EP Review: Final Coil - 1994
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
1994. The world of metal and alternative music was sure different then. With the likes of Suffocation, Internal Bleeding and Immolation carving the way for brutal slamming death metal in New York, whilst At The Gates, Dark Tranquility et al forging their way with a more fast paced aggressive yet melodic death metal sound born in Gothenburg. Though Seattle, Washington was the breeding ground for grunge, a style fusion punk and metal into a brash, raw and aggressive style with the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and Pearl Jam bringing this to the mainstream attention. The foundations they laid influenced countless musicians. Including British post-metal act Final Coil. Having ventured into mainland Europe on headline tours as well as major festival appearances in the UK, the band have achieved quite a lot! Their latest release explores the sounds of the year 1994 including the aforementioned Seattle grunge scene. So, this should give us a good idea of what “1994” will sound like. Let’s get into it…
No doubt the band have captured that early 90s grunge sound! That much is immediately apparent. Crunching distorted guitars lay down nice healthy grooves on a consistent basis, whilst the bass lines are consistently prominent and refusing to stick to the typical root note purgatory some bassists are thrust into. No, the basslines are hypnotic and pack a punch, which surely test the PA speakers of almost any venue they play. There’s subtle experimentation of psychedelic soundscapes too, providing an eerier and dissonant backdrop, especially during opening track ‘Instant Fix’, paying homage to Soundgarden. Vocally, again the spirit of the early 1990s is captured here. Whether it’s the gang style vocals with multiple voices, or the raspy voice of Phil Stiles, ‘Playing Games’ is perhaps the one where the voice of Final Coil gets to shine brightest. Perhaps sit a little too high in the mix on occasion, especially during ‘Woke’, though an easy fix for future releases. The band constantly shift dynamics and speed to keep you guessing and creating an unpredictable energy to the EP.
Whilst this is a throwback to the 90s, it feels like the production is stuck in the 90s too at times. It’s hard to tell whether it’s deliberately retrograde or just a bit rushed, but there’s a lack of depth in the overall sound, and a little bit of studio polish wouldn’t hurt. Again, maybe this was a deliberately ploy to capture that 1994 era sound as some other releases have been produced to a much better standard. Especially on older songs that incorporate electronic elements, whilst they have understandably disappeared here just illustrates that the band have better skills and resources at their disposal.
Overall, a brave and respectable effort that acts a fitting homage to one of alternative music’s most important movements.
