Coma Beach’s Passion/Bliss (2025) serves as the climactic conclusion to the Scapegoat Revisited EP trilogy, marking the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album, The Scapegoat’s Agony (1995). This final installment encapsulates the band’s unrelenting exploration of existential turmoil, self-destruction, and the cyclical suffering inherent in the human condition.
The EP’s title, Passion/Bliss, draws heavily from Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, mirroring the play’s themes of existential paralysis and perpetual waiting. The two tracks, Passion and Bliss, originally from The Scapegoat’s Agony, are presented here in shorter, refined versions, ensuring a more direct and impactful listening experience.
Passion, track #1 on the EP, delves into the antihero’s realization of his complete emotional emptiness. Stripped of all tormenting thoughts, he is left to confront the void that remains. Sonically, Passion is an aggressive yet hypnotic whirlwind of punk intensity, blending raw guitar riffs with haunting melodies that evoke a sense of impending collapse.
Bliss, the EP’s second and final track, intensifies the descent into madness. The antihero, having entirely lost his mind, is plagued by visions of an inescapable cycle of destruction. This track embodies shock, chaos, and rage, featuring dissonant guitar lines, driving rhythms, and a visceral vocal performance from frontman B. Kafka. Together, the two tracks encapsulate the thematic pillars of Coma Beach’s music: pain, isolation, and existential dread.
Coma Beach’s ability to merge punk rock’s raw energy with alternative rock’s dark introspection is a testament to their unique artistic vision. Their influences—ranging from Sex Pistols and Joy Division to Bad Religion and Therapy?—are evident in their dynamic sound. However, Passion/Bliss is far from a mere genre exercise. The band’s literary and philosophical influences, particularly the bleak existentialism of Samuel Beckett and the dark humor of Douglas Adams, elevate their music beyond standard punk fare.
As the concluding chapter in the Scapegoat Revisited trilogy, Passion/Bliss is an uncompromising, emotionally devastating work. It reinforces Coma Beach’s reputation for crafting music that is as intellectually engaging as it is sonically ferocious. This EP is not just a celebration of their past—it’s a reaffirmation of their continued relevance in the punk and alternative rock landscapes.
For fans of existential punk and unfiltered sonic chaos, Passion/Bliss is an essential listen. Coma Beach has once again proven that their music, much like the suffering of their antihero, is cyclical, relentless, and impossible to ignore.
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