Album Review: Coalesce - 'Salt And Passage'

There are a lot of people who

listen to a noisy, discordant, amalgamation of hardcore and metal. Bands

like Norma Jean have made the genre a commercial success and

every time I log into MySpace I’m greeted by another bunch

of hopefuls who are eager for the world to hear their time signature

defying riffs. If you’re ever wondering which bands are responsible

for putting this musical category on the map (and no kids, it’s not Bring Me The Horizon) then look no further than Coalesce. 

Having been in and out of the

game for over a decade, “Salt And Passage” is a short and sharp,

2 track 7 inch that the band released at the tail end of 2007… and

if the rumours are to be believed, we should be seeing another Coalesce

full length some time this year. 

As for the songs themselves,

I’m somewhat divided. “I Am This” shows Coalesce in full

flight, with Sean Ingram’s trademark and much emulated growl

as rough as ever, while Nathan Richardson’s drum patterns

are somehow able to lock into a groove that you can bang your head to

which is a remarkable feat when you consider the erratic nature of the

band’s music. Finally, Jess Steineger’s staccato riffing

is as impressive as it was in the nineties and when coupled with Nathan Ellis’ rumbling bass lines, you’ve got yourself one hell

of a track. 

Fingers crossed Coalesce

are true to their word and we see a new record in 2008.

1. Son Of Son Of Man
2. I Am This