### Cog: Culling

#### 07/07/10 || HailandKill

Prolific scribe/wanker that he is, HailandKill is at a loss for words when it comes to Cog. They’re quite the weird bunch for sure, reared on classic thrash, rock, and hardcore, only to come up with music skirting the edge of what we know as metal. For their second album “Culling” matters begin on a satisfying note as the gentle start of “Dissolve” arouses our excitement for the oncoming bombardment. The opening track actually proves quite confusing as Cog’s peculiar approach on songwriting doesn’t bother fitting itself to any particular genre.

The funny shit going on throughout “Culling” are the unpredictable twists each song take as the separate pieces of music immerse the listener in a boiling aural tempest wracked by thunderous melodies. For the sake of bewildered ears, “Culling” is best ingested as a whole album, which makes it harder to review. If HailandKill’s words possessed a single iota of credibility, then you better believe it when he says there are no bad songs here. It’s all part of a grand design, be it the catchy vocal melodies, the lower register death metal grunts, the odd glimmers of In Flames and Testament, or Garon Honasan’s sax playing, which is quite innovative since he uses the instrument like a lead guitar rather than a Jazz afterthought to spice the music. For those who still insist on knowing the album’s best cuts, head right over to the groove-some “This Means War”, the vicious title track, and the wonderful interlude “The Sky Is Falling” where guitarist-producer Eric Perlas cooks up an ambient overture before the album’s latter half commences.

Further excellence reigns on the relaxed “Calliope” until Cog climax themselves on the three hit finisher “I Am The Storm”, the anthemic “From These Ashes”, and the dying embers aglow at the somber “Congeal”. But words really do this album a disservice, because it’s such a complex beast you’ll have to come back for seconds, thirds, and fourths until the fine details become apparent. It’s guaranteed each time you immerse yourself in “Culling” a new layer, a new twist will reveal itself. On trivial matters of production and musicianship, Cog are ace. They may not be a sextet of virtuosos, but what they do, they do with class. Now how many metal bands can say they’ve got class?

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Tower of Doom
- Website: Cog MySpace
- Band
- Yagi Olaguera: vocals
- Eric Perlas: guitars
- Joel Patricio: guitars
- Garon Honasan: saxophone
- Richie Ramos: bass
- Alan Po: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Dissolve
- 02. Promethean
- 03. Illumination
- 04. This Means War
- 05. Culling
- 06. Millipede
- 07. The Sky Is Falling
- 08. So Be It
- 09. The Onus
- 10. Calliope
- 11. I Am The Storm
- 12. From These Ashes
- 13. Congeal