Yes, a new Coliseum record! Although they are not as prolific as they used to be, Coliseum continues to give listeners new music at least semi regularly. And even though we are still quite a ways away from hearing a new full-length from this touring machine, they still drop this single in an attempt to tide us all over. Although this single only contains two songs, "True Quiet" and "Last Wave," it still is something from them. Thankfully, Coliseum is not softening up at all either.
Pounding drums, beefy bass, and the simple guitar leads that cut through the riffing and provide a counterpoint to Ryan Patterson's bellowing voice signal that yes, Coliseum are on the turntable. The melodic undertones of "True Quiet," though, truly are a testament to the song craft that Coliseum as a group champion as their own. It is a song that stands up strong with all the other compositions in their discography, and by the time the bridge hits, surely the quieter vocals are effective while the outro slams on all cylinders. It is the introductory movement of "Last Wave" that really gets pumps me up as it builds tension in just the right way and perfectly sets up the banging percussive nature of the verse; the melodic two step part beautifully executes what so many hardcore bands have the tendency to overdue in the wrong way.
Following a great deal of listening to this single, two things are evident in my mind: one, the 7" or single is a great format for punk rock records and two, this makes me pine for the Coliseum of Goddamage. These two songs definitely leave me with a similar excitement that EP also leaves me with following a listening session of it. This is awesome, mainly because I love Goddamage so much and this 7" rekindles those feelings for me. About the only thing that this slab of vinyl does not do is quench my ears' thirst for a new Coliseum album, but maybe, just maybe, that is what makes this EP so perfect and demonstrates why another new EP might be more perfect. Every EP and single just makes me want more Coliseum and ultimately that is a testament to this single.
