COPSE - MMXXIV - Metal Epidemic

COPSE – MMXXIV
Release Date: 30th August 2024
Label: Church Road Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Black Metal
FFO: Møl, Envy, early Deafheaven.
Review By: Mark Young

Church Road Records continues in its quest to shine a light on the best music the UK has to offer and with COPSE, they plant it firmly on one of those bands that just seem to have that supernatural knack for writing music that could cover a thousand different genres and can still crush all at 100 paces. MMXXIV collects the first two EPs and offers them up in one place for your delight and delectation. Although there is no new music, it should reinforce why you love them so much (if you do) and why they have the reputation they have.

As Mara’s gently strummed chords drift over the sounds of a fire burning it is replaced by what could be described as a detonation, as everything suddenly shifts forward in speed and intent, shrieking vocals hit and go, leaving the band behind to power through. It’s like they found the formula for what makes essential metal and thought ‘aye we can improve on that’ as there is no stop or pause, falling straight into the enthralling opening arrangement of Mondrem, those drums are just fantastic, rolling and moving until it kick in properly, and then it becomes that partner in crime to guitar, acting as a form of destruction. Mondrem has this flowing pattern that keeps unfolding, showing that they are not content just to batter you repeatedly, they can also entice with this glorious guitar line that comes in around 4 minutes and still feels heavy when the double bass comes into support. It is 9 minutes of perfection.

. is their reset switch on here, allowing for a pause before Old Belief comes in to smash the place up. It has one of those riffs that make you want to play it, and I’ve said this before that it is the mark of classic material if it inspires someone to do this. For me, it’s the kind of music you get a buzz from playing along to (yes, people still do this). It is just quality, and I could go on and on, but I’d rather say just listen to it and take that opportunity for it to wow you. Because It will.

New Despair is the last stop on our journey and has a gentle, lolloping feeling to it that opens up to allow Ed to provide some exceptional clean vocals and, in turn, allow the song to achieve a less abrasive arrangement. This evolves into that black metal scream that is ever present elsewhere, and the song changes tack to suit. That feeling of forward movement is there, not looking backward, especially with a melodic breakdown that comes in at 9 minutes or that is simply brilliant. There are bands that forget that substance is required when offering longer songs for consumption. Repetitive riffs, slow measures are part and parcel, but that is not COPSE. This is 14 minutes of them working through some form of mediation that moves and develops from one form into another. Each one is a logical extension of the last, each one improving, which is incredible. If you got hold of them prior to this release, fair play. If you are new to them, then you are in for a treat.