C.O.E. is the band of the charismatic frontman S.L.Coe, to most known as the voice on classic albums like Angel Dust's 'To Dust You Will Decay' and Scanner's 'Terminal Earth'. After leaving both those bands, Coe ventured on to another speed metal band named Reactor, singing on their 1995 'Farewell To Reality' album, before deciding to concentrate on being a producer instead. His Dust Music Tonstudio was responsible for producing over 150 albums from 1989 on. Underground thrash and speed metal favorites, such as Reactor, Torchure, Sacrosanct, Panacea and Disharmonic Orchestra recorded albums there. When acting as a 6th member, producing the band Morbid Jester's 6th album, 'Gates To Valhalla', Coe started to work on some new material with the boys. Slowly a new album was written and recorded, and C.O.E. was born.

METAL (2000) SHARK RECORDS

I can't remember if it was his contribution to Scanner's 'Terminal Earth' or Angel Dust's 'To Dust You Will Decay' album that made me aware of S.L. Coe. I guess it was the first, as I still don't own a, original copy of the latter. Anyway, I found this album used somewhere, but didn't really give it much attention. The music is pretty much what you'd expect from a guy with a past in the power and speed metal side of the scene. But here he blends in a lot of classic metal, and even some neo-classical influences here and there. Imagine a mix between Scanner and Yngwie Malmsteen?!! Coe sounds a bit more strained here then what I remembered from 'Terminal Earth'. It's not ruining the album, but combined with the slightly tame production it doesn't exactly help either. But as an obscure power/speed metal release, I find 'Metal' to be quite enjoyable. And any fan of this genre will probably find something to band their heads to here. After all, they don't make 'em like this anymore! The album is varied but without straying away from the basis. It goes from the neo-classical sounding, anthemic opener, to the speed, borderline thrash, metal number, "The Die Is Cast". "The Tale Of Baba Yaga" is an instrumental with acoustic guitars. And, no, "Burning The Witches" is not a Warlock cover, unfortunately, but it is a good song nevertheless. Unfortunate is a better description of the horrible cover of Guns 'n' Roses "Paradise City". 'Metal' is the kind of CD you'd label 'solid', perhaps without finding much to remember from it, and nothing to really make it a bad album either.

Killer tracks: Iron Sword, Stargate, The Die Is Cast, Burning The Witches, Slavian Symphony