Review of Cognitive - "Cognitive"
INDEPENDENT INSANITY
By: Geoff Teach
If you were to ask me, “What is one of the most important things metal bands should remember to do if they are going to make it to the next level?”, I would respond without a moment’s hesitation: “They have to bring it.” Bring it to the stage, and bring it when recording. Apparently, New Jersey’s extreme/technical death metal quintet, Cognitive, got the memo. Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot express enough with words just how much this band “brings it” to their live performances, so I’m not even going to attempt it, however, I can definitely still share with you exactly how I feel about their latest self-titled full-length, which I had a chance to purchase after they thoroughly destroyed the room at my favorite local metal venue not long ago. Cognitive’s latest release is ten tracks of mayhem, murderous screams, introspection, and pure aggression, and while it doesn’t truly capture the absolute raucousness of their live set, it certainly gives you a pretty damn good idea upon listening.
Getting out of the gate quickly, Cognitive starts their self-titled release with three unbelievably heavy tracks in “Cut the Fuck Up”, “The Aftermath”, and “Blood Hungry”. Sounding something like a cross between Suffocation and Deeds of Flesh, Cognitive has no shortage of deep, guttural growls, blast beats, and shredding, but once you get to the heart of the album, you really start getting to the heart of the band itself. The opening growls and wailing riffage of “World’s Beneath” lead you to believe you’re hearing pure Bronx-style death metal, but prepare yourself for an ethereal shock, as post-chorus dream states and atmospheric metal suddenly make you do a double-take to make you’re still listening to the same track. “Regurgitated Existence” features more of the atmospheric leanings, but it is the technical riffing on this track that truly gets my blood racing…and just when you think that you’ve reached critical mass, the acoustic, naturalistic stoniness of “Oceanic Erosion” provides your neck with a well-deserved break from the continuous banging before plunging you headlong back into the madness with “Willingness of the Weak” and “Imbuing of Wrath”. Not to finish with a whimper, though, my favorite track makes its appearance toward the end of this killer collection in “Fire from the Sky”. With its blistering drums, amazing guitar work of both the distorted and phased variety, and awesome lyrics, “Fire from the Sky” is the most remarkable track on an album already full of them. Well produced, loud, and cacophonous, Cognitive’s self-titled release is well worth the buy, but if you can ever manage a chance at seeing them live and to purchase a copy directly from the band, DO IT! I promise, you won’t regret it, although your back might be sore the next day!
Kick ass album from a kick ass band, ‘nuff said. Keep it metal, class dismissed!
To check out Cognitive on the web, head here: