Metalcatto
We don’t cover nearly enough Prog/retro-Rock here. That’s almost an intentional decision, because historically, I feel retro-Rock has become the equivalent of Oscar-bait but for Metal reviewers—albums that are enjoyable but have no effect on the genre’s zeitgeist, yet still receive mountains of praise. Anyway, Coffin Hunters hopefully delivers something that’s interesting, nostalgic, and also creative. Cosmic Dawn‘s artwork tells you exactly what this is about, so let’s get into it right away.
Okay, okay—that was one of my harshest intros ever. But I do have some kind words for Cosmic Dawn. Aside from the fact that the title and artwork reflect the experience perfectly, this album feels as if you took Beardfish or Cryptic Sermon and gave them a trip on acid so they become even more psychedelic and finally reach outer space. The tracks take their time and offer some complexity, but they don’t sacrifice groove or fun. This is almost a happy Prog Rock album, but with lots of attitude and mean riffs sprinkled here and there. The balance between light and dark, between playfulness and aggression, is handled well.
Cosmic Dawn‘s strength isn’t just having crazy writing or shredding all over the place. It’s in using contrast and texture in clever ways. That synth work should never feel as convincing and as serious as it does here. The same goes for the vocals, which sound straight out of a band that sings about dragons and castles, but here they have emotional depth and add a sense of urgency to everything that’s going on. In other words, Coffin Hunters takes things I usually hate and makes them more than just respectable. That’s no easy task.
It almost feels bad that I have to throw mud at an album that clearly has nothing but good intentions. But you’re here for honesty—not objectivity, of course—which is why I’ll say that most things in Cosmic Dawn work. However, if there’s one thing that got me thinking, it’s that the tracks follow a formula that makes them hard to tell apart. There are a few songs that come out super strong, but then others are enjoyable yet can’t quite reach the same heights. The album establishes its sound early and then mostly stays there, with fewer dynamic shifts than I’d like.
That was a low blow. But don’t despair. I think Coffin Hunters has something that, though it might not convince people who don’t have at least a bit of a hipster vibe, has enough creativity and hooks to keep you interested for its entire duration. Maybe I should check out more of this “review bait” more often, because sometimes you can find gold when you were expecting sewage water.
Label: Bitter End Records
Release date: July 17th, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/coffinhunters
Country: USA
Score: 3.8/5.0
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