Band : Koh

Album title : The Censor EP

Label : Private

Distributor : Private

Release date : 01/03/2008

Release : 4-track cd-R

From the reasonably big city of Karlovac (from Zagreb, situated some 60 kms in the direction of the Adriatic Sea and Italy) in Croatia comes the quintet known as Koh , which had its initial formation as a foursome back in 2003, when original singer Peda Cetinjanin joined the trio of Bojan Petkovic (guitar), Stjepan " Stipe " Perkovic (bass) and Bojan Ulemek (drums).

During the next year Koh won a local band competition, and in 2006 the quartet became a quintet when they were joined by Dario Lonjak (effects, samples, keyboards). In the meantime the songwriting had evolved towards a more Industrial approac, so the addition was badly needed in the band's attempt to make a fusion of their modern Rock Metal with elements of Industrial and Electronic music. With their new musical direction well in place, the band began playing several gigs in 2007, which eventually led to their appearance a a couple of festivals ( Urban Fest Osijek , Croatian Music Festival , Istra Rock Festival , and the somewhat more famous Viva La Pola Festival ), and getting to the finals of the Art & Music Festival . It is also during 2007 that the band starts recordings for their The Censor EP , which counts 4 very nice tracks for a total of almost 19 minutes worth of playing time. However, it is during the recordings of this EP that the band parts ways with their original singer, replacing him with one Karlo Mrksa (vocal recordings already finished at the time, he does nót feature on the demo).

With influences such as Tool , Nine Inch Nails , A Perfect Circle , Filter , Laibach , Queens Of The Stone Age , Marilyn Manson , Alice In Chains , Soundgarden , King Crimson , Aphex Twins , Squarepusher and more, maybe you can imagine their music to be an exhilerating modern Metal with adventurous guitar play and both Progressive and Industrial touches, in which the use of keyboards and effects is rather important? In fact the keyboards/ samples even take primary frontstage position in the EP closing instrumental "Korona" , which starts of in an Ambient ambiance and slowly (say progressively) grows to a truly expansive and massive threatening atmosphere when guitar, bass, and drums enter the soundscape. If the description is too general for you, no worries, because the band has posted all four tracks on this EP on their myspace.com/kohmusic! An added bonus to the physical EP is the interactive multi-media section where you'll find all relevant info on the band and their release.

If open-minded Industrial Metal with adventurous passages into the Ambient field is your thing, there's no two ways around it and you'll get in touch with this Croatian band as soon as possible to tell 'em just how their music is changing your life even now! And if you happen to know anyone with a label that might be interested into this kind of thing, put him/ her onto it, because these guys simply nééd to get known outside the strict confines of the Croatian country! As for my personal appreciation of this band, you might've understood that I am sold hook, line, and sinker, and that this EP has gotten its nomination into my "Best Demos of 2008".

98/100

Tony.