Psychadelic, ominous rock
A group that can be described as psychedelic music meets metal, Space Coke is a unique group coming out of Columbia, South Carolina. The band consists of Reno El Cheapo Gooch on guitar and vocals, Jay Matheson on bass and Brandon Johnson on drums. Their album L’appel Du Vide is an eclectic mix of style and sound. Many of the songs on the album sound different, but they all fall under the psychedelic hard rock designation that Space Coke has. The title, L’appel Du Vide is French for “the call of the void,” and the ominous title works well with the creepy talking segments of the album that come at the beginning of some of the songs. L’appel Du Vide is definitely an unapologetic album that shows the world who Space Coke is.
The album begins with “L’appel Du Vide.” The song itself begins with a voice that sounds Twilight Zone-like, that relays a creepy message, with the first words spoken being “hammer at your brain.” The song then launches into a catchy guitar riff and some distorted vocals. The guitar riff throughout is the strongest point of the song, as it is very memorable and serves as the driving point of the song. The second song on the album is “Kali Ma.” Kali Ma is a Hindu goddess whose name means “dark mother.” The title continues to play into the rather dark theme of the album. The vocals sound similar to those in “L’appel Du Vide,” but what makes this song different is that the drumbeat drives it forward, as opposed to the guitar.
Two notable songs on the album are “Venus In Furs” and “Lucid Dream.” “Venus In Furs” is a slower song and is a psychedelic masterpiece. Gooch’s vocals are showcased well in this song, as they aren’t distorted like in some of the other songs, thus showing his range and abilities. The song is beautiful while remaining creepy, and it is arguably the strongest song on the album. “Lucid Dream” is a very different song, with a bass line that makes it stand out. The vocals are distorted almost beyond recognition at some points, making the music the center point of the song. It’s a very experimental song, and though it does fit well with the style of the album, it also could easily stand on its own.
Though “Evil” is the final song on the album, the beginning of “Thelemic Ritual” is worth noting as it really sums up the album. “I am here, the demon who poses your soul.” An album focused on ominous sounds and themes really is well represented by this image of evil. That’s why “Evil” is the best way to end the album. It’s a cover of a Stevie Wonder song and features the vocals of Deborah Adedokun. It’s a beautiful cover, and a great way to end an album focused heavily on dark themes.
L’appel Du Vide is available for purchase on Band Camp now
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