Coliseum's latest outing "House With a Curse" is a step in a different (albeit not unfamiliar) musical direction. Known for their blistering brand of rock / metal / punk with thrashing guitars, pounding drums, and an aggressive vocal attack, Coliseum opts for a different (and often darker) mood with their latest release that intends to keep the energy intact and controllable. To control this powerful energy, Coliseum utilizes slower tempos, providing Ryan Patterson with more breathing room vocally and instrumentally. "Skeleton Smile," for example, hypnotizes the listener with a dissonant and expansive guitar riff that compliments a clean and atmospheric vocal delivery. "Cloaked in Red," another song that perfectly demonstrates the band's new experimentation, is a genuinely mid-paced rocker with a powerful rhythm, allowing Patterson's voice to explore its (quite vast) range. While I do yearn for a "No Salvation" / "Goddamage" style rager, I respect the fact that Coliseum is avoiding redundancy by exploring a new approach to their music, and I applaud them for it. 8 / 10
Coliseum / Cheap Tragedies / Sweet Cobra @ Now That's Class
Wednesday, May 25th (Doors at 9:00 PM - All Ages)
- Joe