Coalesce - Give Them Rope (1997)Release ID: 4202
Coalesce has disbanded and reformed on and off, and currently they're no longer active after a couple reunion shows. I've only just discovered the steady supreme material they've made. During their first long split throughout the first half of the 2000s, in order to tame fans of the band hungry for a new EP and album, a crushing masterpiece was remastered and re-released, their debut Give Them Rope! This perfect album delivers mathcore in every way possible.
The lyrics can be quite hard to understand and can p*ss off some listeners, though the frustration is important for Coalesce's power. However, when you already know the lyrics and pay close attention, you know the darkness of the themes within the screams.
The impressive assault "Have Patience" blasts off and has made quite an impact for my first time with this album, delivering heaviness beyond 11. If anyone thought Spinal Tap made heavy history, that track would prove them wrong. "One on the Ground" begins in a screaming barrage that's totally worth it. I can personally hear those notes and beats strike my heart. Blasting through again in "Cut to Length". And again in the crushing "For All You Are".
"Still It Sells" has panning rhythms, while the screams of Sean Ingram rocket through the ears in an interesting light. "Chain Smoking" continues the heavy math-metalcore chain once again. "Did It Pay the Rent?" pays off well with its tormenting greatness.
This band can pummel and there's "Every Reason To", from every instrumentation aspect, including the heavy groove bass of Stacey Hilt, the smashing drums of James Dewees and the technical destruction in the guitar riffs by Jes Steineger. Altogether with Sean Ingram's mighty roars. "I Am Not the First" is an interlude with not much to say. "This is the Last" isn't the last song, but has the ultimate part of their sound. "I Took a Year" makes sense the amount of time they took to release the album since recording.
It's no secret that Coalesce knew how to take on the audible aspects of their sound. While people might prefer more precise production that the band would have in later albums, the muddy sound is what sets Give Them Rope apart, letting the technical grooves beak through the Earth's crust. Just think about the massive moshing whirlpool the smashing guitars and decimating drums would create when performed live, all guided by Ingram's deep monstrous vocal power. This metallic hardcore can be both brutal and catchy, the way it's meant to be. The crazy destruction is what helped Coalesce stand their ground, and an album this important deserves the most attention!
Favorites: "Have Patience", "One on the Ground", "Still It Sells", "Did It Pay the Rent?", "Every Reason To", "This is the Last"
