Ah. Here’s where it all started. If all you have heard by CoC is the new LP (and what a great record it is), then you are missing out. They have changed a fair bit since these earlier recordings, developing a more unique sound, but that doesn’t mean that this stuff is rubbish. Far from it.
I’ve heard much of these tracks here before either as MP3 or on other releases, so I was familiar with the majority of this LP. But it’s great to have it all in one place. CoC have definitely carried over some of their sound into their LP, but on here they don’t play the moody instrumental parts quite so often or thoroughly but there are still moments where they descend into moodier introspection. These songs are mostly about spazzy vocals and big thick emo grooves that you can dance stupidly too. To reduce to a mere comparison it comes across like a mix of Yaphet Kotto (the big thudding melodic parts and rhythms) and Clikitat Ikatowi (the breathless vocals and general air of being a little strange). And a combination of those two sounds is hardly ever going to fail is it? The sound quality isn’t the best (it is demo + live after all), but this helps the rawness of the sound, giving it a rough and ready appearance.
Anyways, if you enjoyed their LP and haven’t picked this up yet, you should make sure you hunt it down. At times I even prefer some of the stuff on here – like the first track on, erm, one of the sides (they aren’t labeled) that starts off with emo talking. Nice!
Pretty damn fine stuff from one of the best bands of this type around.