Album review: The Colossus

Having seen Cairo Knife Fight perform live many times over the past few years I’d always been under the assumption they were performing songs from a number of prior recordings. So I was a little surprised to discover that The Colossus was actually their first album (they do have a few EPs recorded), and more surprised to find that long time guitarist Aaron Tokona (AHoriBuzz) was no longer a key part of the band, and makes only a small appearance on the album – with that revelation I didn’t know what to expect when I pressed play.

I needn’t have been concerned. With Nick Gaffeney at the helm and a team of collaborators that includes Laughton Kora (Kora), Joel Haines (who seems to have played with a who’s who of NZ talent), and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), this album couldn’t fail. There’s nothing about it I don’t like, from the Nine Inch Nails-esque opening of the title track, to the jaunty rock feel of Rezlord (which is almost like a cross between Muse and Alice in Chains at times), right through to the overdriven, yet plaintive finale of Die Young. All of it is good, all of it needs repeated listening.

It’s a more mature, confident recording than the previous EPs, with a harder, and more polished edge to it. And it sounds big. Really big. This is an album that’s made to be played loud, through some big speakers – it’s the only way to really experience it.

I’m going to throw it out there – this could be the best local rock album this year. I just can’t stop listening to it, and it just gets better with every listen.