a hint of thoughtful song structure but leaves it on the side of the road to die. The end of this collection is much like it began plainly nothing artful, innovative or inspiring. It made me wonder if they where intentionally disrespecting metal itself, as if uninventive, and tedious with background gloop is what a metal fan would be dumb enough to accept, we are not, and I do not.

I give it on a scale of one to five, a one. Would I buy it, no. I know how much work it takes to make a good album or ep. So I try to at least listen to everything twice to fish out anything redeeming possible. I could barely make myself listen to this once. Im heading for 24 oz beer and putting on a Saxon album.
I will say there is hint of potential here and I hope these guys put a bit more work in the next one.

1 Cocoon
2 Barbarians
3 The Shape
4 Discordant Symphony
5 Demigod
6 Signs
7 Dirge
8 The Fall
9 Insomnia
10 Ashes
11 My Perverse Disguise
Cyclone Empire
Reviewer: twansibon
Feb 1, 2011

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