'OX,' the critically acclaimed reunion release from COALESCE, was the first new music released by the band in almost a decade. As the name implies, OXEP continues and completes 'OX' in theme and deed. This is obvious on the bombastic likes of "The Blind Eye" and the percussive "To My Ruin," while the acoustic, dramatic "Joyous in Life" and "Absent in Death" offer the more melancholic side of this tremendous, uncompromising band.

COALESCE destroyed the mold of formulaic metallic-hardcore in the mid 90s. Their existence was controversial and polarizing, and their musical legacy changed the genre forever. On their landmark record (and swan-song at the time), 1998 s 0:12: Revolution in Just Listening, the band channeled the turbulence of their break-up into their most urgent, honest, and desperate songs to date. Their unbelievably dense, off-kilter compositions showed a more pronounced rock edge, and the band turned in the studio performance of their short lifetime. Fast-forward to 2008; on the eve of the second coming of COALESCE 0:12 has been repackaged and remastered for the next generation of heavy music connoisseurs. In the canon of heavy music, certainly in the world of modern hardcore, there are few records as crucial as 0:12.

Five Them Rope, the first proper full-length from this wildly influential, trail-blazing hardcore band, blew minds upon its original 1997 release. The record took hardcore s urgency into an altogether heavier, more angular and discordant direction than any of the bands progenitors before them. This repackaged, remastered edition of the original album comes complete with extensive liner notes from COALESCE guitarist Jes Steineger, as well as a 2nd disc with 2004 s Give Them Rope She Said V2.0 featuring an alternate mix and mastering job of the entire Give them Rope album.

While many have imitated and a select few have taken the complicatedcore sub-genre of hardcore to new heights, none have matched Coalesce's ferocity, density or unorthodox nature. From the stunning medical text-inspired packaging to the slower, groove-oriented undercurrent winding its way throughout Coalesce's trademarked sonic onslaught, Functioning On Impatience is completely without remorse, but thoughtful and methodical in its delivery. Opener You Can't Kill Us All begins with one of the most damaging condemnations/proclamations ever committed to disc, before the music of Coalesce lurches forward. Functioning On Impatience is littered with punishing metallic riffs, coupled with crazed technical runs that throw the proceedings into utter chaos, and is anchored by an utterly distorted bass, peculiar guitar noise and more time changes, tempo shifts and stop-start parts than one can possibly keep up with. Serving as a perfect compliment to the music's irresistible malevolence, Sean Ingram's challenging lyrics are delivered with such bile and power that their vehemence may never be replicated. While Coalesce's internal strife and divergent personalities eventually silenced this lumbering behemoth, ultimately the music remains as everything else fades to black, and Functioning On Impatience cements Coalesce's place in hardcore like few albums before it or since.

Features seven Led Zeppelin covers from Coalesce's 1999 EP, along with eight additional jams, including those from the band's split EP with Boy Sets Fire, a cover of Black Sabbath's "Supernaut", an Undertow cover, and a Get Up Kids cover.

COALESCE destroyed the mold of formulaic metallic-hardcore in the mid 90s. Their existence was controversial and polarizing, and their musical legacy changed the genre forever. On their landmark record (and swan-song at the time), 1998 s 0:12: Revolution in Just Listening, the band channeled the turbulence of their break-up into their most urgent, honest, and desperate songs to date. Their unbelievably dense, off-kilter compositions showed a more pronounced rock edge, and the band turned in the studio performance of their short lifetime. Fast-forward to 2008; on the eve of the second coming of COALESCE 0:12 has been repackaged and remastered for the next generation of heavy music connoisseurs. In the canon of heavy music, certainly in the world of modern hardcore, there are few records as crucial as 0:12.

'OX,' the critically acclaimed reunion release from COALESCE, was the first new music released by the band in almost a decade. As the name implies, OXEP continues and completes 'OX' in theme and deed. This is obvious on the bombastic likes of "The Blind Eye" and the percussive "To My Ruin," while the acoustic, dramatic "Joyous in Life" and "Absent in Death" offer the more melancholic side of this tremendous, uncompromising band.

'OX,' the critically acclaimed reunion release from COALESCE, was the first new music released by the band in almost a decade. As the name implies, OXEP continues and completes 'OX' in theme and deed. This is obvious on the bombastic likes of "The Blind Eye" and the percussive "To My Ruin," while the acoustic, dramatic "Joyous in Life" and "Absent in Death" offer the more melancholic side of this tremendous, uncompromising band.

Originally released on the once formidable Earache Records, Coalesce re-recorded the 002 EP to insure its continued survival and availability. To that end, the two-song A Safe Place seven-inch was added to further sweeten the deal. The re-recorded offerings lead off this bludgeoning and benefit from their updating. Not as chaotic or eclectic as future Coalesce releases, these three songs are massive, ferocious and overwhelming. Coalesce's trademarked indomitable riffs are everywhere, as are the chaotic breakdown/freak out parts that beg for broken equipment and injured spectators. Also present are the noise/feedback-inflected runs, Sean's vile tortured throat abuse and the inspired playing that constantly straddles the line between technicality and unmitigated hostility. Not to be overshadowed, A Safe Place's two contributions ring of immediacy, combining all of Coalesce's strengths with an urgency and desire to continually redefine their abilities. Taken as separate entities, 002 & A Safe Place are indeed formidable offerings, combined they are nearly impossible to withstand.