Indie Obsessive: ”Altered States” by Cog

Monday, May 7, 2018

”Altered States” by Cog – A Song Review

While making no compromises to its heavier Rock roots, Cog released “Altered States,” a track with a gravitational attraction having cross-genre pull. The song is aggressive in its vocal approach and is forceful in its use of percussion and bass. Yet, it remains melodic and inviting throughout.

“Altered States” is the second single that will be on an album due later this year. The album, “The Middle,” will be the band’s first in the last decade. “Altered States” dates back to the previous album, but was not included. According to The A&R Department, “it’s been remixed and given the Forrester Seville treatment.”

A few years ago, Indie Obsessive made no secret of its love for the work of Australia’s The Occupants. Both bands include the brothers Flynn Gower (vocals, guitar) and Luke Gower (bass). The third member of Cog is Lucius Borich (drums). Cog is based in Bondi Beach, NSW Australia (a short distance from Sydney).

Quoting content regarding the history of Cog:

The band formed in 1998 by former schoolmates Flynn Gower (vocals, guitar) and Lucius Borich (drums), who had previously played together in The Hanging Tree, a late-'90s stoner rock band. Shortly after forming and writing some initial material, the two incorporated Luke Gower, the brother of Flynn, to play bass. Now a trio, Cog proceeded to establish themselves as a popular gig attraction in Sydney and the surrounding state of New South Wales, and following the release of a 2000 demo recording, Pseudo, they were soon signed by the independent label Little Samurai, resulting in a few EP releases: Just Visiting, Pt. 1 (2002), Just Visiting, Pt. 2 (2002), and Open Up (2003).

The band was then signed by former Universal Music Australia managing director Paul Krige's independent label, Difrnt Music, and in turn went to California to work with Sylvia Massy, who had produced Tool's Undertow (1993) and who also had a close affiliation with producer Rick Rubin, working as an engineer with him on albums such as System of a Down's 1998 self-titled debut. Cog's resulting full-length album debut, The New Normal (2005), became an Australian rock sensation, debuting in the Top 20 of the albums chart and hitting number one on the Australian Independent Recordings (AIR) chart and was voted number 50 Australian Album of All Time; moreover, the album spawned the popular radio single Run, which reached the Top Five of the AIR singles chart.

Cog recorded their follow-up album, Sharing Space (2008), with Massy once again, and the album proved even more successful than its predecessor, reaching number two on the Australian albums chart and spawning the Top 50 hit What If.