C.O.F.F.I.N are a hard rockin’ punk band from Sydney, Australia. The acronym stands for ‘Children Of Finland Fighting In Norway’. ‘Out In Oslo’ was produced by Declan Mehrtens of Amyl & the Sniffers, who they’ve toured with many times, so it’s no small jump to offer comparisons there but C.O.F.F.I.N are an altogether different proposition for a start the drummer is also the singer, and there’s no Amy prowling the stage heading this band they leave it to the music to do their talking and boy, have they got something to shout about. I wouldn’t like to call who’d win in a bar brawl either, but it would be close.

This is C.O.F.F.I.N’s fourth studio album and whilst they’ve barely moved the dial in sound or style, the songwriting might have had some subtle gear shifts and they’ve introduced different flavours to the delivery for sure.

I’d hazard a guess that what you see is what you get, and there is zero bullshit in C.O.F.F.I.N, and they certainly walk the walk and give zero fucks along the way – you either dig it or you move along; there are no half measures. This record kicks off in style after the sleazy intro it’s counted in, and boom, we’re off like a bottle rocket. If you want to let someone know exactly what this band is about, it’s captured in the opening salvo of sonic assault – three minutes and one second; there it is! Leaving the listener in no doubt what is occurring. Taking no prisoners right from the curtain drop, C.O.F.F.I.N are in the motherfuckin house.

‘Sleep In It’ is off like a boogie Woogie runaway train as Ben Portnoy hits those drums like he’s got a ten-pound lump hammer in his grip, and the drums are a red-hot anvil, but don’t be fooled, as the song charges on and the solos rage hard, the backing vocals are shaking things up like prime-time Hanoi Rocks, and I’m loving it.

Coming on a little more restrained, ‘Bad Thoughts’ is shifting on a rockin groove towards a gang vocal chorus that’s all muscle through the throbbing Bass rumble. Damn, what a record this is shaping up to be, and we’re barely a quarter in.

‘A Place To Stay’ rages on a thumping solid beat set on a wild, barely in control bass line. Hang on, an acoustic guitar and soulful harmonica? Yup, everybody needs to calm down a little and catch their collective breath, so ’13 Days’ is the perfect palate cleanser before we build up a sweat again. ‘Won’t Let You Down’ has the harmonica honkin’, and with a second wind blowing through its heads down and lets kick up a shitstorm for a few. ‘Fair Enough’ is steaming down the track before we’re thrown a curveball in the shape of the foot-stompin ‘, chest-beating ‘Gettin’ Down’ like prime-time Slade, with a guitar solo that just soars.

The penultimate track is the sound of a band confident in the knowledge that they’ve hit paydirt with this new record. From start to finish, this is an absolute banger, and I’ve already played it over and over and louder and louder; it just sounds better and better. To close the record off, Ben sounds like a rabid dog who’s been gargling razors and washing them down with petrol as the song builds and meanders to its conclusion, putting a full stop on proceedings with a middle finger to anyone who’s listening, leaving the stage in ruins.

C.O.F.F.I.N have delivered a beast, with no weak spots anywhere. It’s one of the finest albums you’ll hear from any continent on this spinning rock this year for sure. Get on board and strap yourself in: ‘Out In Oslo’ is here, and it’s fuckin special – Buy It!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley