Cold have shed the shackles of the sophomore release jitters with pride and have gracefully reinvented themselves on this jaw dropping record that is filled with vibrant textural sounds and skilled musicianmanship. Gut wrenching vocals and twisted organic guitars scrape out stylish riffs that wither within the listeners ear, while moving basslines lead the explosive drums and incredible array of countless electronic sounds into a bleak vision of life and love. While the band was pure and raw sounding on their first album, they have now latched firmly onto a bevy of effects and proceed to literally tear a hole in the wall of sonic experimentation, creating what could be described as an auditory meltdown of aggressive emotion.
Vocally, Scoot is flawless, sounding like a cross between Staind and Bush, his moody and mildly husky voice croons out soul crushing vocals that instantly hook deep within and don't let up. His ability to stretch out tones and build up to elevating choruses is uncanny and if anything his performance on this disc truly shows just how talented his bruised and battered verbal torment is and how captivating a lyrical performance can be. From his sullen wails of betrayal to his heated loathing bellows, its hard not to be taken back by the dark energy he exudes. An addition of some female backup vocals and the guest appearance from Staind's Aaron Lewis also add depth and are used sparsely enough to make it seem inherently natural, which is by no means an easy feat to accomplish as far as guest performers go. Guitars can range from serene acoustic strums to throbbing effect softened plucks that glide like buzzing whispers in the background and in an instant, all but swerve off course to plunge headfirst into driving distorted growls that propel the songs forward at a meteoric pace and yet all the while maintain a modest integrity that makes them feel like a perfect fit. Bass is slightly downtuned and hums out bottom heavy grooves that interlace smoothly with the deft percussion and establish a large sounding lowend rumble that focuses heavily on looming riffs and growly buildup. Drums shower the tracks with brittle snare work and offbeat rolls that add an unconventional timing to the songs, keeping things unpredictable. Perhaps the most noticeable addition to the band on this album though is the seductive way in which effects and various extra instruments are used, from "She Said's genius inclusion of piano to the spacey effect laden audio rainbow that is "Sick Of Man", the band has fearlessly jumped into uncharted territory and triumphantly returned doused with an invigorating new dimension of aural experimentation.
Cold's first album may not have taken the group to the heights they expected to reach, but it still stands as an intoxicating glimpse into a desolate gloomy world of uncut emotion. This album builds upon those principals and takes them to a whole new level with eclectic instrumentation, hooky melody and a showcase of soul and depravity that literally spills all over the dense soundscapes created. Through speakers alone this record is a testament to compelling songwriting and intelligent experimentation, but when experienced through headphones the subtleties and sultry nature of it all wind up making everything even more impressive. Cold's chilly musical expression is both creative and touching as their restrained and intelligent musical articulation hits home harder than any of the bands who play loud music just because they can ever will. These factors and so much more make this album an instant classic that will all but make your speakers bleed with a somber assertiveness that hasn't even come close to being achieved by any other band in recent memory. Without a doubt this is a definite must have for anyone who is sick of constant meaningless aggression and seeks something that is both charmingly tactful and viciously cathartic.
(5 / 5)
