Some bands merely make music; others craft entire dystopian landscapes, dragging listeners through the wreckage of human despair, defiance, and disillusionment. Coma Beach, the unrelenting punk rock force from Würzburg, Germany, falls firmly into the latter category. With their latest release, “Passion/Bliss,” which came out on January 9, and the final installment of their “Scapegoat Revisited” EP triptych, they cement their legacy as a band that doesn’t just play punk rock but weaponizes it.
Opening the EP with “Passion,” Coma Beach wastes no time pulling us into an abyss of self-doubt and existential longing. The track grips with beauty, its friendly pace fueled by pummeling drums that hit like a freight train. The vocals are a gut punch of raw emotion—wavering between agonized reflection and ferocious defiance. Lines like “The passion I once had is now the ashes in my vault” set a bleak yet relatable tone, striking at the heart of creative and personal disillusionment. As the song spirals towards its peak, the desperation in the delivery morphs into a dangerous determination—an anthem for those clawing their way back from the void. The production captures the essence of classic punk—unpolished, aggressive, and dripping with authenticity, ensuring that every syllable, every riff, and every drum hit lands like a battle cry.
If “Passion” was a personal cry for meaning, the second track, “Bliss,” is its furious, externalized counterpart—a brutal takedown of blind conformity. This track seethes with venomous cynicism, its lyrics cutting like daggers: “Kill your thoughts to free your mind. Life is easier when you’re blind.” The band unleashes a relentless onslaught of searing guitars, thrashing drums, and a pulsing bassline that drives the song’s scathing message home. The snarling vocals sound like a voice calling from the wreckage, desperately trying to shake the world awake. As the track builds, the hypnotic repetition of “You’ll be happy when you don’t have to think” serves as both an accusation and a dare, making Bliss one of the most powerful statements on the EP. The production here embraces the spirit of classic garage punk—raw, urgent, and designed to rattle your bones.
The EP takes a scathing turn with “Astray (Fallen Angel),” a track that fearlessly calls out the exploitation of faith and the manipulation disguised as salvation. The lyrics paint a damning portrait of a self-proclaimed “messiah” who preys on the vulnerable, delivering empty promises with “tongues of fire” only to “break your will, to numb your brain.” The song’s composition matches its venomous theme—sharp, unrelenting guitar riffs and an explosive rhythm section keep the tension razor-sharp. The vocal performance is both mocking and urgent, dripping with sarcasm and outrage, making it one of the most biting critiques on the EP. Sonically, the track blends the chaotic energy of hardcore punk with a more structured, anthemic quality, ensuring that its message lingers long after the final note fades.
Perhaps the most emotionally raw song on the EP, “Nothing Right,” is a confessional anthem for the lost and broken. The lyrics dig deep into existential torment—“Tell me the meaning of my life… and why I’m a murderer”—turning the song into a gut-wrenching plea for understanding. The instrumentation is relentless, with jagged, slashing guitar work tearing through the track like a storm, while the drums pound with a feverish intensity. The vocal delivery is a perfect blend of fury and vulnerability, making every lyric hit like a desperate scream into the void. This track is punk rock at its most cathartic—gritty, unpolished, and seething with frustration, offering solace to anyone who has ever felt trapped in their mind.
Closing out the EP, “The Final Door” is a full-throttle plunge into the abyss. Fueled by apocalyptic imagery and a relentless instrumental attack, the song drags listeners through the darkest corridors of judgment and consequence. The lyrics are haunting: “You will look into the eyes of the dead, and after your soul has left you behind, you’ll pay the price for all of your debts.” The band unleashes pure sonic fury, with thunderous drums, menacing guitar licks, and a bassline that rumbles like impending doom. The vocal performance is at its most intense here, teetering between a growl and a desperate wail, reinforcing the song’s nightmarish tone. The production keeps the sound raw and aggressive, ensuring that every moment feels like an inescapable reckoning.
Coma Beach has always been more than just a band—they are a force, a reckoning, a relentless voice for the disillusioned and defiant. “Passion/Bliss” is not just a collection of songs; it’s an experience, a brutal yet cathartic journey through self-destruction, rebellion, and redemption. The band’s signature mix of poetic despair and ferocious punk energy is on full display here, making this EP a fitting conclusion to their Scapegoat Revisited triptych. They are a band that I’ll always be proud of. Their ability to create music that is both deeply philosophical and aggressively unfiltered is rare, and “Passion/Bliss” serves as a powerful reminder of their brilliance. For those who crave music that doesn’t just entertain but challenges, rattles, and inspires, Coma Beach remains an essential listen.
Listen to the “Passion/Bliss” EP on Spotify
You can follow Coma Beach here for more information.