"How does one describe the music of COALESCE? I think I read someplace that music journalist types were calling them “post hardcore”, whatever the fuck that is suppose to mean. Another place, I read someone saying that COALESCE were “too punk to be metal, too metal to be punk”. Whatever… If I had to place a tag on COALESCE so the uninitiated could put an idea about what the music sounds like in their heads, I guess that tag would be “devastating”. “So, Joker is COALESCE metal, hardcore, what?” My reply would be “They are devastating.” Haha! Perfect description! These guys drop nuclear breakdowns that can leave a room full of broken belongings, or bones depending on your choice of listening venues. The vocals of frontman SEAN INGRAM are a distinct tortured roar, the type that once you’ve heard them, you will recognize them instantly every other time you hear them. Thinking man’s lyrics keep it from being Death Metal and the music, often being like Math Metal covered in one ton of quick drying cement, is too varied to be simple hardcore. COALESCE is one of those bands that changed a genre, are often imitated, and never duplicated.

After a decade of virtually no output, save for 2007’s limited edition two song “Salt and Passage” 7 inch vinyl, released by SECOND NATURE RECORDINGS, COALESCE regrouped for music’s sake to record “OX”, a full-length set to be released June 9^th by RELAPSE RECORDS. I, for one, am so excited about this release that I have been on a COALESCE bender for the last two weeks! I have been spinning the band’s discography with reckless abandon and I’m sure my neighbors are starting to memorize some lyrics. My love for COALESCE is nothing new. I was first turned on to the band when I picked up the NAPALM DEATH/COALESCE split CD “In Tongues We Speak” back in 1997. I came for the NAPALM, but stayed for the COALESCE… it was unlike anything I had ever heard before. During my recent deployment to Iraq for my day job, COALESCE was with me as well. Released in 1999 on HYDRA HEAD, “Nothing New Under the Sun”, an album of strictly LED ZEPPLIN covers was in constant rotation on missions, in the motor pool, or while enjoying what time we did have to relax. I introduced a lot of soldiers to the album’s crushing interpretations of ZEP classics, and it became a large part in the soundtrack to our 15 months in “The Sandbox”. That being said, I am proud as fuck that the debut interview in this second incarnation of GOATS OF PANDEMONIUM is with a band that I often associate with one of the most intense, amazing, and heartbreaking periods of my life: I present to you my interview with SEAN INGRAM, the vocalist of COALESCE!

GOATS: “Ox” is set to drop on June 9th and is COALESCE’s first full length release in 10 years, I believe… what has been going on in the decade between releases?

SEAN: Well, life actually. 12 kids, jobs, school, wives, normal life stuff. A lot of personal growth and understanding. Some of the guys have been involved in some cool bands too. Nate did THE CASKET LOTTERY and ABLE BAKER FOX. ..." Read the rest on Goats of Pandemonium

Not only is the line up RIDICULOUS but the show is FREE. The venue is in Atlanta so if you're luck enough to live close here are the details.

CLICK HERE to pre-order

Coalesce, along with pretty much every band we had the pleasure of working with in the late 90’s, destroyed, re-conceptualized, and rebuilt hardcore to be 100 times more fierce, courageous and audacious. While kids ready to cut it up in the pit whined about breakdowns now having off time drumming and manic, inventive guitar lines, true fans of progression rejoiced.
Which is precisely why “There Is Nothing New Under The Sun” is now being presented with eight additional jams—including those from Coalesce’s split EP with Boy Sets Fire, the band’s first attempt of “Supernaut” not included on the In These Black Days Sabbath tribute seven-inch series, an Undertow cover, and a Get Up Kids cover.

Hydra Head has truly gone all out on the packaging for this one (view the layout and design notes here). In addition to being designed by Aaron Turner the packaging itself is something to behold: gatefold, thick cardboard, silvered ink, die cut, inner sleeve - a lot like vinyl. Mark put it best:

"The logistical process to create this gatefold goes something like this: print outside of gatefold (this is then glued on to the cardboard that creates the gatefold itself), get it approved by us. Print on the cardboard, get it approved by us, take it to the die cutter to score the template to make the actual gatefold, send it back to the printer, have printer assemble gatefold and glue outside to gatefold, send back to diecutter to diecut each circular whole thrown one panel of the gatefold, send back to printer for quality check, send from LA to NY, insert CD into innersleeve, insert CD/innersleeve into gatefold, apply upc sticker to gatefold, skrinkwrap gatefold, apply two stickers to cover of shrinkwrapped gatefold."

Now, for a limited time, order yourself this album AND some nifty, not-to-be-reprinted-soon-to-be-found-on-ebay Coalesce merch. We're offering a shirt, long sleeved shirt, and hoodie, but ONLY until August 15th. After that, they're gone.

Clothing Details:
Garment Colors: Athletic Heather on all pieces
T-Shirts: Printed on Gildan brand shirts (view size chart).
Long Sleeved T-Shirts: Printed on Gildan brand shirts (view size chart)
Hoodies: Printed on Jerzees brand hoodies (view size chart)

Track Listing:
Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin)
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin)
Out On the Tiles (Led Zeppelin)
Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin)
That's The Way (Led Zeppelin)
Thank You (Led Zeppelin)
*** Bonus Tracks ***
I'm Giving Up On This One (The Get Up Kids)
Vehicle (Boy Sets Fire)
In The Wilderness (Boy Sets Fire)
Bob Junior (Coalesce Original)
Supernaut (Black Sabbath)
Cutting Away (Undertow)
That's The Way (Redux) (Led Zeppelin)
Thank You (Redux) (Led Zeppelin)

*Orders are expected to begin shipping during the week of August 21st, 2007. Orders are not promised to be in hand by the release date. Any items purchased with your pre-order will not ship until the week of August 21st as well. If you place multiple pre-orders in one order they will ship together, on the date of the latest shipping pre-order. The designs shown are mock ups, and final designs may vary slightly in size, placement, and/or color. Pre-order extras, such as clothing, are printed exactly to order, as such this merchandise is usually non-returnable or exchangeable.

Generally speaking, covering the songs of Led Zeppelin seems like a bad fucking idea. After all, the reason Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones played all those monster jams is so you don't have to. But the astute gentlemen of Coalesce have never let a bad idea get in the way of good music, so they unleashed a seven-track EP of shit-hot Zeppelin covers upon an unsuspecting world back in 1999, played a few shows and then promptly broke up for the second (or was it third?) time. We're not really sure, but what we do know is this: Eight years later, the cease & desist letter still hasn't rolled in. Which is precisely why There Is Nothing New Under The Sun is now being presented with eight additional jams-including those from Coalesce's split EP with Boy Sets Fire, the band's version of "Supernaut" from the In These Black Days Sabbath tribute seven-inch series, an Undertow cover, and a Get Up Kids cover. Think of it as the hammer of the gods pounding a few extra stakes into the music industry's litigious heart. But don't actually say that out loud: You'll sound like a dick, and we might get sued.

"There is Nothing New Under the Sun +" tracklist:
1. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
2. Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin)
3. Black Dog (Led Zeppelin)
4. Out on the Tiles (Led Zeppelin)
5. Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin)
6. That's the Way (Led Zeppelin)
7. Thank You (Led Zeppelin)
8. I'm Giving Up On This One (The Get Up Kids)
9. Vehicle (Boy Sets Fire)
10. In The Wilderness (Boy Sets Fire)
11. Bob Junior (Coalesce original)
12. Supernaut (Black Sabbath)
13. Cutting Away (Undertow)
14. That's The Way Redux (Led Zeppelin)
15. Thank You Redux (Led Zeppelin)

Tour w/ Daughters
Aug. 15 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Aug. 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Aug. 17 - New York, NY @ Knitting Factory
Aug. 18 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Aug. 19 - Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz
Aug. 20 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Lawrenceville Moose
Aug. 21 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Aug. 22 - Arlington Heights, IL @ Knights of Columbus

Coalesce only
Aug. 23 - Iowa City, IA @ Picador
Aug. 24 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
Aug. 25 - Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck

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