CORSAIR "CONTENT WITH THE CHAOS" ALBUM REVIEW

“Content With the Chaos” tells the story of a ship and its crew setting out in search of treasure (Spoiler Alert), it doesn’t go well for them. Corsair’s debut album is technical, precise, and a fun adventure to listen to, but not so fun for the protagonists in this metal concept album. The instrumentals on this album are a pleasure, with soaring solos, chugging riffs, and pounding drums giving a sense of dread on every track. There are no “Yo Hos” or pirate shanties found here, just tight and punishing tunes about setting sail and the trouble found along the way. Rather than going track by track and giving a vague recap of the story, I’m going to highlight my favorite parts and strongly suggest that you check out the album to enjoy all the creative details that Corsair incorporates into the story. “Content With the Chaos” opens with “Gathering (Prelude to Chaos),” an incredibly apt title since this piano track sets the mood with dissonant chords, wood creaking, and waves splashing sounds that provides an ominous beginning to the story that is about to unfold. “Hold Fast” is the second and most optimistic track on the album. Lying the ground work for the story, Craig Sorenson growls the lyrics about a crew setting sail in search of treasure, they’re told to abandon fear and prepare for potential death. The trouble is further hinted at on the next track, “Dissolving Light,” as whispers speak of spirits that haunt and curse the crew, then the guttural vocals burst back in as crew members are confused and not sure what to make of the message that isn’t fully understood until the final song. “Leviathan” is definitely one of my favorite tracks with the way the instrumentals switch from soaring leads to brutally pummeling riffs then switching back as the battle with the sea beast concludes with distant screams and a drowning guitar. My favorite track on the album is “Ominous Affliction,” which tells of a werewolf chase and attack. The drums mimic footfalls of the desperately fleeing crew, while the guitars impersonate the loping stride of werewolves easily overtaking their prey and killing all those they are able to catch. However, my favorite moment on the album comes in the second the final track “Surrender Your Voice,” when the crew is giving into the despair and accepting their fate and deaths. Much like their hope all the instruments fall away for a completely silent moment before, in a loud echoed shout, the only thing that can be said in that instant is, “Fuck.” I won’t spoil the ending for “Content With the Chaos,” but it is all around a creatively entertaining album, and definitely an adventure worth taking.

Corsair:
Craig Sorenson - Vocals/Guitar
Wilson Reinke - Bass
Jarod Edwards - Drums

(Melodic Noise) How's your day going?
(Corsair - Jarod) Pretty good
(Corsair - Wilson) It's alright
(Corsair - Craig) Just swell

(MN) How did the band form?
(C) Craig and his high school buddies formed the first crew of Corsair over a decade ago. They disbanded after a couple years as life took them in new directions. Craig and Jarod began jamming together in 2017 and started writing an album out of those sessions. Wilson was recruited to fill out the sound during the recording sessions of 'Content With The Chaos' in the fall of 2018. And thus, the second crew of Corsair set sail.

(MN) How do you define your genre?
(C) Adventure Metal

(MN) Do you have a label?
(C) Independent

(MN) What is the album name and the story behind it?
(C) ”Content With The Chaos” It just seemed like a good description of the feeling behind the story

(MN) Lyrically what stands out on the album?
(C - Craig) The lyrics are an allegory spawned out of a difficult season of my personal life

(MN) What was the inspiration behind the album?
(C) Pirate tales and myths

(MN) What do you hope people take away from the album?
(C) That life is an adventure and terrors will pass away

(MN) Is there something that connects the songs together?
(C) Various sound effects haha
The songs follow the adventures of a pirate crew

(MN) Are you all locals or transplants?
(C) Born(minus Jarod) and raised in the Twin Cities metro

(MN) What are your influences and Minnesota influences?
(C) Every form of metal on the planet; Reflections, After the Burial

(MN) What are some of your favorite current Twin Cities artists?
(C) The Atlantis Theorem, Agony Reigns

(MN) What is your favorite venue to play & see shows in Twin Cities?
(C) Varsity, Amsterdam, The Cabooze

(MN) What can fans expect when they come to your show?
(C) A rip-roaring journey through time and space

(MN) Do you have a favorite or crazy memory of playing a show?
(C) Plunderfest, back in the day of the first Corsair crew, played the morning after a massive thunderstorm

(MN) Who are your dream tourmates?
(C - Jarod) August Burns Red
(C - Wilson) Anybody that's just fucking chill
(C - Craig) Fleshgod Apocalypse, Tyr, Eluveitie

(MN) Other hobbies?
(C - Jaord) Video games, biking
(C - Wilson) Staring wide-eyed into space, bowling league
(C - Craig) Puzzles, art/design, baking

(MN) What do you like about living in the Twin Cities?
(C - Wilson) It's nice, parks and stuff, landmarks, property taxes are a little high, but you know
(C - Jarod) Not the fucking weather
(C - Craig) Ease of travel to variety of environments

(MN) Anything that sets the Twin Cities scene apart from places you've toured?
(C) Haven't gone on tour yet

(MN) Favorite places to grab food or drink in the Twin Cities?
(C) Matt's Bar, Cosetta's, Pizza Luce, Jensen's Cafe

(MN) Day jobs?
(C - Jarod) Culver's Shift Lead
(C - Wilson) Electrician
(C - Craig) Technical Arts Director

(MN) What are the band's plans for the future?
(C) Play shows, tour, create more music.

You can catch Corsair live at these upcoming shows:
August 6th at The Garage in Burnsville supporting Oh, Sleeper, Famous Last Words, and Convictions.
August 16th at Can-Can Wonderland in St. Paul with Redshift and Ithomiid.

Listen to “Content With the Chaos” now on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Review and Interview by: Andrew Perrizo