Thursday, August 31, 2017

Cold As Life Suffer EP review

Cold As Life 
Suffer” b/w “For the Few” 7”
 Demons Run Amok

What do you say about this legendary group? Reflecting the attributes of Detroit since 1988, including all its detriments and its resilience. “Cold As Life is Detroit and Detroit Is Cold As Life”, Jimmy Gestapo (of Murphy’s Law) once said. Cold as Life embody Detroit and its inherent violence, stubbornness, incarceration; but most of all, survival and fortitude. Continuing after the death of original vocalist, Rawn Beauty, they moved on to make some killer records. Born to Land Hard defined metallic hardcore equal with Set It Off and Satisfaction is the Death of Desire. Born to Land Hard is an intimidating and revered LP; respected for it honesty, aggression and rage. Sole consistent member and drummer, Roy Bates now carries the famed hardcore band with hardcore flyer/album artist, Craig Holloway (and ex-Cold As Life from years ago), rejoining on bass; also adding guitarist Matt Martin and new vocalist, Jesse Adkins. This EP takes the digital tracks from last spring and commits them vinyl via Demons Run Amok.

Two killer new songs help anticipate an LP later this year. They ride that blend of Detroit / NYHC groove and brutality equally. Negative vibes, tough as Hell riffs and breakdowns; Detroit hardcore purity that is still punk at heart. Forever sanctioned (and self-imposed) to DIY with touring and pressing records, Cold As Life only know how to do it their own way. Here, “Suffer” begins with that feedback rising, like the mythical feel of Born to Land Hard; triggering sweaty anticipation. Adkins spews callous vocals over the ode to addiction. The chorus is classic Cold As Life writing, although recorded more straight forward than that Born to Land Hard metallic crunch sound. We still hear their defining thick hardcore pummeling and banging sound. “For the Few” draws us in again with that cold feedback and a thick strum, gauging the audience’s readiness for the impending melee. A bouncy mid-tempo song warns of backstabbers, traitors, and snakes. This anthem is a bonding rally cry for hardcore purists. Heavy and Detroit in each growl and chord, this is a pit inciter.


Vinyl is yellow (/100) (exclusive to RevHQ). Coretex carries Blue (/222) and Black (/512). Also, catch the white (/102), mint (/98) (only through Fastbreak!), and 20 test presses.

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