CoC : Cosmonks - Out of the Ruins : Review

Cosmonks - _Out of the Ruins_
(Lucky Seven / Diehard, 1999)
by: Paul Schwarz (5 out of 10)

Blending a vaguely punk (the term used here rather broadly) direction with catchy melodic hook lines and horn parts hardly makes Cosmonks original: this catchy, bounce laden style has been done far better by NOFX over their numerous albums. In comparison, _Out of the Ruins_ is more than a bit too sugar coated and contrived. Nonetheless, catchy it is and you will probably find yourself foot-tapping through it the first or second time through. However, upon repeated listens, it not only seems to become more and more annoyingly adolescent, but also starts to grate for the simple fact that its structures are gnawingly repetitive and that it's so long. The more ballady "Cradle Bomb" is a short respite, but there are few such blessings on this forty eight minute, twelve track, stagnant, though very professionally executed, catchy melodic "punk" album.

(article published 9/12/1999)