KornuCopia

KornuCopia is the one-man project of multi-instrumentalist Raw Zero who has opted to play all the instruments on this release by himself. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, KornuCopia doesn’t seem to have established a solid reputation yet, and because of this it hasn’t been easy to find information on the project at large. Nonetheless, this is an album review so I might as well focus on the music on this five track EP that is aptly titled “Five”. 

On the track “Expose” I am picking up the unmistakable vibe of revivalist-grunge with the boogieing bass-lines, the powerful drumming and the vocal work that reminds me quite a large bit of Kurt Cobain. It’s not all revivalist-grunge however, as the soundscape tends to be a bit more mellow as well as experimental with the inclusion of some phased out quiet parts. Nonetheless the classic quiet verse/loud chorus structure is spray-painted all over the soundscape and leaves little-to-no surprise in that particular area. 

With the track “Align” KornuCopia takes on a more mellow approach with some nicely ringing neo-folk soundscapes brimming with strumming guitars and easy-going vocals that, while still reminding me of Kurt Cobain, take on a more relaxed attitude which, in turn, leaves room for a more personal voice to shine through. “Align” is probably the only of the five tracks I would describe as a diamond in the rough as I think it could be a sort of hit-material, given enough time, work and luck. – Even though I don’t really think that KornuCopia is striving towards international pop-superstardom. 

In essence, this EP shows off a relative amount of promise on five short tracks. It’s a solid beginning and it is clearly a smart move to release an EP as this project still needs some work to reach the ‘final’ stage of identity wherein the songs have been perfected and the identity of the project has been established as largely independent whilst still inspired by others. All in all a good first effort from KornuCopia. 

by Bo Kastaniegaard Vinberg 
June 5, 2013

For the record from Raw Zero - 'Five' is not an EP. 'Five' is not an 'Extended Play' of anything. 'Five' is an album in its own right and the debut of KornuCopia.

ALBUM: FIVE
REVIEWED BY: LAURA MOLINARO

Every now and then someone’s got to give Toronto’s underground music scene a good looking at. Before it decides to make itself known that is. Because even if it is so far down that the tremors are hardly distinguishable; one day those small tremors may very well wreak havoc on us all. After all, Toronto is a city that harbours many multi-talented, passionate musicians gunning for their shot. 
  
One such musician is Raw Zero who functions as a one-man band known as KornuCopia. Raw covers vocal and song writing duties as well as playing guitar, bass and drums. He uses his own independent label, Excess Zero, to release KornuCopia’s music and in October he put out Five an ambitious, EP-length effort that conceptually focuses “on greed and compassion in the human race”. More so than any other influence, KornuCopia’s sound beckons post-grunge and finds contemporaries in the likes of Buckcherry, Velvet Revolver and--who could’ve guessed, Korn. 
  
Five opens with “Penetrate”; an infectious song that builds off of a U2-esque riff, which is befitting considering this is a decidedly outspoken record. To top it off, it has an infectious hook that really does follow through on the promise of the title. It gets stuck deep in your mind. Though the next track, “Exploit” seems perhaps cut from the same cloth; it is still tearing it to bits at that! When “Connect” comes along though, the pace changes entirely and demonstrates the versatility in KornuCopia’s repertoire. However, it is on album closer “Expose” that Raw really comes into his own. From the coursing, bass-driven intro, to the more experimental composition what with the seeming three-part movement of the song, this is clearly the mark not only of an evolving artist but of a highly promising rock composer. 

Keep a look out for this rising artist! 

by Laura Molinaro, Freelance Music Journalist 
July 17, 2013 

Twitter: @Laura_Molinaro5 
Email: laura@livemusicTO.com

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