EP REVIEW: Channelling Hank – Sander Cohen

There have been few periods as interesting or exciting for heavy music as the late 90s/early 00s. That is very much the opinion of Kent-based quartet SANDER COHEN, as their debut EP, Channelling Hank, makes clear. Drawing influence from iconic bands like DEFTONES, WILL HAVEN and RAGING SPEEDHORN, the results are as raucous as one might expect. The EP’s four tracks sit somewhere between alternative metal and post-hardcore, with an added dose of sludge. As well as the influences mentioned, Channelling Hank should scratch an itch for fans of ’68, REUBEN and REFUSED, among others.

The EP opens with the scathing Fuck You And Everything You Stand For. Flitting between energetic hardcore and moments of more alt-metal bounce, the song is a good indicator of what’s to come. It also swiftly announces the presence of vocalist/guitarist Lee Morrison, whose performance is one of the EP’s definite highlights. Morrison‘s deranged vocals regularly bring to mind attention grabbing frontmen like Dennis Lyxzén of REFUSED, or even KORN‘s Jonathan Davis.

Fuck You…‘s closing breakdown drops into dissonant noise, and the band quickly kick in to Family Friendly Porno. This track is a more mid-tempoed bouncy beast, with another wild vocal performance from Morrison. Gazebos continues the mid-tempo feel, showing SANDER COHEN at their most DEFTONES-esque. It also sees the band play around with some odd time signatures, most notably in the song’s chaotic outro. The songs make for an excellent one-two punch and will no doubt have listeners eager to enjoy them live.

The quality doesn’t drop from there, ending with the chaotic Mommy!!! What’s Wrong With That Man’s Face. The track is another showcase of the band’s excellent ability to raise hell. It opens with driving dissonant chaos before the band tear through a couple of ferocious verse-choruses. The second half sees them return to more bouncy territory, which gives way to a final pummelling outro. The whole thing is over in a couple of minutes, and listeners are left with a few moments of guitar feedback ringing in their ears. Overall it’s a good final summation of who SANDER COHEN are and what they do. It also highlights once more the wild, raw, almost-live feel of the entire release.

While Morrison‘s vocal performance has already been highlighted, it should be said that everyone in SANDER COHEN delivers. The four of them play with a chaotic looseness well suited to their music, while simultaneously feeling tight and in sync with one another. It’s also clear from the song titles that these guys aren’t taking themselves too seriously. That isn’t to say this is some kind of comedy act, but there is definitely a twisted kind of fun to Channelling Hank.

At just 13 minutes, the band don’t leave room for their listeners to lose interest. While the consistent level of chaos and intensity on Channelling Hank works well at this length, it would be interesting to see how they would fare on an album. The prospect of them giving it a go is definitely exciting, but it may require a little more dynamic exploration than there is on this EP. That said, on the strength of Channelling Hank alone it’s clear SANDER COHEN are a deeply capable band, and that they are looking to all the right places for inspiration.

Rating 8/10

Channelling Hank is set for release on October 2nd via HalfMeltedBrain Records.

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