Kola Koca Death Squad

Four out of five stars

The Kola Koka Death Squad is a very accurately named band. The union of two likeminded, frayed-end blues-rock experimentalists, Mike Brewer on vocals and guitar and Colin Frazier on drums and percussion, Kola Koka is all dark, pensive riffs frenetically complemented by the wandering thump of roving drum beats.

It's mortal music, to say the least, and the band's ominous name accurately represents its shadowy, evocative tone. The lyrical content also accurately represents the tone: Brewer sings, "She don't care about the way she looks, she's having fun/ She's no fashion conscious girl, but she gets it done/ Look into her eyes and you'll realize, she's just having fun/ ...Can't you see that I'm out of tune with this world?" This charcoal-gray sense of searching can be found elsewhere on the album, too-there's a desperation to the Kola Koka sound, a detached otherworldliness, a feeling of longing to locate oneself in a totally foreign, temporal environment.

It might be that the duo's musical roots lie in a time largely forgotten by modern music-a time of heavy blues-riffing and temperamental strumming. Or it might be that Brewer and Frazier are just a pair of displaced souls, but the fact remains, Kola Koka does not seem to be a product of our contemporary world.

While the Midwestern duo draws easy comparisons to another Ohio-based two-piece-the more straightforward Black Keys-time and again on their ragged-and-ready debut, Brewer and Frazier still manage to break new ground. By pushing the boundaries of tangled blues-rock, Kola Koka creates a unique type of innovation in form.

This is a solid example of forward thinking within a classic genre, and though it will undoubtedly fly well under the radar of popular taste, it's an album not to

By Eryn Green - THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE

he Kola Koca Death Squad - S/T / 2005 Wife Records / 13 Tracks / http://www.kolakocadeathsquad.com / http://www.wiferecords.com / Reviewed 15 September 2005

In a sense, the Kola Koca Death Squad takes the best parts of Johnny Rotten and Lou Reed, while simultaneously working under a psychedelic-influenced instrumentation to make something memorable for the first track on this disc, “Rising Son”. What is really a chaotic and emotional-filled set of vocals during “Power Condition” are really dominated and removed from their context with the very angular and proper arrangements on the track.

When The Kola Koca Death Squad show listeners that they have the ability to rein in some of the most powerful forces on this disc, they are not just showing a maturity but rather an understanding of the situation that values the building up of emotion until that time when a tremendous explosion issues forth. “Trying To Remember” brings the skills of the band forward to listeners again; non-traditional guitar lines make a piecemeal harmony that is at times infectious enough to dance to The largely-instrumental nature of this track also gives fans something dense to mull on; these are not the bar chords that dominated acts like the aforementioned Iggy Pop-led Stooges, but rather a contemplative, at times heavy rock that seems more suited for bands like Black Sabbath. “Girls In Action” stays within the seventies-rock paradigm expounded upon throughout this disc, but has The Kola Koca Death Squad again infuse their music with an irresistible melody that just challenges individuals to stop listening, for even a second.

“To Whom it May Concern” seems to be an early shut-down to the disc, as the mindless strumming that provide the opening to the disc really sounds as if the band is a step away from shutting down their amps and getting a case. The heart-breaking vocals present on “To Whom It May Concern” really seem to come from the same wellspring as “Pinball Wizard”-era Elton John and (surprisingly enough) “8 Full Hours Of Sleep”-era Against Me!. While the decision to place three songs after the logical ending of the disc may be suspect, the fact is the rockabilly sound of “Long Way” goes a long way in keeping individuals interested and the disc fresh even in its last gasps. The true ending of this disc is “We’re Gonna Go With This” really paints a positive picture for the ending; it almost seems as if the Kola Koca Death Squad are creating the context for their next album, which from the sounds of this track (the slightly more Husker Du-influenced almost-punk here) will be a large departure from this album.

Top Tracks: To Whom It May Concern, We’re Gonna Go With This

Rating: 6.3/10 - WWW.NEUFUTUR.COM

The Kola Koca Death Squad, “The Kola Koca Death Squad” (Wife Records)

Those looking for a little rock fix need to look no further than the debut album of the Kola Koca Death Squad.

With Mike Brewer on vocals and guitar and Colin Frazier on drums and percussion, this band features minimalist garage rock that is one part White Stripes and one part The Clash.

Brewer’s wailing voice is indistinguishable from that of a British punk rocker, but the songs are more paced and deliberate than those of early punk.

The songs are quick and pointed, the lyrics short and simple. “Power Stroke” rocks hard and even features a little cowbell for those who can’t get enough. “Fire it down, fire it out/ God knows it’s far out,” Brewer sings.

The band can best be summed up with the lyrics from “Out of Tune with The World”:

“She don’t care about the way she looks/ she’s having fun /She’s no fashion conscience/ but she gets it done.” Kola Koca Death Squad is gritty and hard, but Brewer and Frazier aren’t trying to look pretty, just trying rock your face off.

Grade: B - THE DAILY BEACONLINE

The Kola Koca Death Squad
Album: The Kola Koca Death Squad
In a death match of blues-rock heroes, The Kola Koca Death Squad would stick it to the reigning champs, The Black Keys. Fellow Ohio natives, the Kola Koca Death Squad prove that Ohio is the center of epic scale rock-n-roll!
www.kolakocadeathsquad.com - GROUPEEZ.COM

Columbus Alive Show Preview - Kola Koca Death Squad MadLab Saturday, April 2
Assuming that the Kola Koca Death Squad’s moniker was derived from the Clash’s London Calling track (“Koka Kola”), what the band has laid down for its debut full-length is a surprisingly far cry from the punk pioneers. Instead, easy comparisons could be made to another Ohio two-piece that similarly favors frayed-end blues and its permutations. But where the Black Keys fastidiously adhere to rock-steady beats, Kola Koca drummer Colin Frazier’s jazz background ensures that things are kept loose and nice, while Squad partner guitarist Mike Brewer riffs off the relaxed structure in bouts of both familiar nodes and scrappy spontaneity.
With Jack O’Connor on bass on about half the tracks, Jon Chinn, who recorded the album, on organ on a couple and Evil Queen Jacob Sundermeyer lending his pipes to one, though, the Death Squad’s more than just stomp and squawk. Indeed, the record varies wildly over the course of its 13 tracks, from the country death love hangover of “Sadie Gray” to the Grifter lo-fi of “Power Condition” to the bombastic rock-out (replete with cowbell) of “Power Stroke.” Through it all the Death Squad manages to forge an identity with paint-peeling blasts of white heat.
Helping the Death Squad to celebrate the release of their new album will be Jon Chinn and, appropriately for the venue, the Lab Rats. —Stephen Slaybaugh Columbus Alive 03.30.05 - Columbus ALive

Sincere and epic rock music with a hint of empathy. Kola Koca might not put you out of your misery but they certainly will get your mind off you problems. The Death Squad features tight instrumentation with warm fuzzy guitars. - Skullys