“We haven’t sucked the corporate cock yet.” Just in case you were wondering “corporate” isn’t a male not getting lucky, Luke refers to the record industry that gives little or no creative rights to musicians. This “corporate” is not getting lucky from Cog, that’s for sure.
I would think a band like Cog would then despise the corporate musical wheel of the Rouge Traders and Destiny’s Child on commercial radio. “I like it, it gives bands a good opportunity to get their music out there to the masses and you can instantly see the power of it when your attendance levels rise at your shows. I find some stations play the same kind of shit and don’t really play new music at all, even though they claim to.”
Cog’s latest release is entitled The New Normal. The phrase The New Normal, doesn’t quite make sense to your average hillbilly. “I think people will read it in their own way and I think it holds many meanings. My concept, which may vary from Flynn and Lucius’s, is that we have always tried to create an original sound, something refreshing and new. Maybe down the track people will refer to other bands as sounding like Cog, maybe!”
Knowing nothing about metal-rock myself, I asked my friend in Brisbane metal band Minus Life what he thought of Cog. He seemed to think they are a very political band. “I think we are a political band and we definitely try to raise issues that we feel strongly about. Whether it be in our songs or just telling people in between songs at our shows. We have played at many rally and protest style events and I guess feel like we have a good platform or opportunity if you will, to speak out against certain topics that effect all of us.” There is so much to love about politics though Luke! There has got to be something you like? “I’m not really the political buff in the band. I do like Peter Garrett though, what a fuckin’ legend.”
Cog is looking for overseas exposure these days. Having wrapped up their last album, touring seems to be heavily on the agenda. “We are really trying to get O.S and get the music to the people. We feel we had a good run in Australia and we think it’s the right time to go somewhere different and to tour and showcase our music to the rest of the world. Australia is a very small market in the scheme of things and we want to give the rest of the world a shot. COP THIS!” And when will this copping be had? “We plan to tour the states in June sometime, but who knows.”
Cog has toured Australia now a few times over. This means a lot of exposure to our little musical community. “I think Aussies love their music and love watching shows, but there is probably a lack of venues these days compared to say 20 or 30 years ago. I also think there is generally a lot more people can do these days instead of going to see a band eg. Clubs, computers, bars without live music. It’s also quite expensive to go out in Sydney, as opposed to Melbourne. This is a bigger music scene in my opinion.”
For a band that has been together for multiple years, the ideas would start to dwindle and enthusiasm begins to fade – you would think. Does Cog have anything left to achieve? ” I hope to get to tour around the world and release many albums. That’s pretty much the goal. Everything else is a bonus.” I assume priorities would have changed slightly though, since Cog first formed. “Cog formed due to common interest and desire to create original music that we all loved. I don’t think our priorities have changed to much. I think we have grown as writers and been influenced by certain old and new artists along the way. But we still have our dignity in tact.”
Being an independent artist for so long seems a gruelling activity to bear. “I have and still enjoy being independent and never really saw us being signed to a major for a number of reasons, but mainly the creative control factor.” Would Cog give it all up for a major record deal tomorrow? “I have nothing against major labels and provided we could structure a good deal where both parties agreed on certain stuff, I think we would sign with one.”
Finally let’s put Cog’s vast musical, touring and independent knowledge to good use and get us some hardcore music industry advice! “Never forget why you got into playing and listening to music in the first place…..Because it makes you feel good.”
‘The New Normal’ is out now, distributed by MGM. Cog play an exclusive UNDER 18s show in Sydney on Saturday April 29th at the Manning Bar, Sydney University. If you’re a fan of the band then be sure to enter FasterLouder’s competition to win a meet & greet, where you’ll get to hang out with the band! Click HERE to enter.
to listen to their music now on 