Search - Coliseum :: Coliseum

Feisty punk with some sludge thrown in

BLuTT | Chicago, Illinois United States | 01/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"while Coliseum is a louisville band, they don't fit the mold of louisville's well-known hardcore/punk history. many of the bands to have come out of the area have shared members, and Coliseum is no exception, with Black Cross' ryan patterson taking guitar and vocal duties here. his delivery is unpolished and unrelenting, as he barks his social commentary into the microphone with as much conviction as anyone could ask for. melodious he is not, but his gruff voice will stick in your head nonetheless.

musically, Coliseum forges a dark path as well. they do not have a hint of the sugary hooks that so many bands today rely on to keep listeners' attention. these songs are generally straightforward, banged out with almost no time to switch gears into a breakdown, save for a couple "kickstart my heart" guitar parts that fit in amazingly well. the guitars and bass have an almost, but not quite fuzzed-out feel that reminds me somewhat of AmRep's golden years. comparisons to Black Flag mixed with Motorhead have been made, and they are appropriate. to me, the closest thing to Coliseum is the latest offering from portland's From Ashes Rise, entitled "nightmares", although FAR's vocals aren't as deep.

strongly recommended for fans of 80's skaterock. heavy, but still "punk". thoughtful, but still down to earth. 5 stars for blistering, unapologetic punk played by adults, for adults.



ps-there is also a forthcoming ep entitled "goddamage", that i'm sure will blow me away as well."