Date Released: 03/06/2016
Label: Relapse Records
“Still They
Prey” CD//DD//LP track listing
Haunter
of The Dark (7.50)
Possession
(10.24)
Dead
among the Roses (10.46)
Masters
of Torture (7.54)
Let
It Bleed (9.36)
Shadow
of the Torturer (10.34)
The
Wounding Hours (6.37)
Still
They Pray (4.09)
The Review:
With
this release, Cough
barely breaks the decade span career-wise. Formed back in 2005 in Richmond , VA MINSK
It
seems almost ironic then that Jus Oborn is heavily involved in this affair.
After drawing Electric
Wizard comparisons well over the course of their career, it seems
only fitting that they asked him to produce and record this time around. On the
other hand, Garrett Morris’ involvement seems like a natural move given Parker
Chandler’s other gig, that band being none other than, Windhand. We can bitch about Cough
taking so long to put new material out, and one can only assume and attribute
it to Chandler
Let’s
just get something off the table to boot. While their previous efforts clocked
in at 56 and 53 minutes respectively, “Still They Pray” runs for 68
oppressive, slow burning, mind-bending minutes. Just about the same length as
your regular black mass. To begin this ritual, in true Cough fashion, feedback drips
from David Cisco’s rig, before full riff utopia bursts out, with swirling
kaleidoscopic antics weaving seamlessly throughout opener “Haunter of the Dark”. Slowing things down a bit, Chandler shows us
a glimpse of his heavy bass tone, not before he falls into full despair mode to
carry on with the regular Cough M.O., in which they hit us with back to
back 10+ minute tracks in “Possession”
and “Dead Among The Roses”, the LP’s
2nd released single. Speaking of that third track, the song writing
made me nostalgic, as it sounds like 90s grunge had sampled some Indica-laced
blunt. Here, it is undeniable that Brandon Marley really joins the fray to
provide some much appreciated dual-guitar melodies. To close off the first leg
of the record, we are slapped with some of the sludgiest and darkest riffs in “Masters of Torture”. That is, until
they pick up the tempo quite considerably for one of the most memorable head
banging moments up to this point.
“Let It Bleed” really sets the tone for
the 2nd half and serves as a bridge between the concepts that the
band intend to marry in unholy matrimony, namely the psychedelic with the doom.
If you have not been partaking in some sort of leaf hailing by now, “Shadow of the Torturer” is as good a
time as any to do so. A 10+ minute sonic attack of instrumental, fuzzed-out
groove galore, going from sweet southern rock to an overwhelming wall of sound.
There, the record’s 1st single, “The Wounding Hours” kicks in. Its painfully obvious how this would
be the 1st single out, as it presents Cough at their pinnacle. The
organ is a new wrinkle on the recording, haunting the mix, complemented by
solid, fat riffs along with Joey Arcaro’s dominating and hypnotic drumming. The
vocal work conveys such misery that it is beautiful in its own tragic way.
Which brings us to the title track and album closer, “Still They Pray”, which presents an acoustic madrigal. This may be
a shot in the dark, but its apparent to me how this track ties the entire
record together, revealing the band at their most vulnerable.
Don’t
sleep on this; I can assure you it’ll be included on a bunch of best of, end of
year lists. Abuse your speakers and play it fucking loud!
“Still They Prey” is available here
