I still remember how surprised I was when I was listening to this album for the very first time. The reason for my stun was that, before I have put it on my playlist, I have read a few details about Cog. Each article on them claimed that it is a progressive rock band from Sydney, Australia, and that their album has reached the second place on the Australian Album Chart. Don’t get me wrong, my shock was not due to the quality of their music, rather the description of it.
Sharing Space is a combination of modern, alternative rock, metal, indie, post-grunge and power pop, while the progressive is to be noticed only in sparks. Cog is certainly not a progressive rock band per se. There is just not enough epic, melancholic, polyrhythmic atmosphere and other elements that characterize progressive pieces. On the other hand, the melody is in abundance, from guitar distortions and groovy to mellifluous singing and predictable instrumentals. In my opinion, Sharing Space was more of a metal and rock album than the progressive one.
It is still far from the classic mainstream, because ideas of System Of A Down, Tool and Helmet are more than obvious. Instrumental cohesion and synchronicity are the album’s strongest assets, making it coordinated and effective.
The vocals are not simple, as the strongest interpretations deliver a lot of sadness and depression. That part could be attached to progressive rock, especially If we add a backing performances to it. The band is singing about a socio-political topics, which is another plausible reason to not call this album a progressive rock. Ok, I think I got my point across J
I loved this album because it brought me some meaningful heaviness, impossible to reach after only a couple of plays. So, I have played it over and over again until it became my favorite album of the year.
Are You Interested, Bird Of Feather and Swamp are more alternative and melodic, laced in riffs and catchy vocal interpretations. The second half of the album is far less cheerful, as acoustic strings and pianos strike. Still, most of the songs are structured and well-thought, no matter the underlying mood.
Bitter Pills and Problem Reaction Solution contain many progressive elements, and one of the most powerful instrumentals comes in ballade titled How Long.
I did not get what I was expecting from Cog. It turned out it was a great thing.
