The band Cold has long been a favorite of mine. Their album 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage is truly a remarkable album. Over the years, I’ve sought out the band’s b-sides and have found quite a few. One of the songs that I’ve come to really enjoy more and more over the years is their song “With My Mind.” You can’t find this song on any of their albums sadly but, it was released as part of the soundtrack to the video game Psi Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy back in 2004. This track is a great song. Sadly too, it’s only been played live a handful of times. Hopefully, when shows can happen again, and Cold tours, they will add this song to their setlist.
It’s always an interesting time going to see a band live that you haven’t seen in many years. There are so many thoughts that race through your mind, what are they going to play, how are they going to sound, what will these new members bring to the table, etc. Last night at The Viper Room, I got to see Cold live for the first time in well over a decade and it was full of nostalgia, good moments, as well as some interesting things.
As the curtain opened up and the lights and fog were cued, The members of Cold appeared through and began ripping through “Everyone’s A Devil” (side note, this song should have been included on the bands new album The Things We Can’t Stop). From there, songs like “Remedy,” “Give,” new song “Without You,” “No One (which is one of my all time favorite Cold songs),” “The Break,” and “Suffocate (another favorite of mine)” were played. At this point the crowd started to get louder and louder, singing along and at times singing louder than Scooter Ward. Other highlights from the night included my all time favorite Cold song “Confession” from 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage as well as “End Of The World,” “Happens All The Time,” and “Just Got Wicked.” Two other new songs “Shine” and their cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run” were played and sounded even better live, especially “Shine.” The set list covered a nice cross section of their albums and showed that they still got it!
This show was very intimate and a great way to welcome Cold back to the stage after an almost decade hiatus from playing live. There is one thing that seemed a bit off and that was the tone and sound of some of the songs. Granted I’m used to hearing the songs a certain way after all these years so, I do have a little bias. Having new members will definitely change things up and at certain moments, yes, there were times that it didn’t sound exactly right but, that’s what made this a very unique performance. The band was extremely tight though and you can tell they had finally hit their stride on that level. I have a feeling that with more and more shows and playing these songs, they will get those tones and sounds aligned and sound even better. That’s not to say, that the new members don’t play well, they do, it’s just going to take some getting used to. Playing at The Viper Room was a great choice as well. This room really brought the fans closer to the band and you could feel the unity among them all in attendance as they sang their hearts out. Here’s to Cold’s return and many more shows and albums from here on out!
Cold Set List:
01) Everyone’s A Devil
02) Remedy
03) Give
04) Without You
05) No One
06) The Break
07) Suffocate
08) It’s All Good
09) When Angels Fly Away
10) Happens All The Time
11) Ocean
12) Confession
13) End Of The World
14) God’s Song
15) Shine
16) Stupid Girl
17) Run (Snow Patrol Cover)
18) Just Got Wicked
19) Feel It In Your Heart
Review and Photos (I was too busy watching to take many pictures) By: Brian Lacy
Cold’s new album, The Things We Can’t Stop, features a cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run.” It’s a pretty close to the original version but, because of Scooter Ward’s voice, it goes to another level emotionally. He’s always had a very distinct voice and on this song, you can further hear how his interpretation means so much to him. No matter what it’s a great song, and this cover is pretty spot on!
Cold- Run (album version):
After 8 years away, Cold have returned. Armed with a new album, The Thing We Can’t Stop, and a new lineup, Cold seem like they are ready to get back to the rock. The new look and sound of Cold continues the bands honest approach to very emotionally driven songs. Scooter Ward, the bands lone original member, meticulously spent time writing these songs to make sure they retained the signature style that makes Cold who they are.
The album starts off with an atmospheric intro of spoken word as it then flows into anthemic “Shine.” I’ll admit when I first heard this song, I thought it was something more fitting for Scooter’s solo project The Killer and The Star but, the more I’ve listened, it really fits in the spectrum of what Cold is. “Snowblind” is one of my favorite songs on the album. This mid tempo jam is dark yet hopeful with gentle melodies that make this song a stellar and stand out track. “The Devil We Know” has bits of classic Cold (a la their first album). This is one song that I can tell when it’s played live will be a fan favorite for sure. “Better Human” is an interesting song. It’s got a very positive message as it fits for today’s world we live in. “Without You” is one hell of a song. The heavy guitar and bass parts along with the groove, have bits of 13 Ways To Bleed in it. As of now, this is my favorite song on the album. As the album continues, it has this sway to it that takes you on a ride of emotions, like “Quiet Now,” “The One That Got Away,” and “Systems Fail” do. “Beautiful Life” and “We All Love” wrap up the album. Both of these songs are deeply heartfelt and give off a sense of hope wrapped in a warm blanket of feelings. Also on the album is a cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run.” The version on this album stays true to the original but, it’s Ward’s voice that pulls it in a different direction.
The Things We Can’t Stop isn’t a part 2 of any of the bands other albums. The closest this one remotely comes close to is A Different Kind Of Pain in the way the emotions play out. This album is a very mature look inside Scooter Ward and his life and pain. As a longtime fan of the band, at first listen you sort of feel like something is missing but, the more you listen and take it all in, the more you start to really resonate with the songs and the mood it puts you in. That’s one thing that Cold has always done well, especially on their first two albums. The new members have given Cold a bit of a different sound but, it doesn’t stray too far from what makes this band who they are. I do wish that the production on the album was a bit more raw and more in the way that the vocals sounded on their debut and 13 Ways. Had it been like that, I think this album would have been a bit more impact. As I mentioned earlier, this record feels a little out of place in the bands catalog but, in its nature and after a few listens, it’s Cold through and through. No matter what, I and a lot of people are very ecstatic that Cold are back. I very much look forward to seeing the band live again and hearing these songs live. I have a feeling that, these songs live will take on a whole new life.
Cold have released another new song entitled “Without You” from their upcoming album, The Things We Can’t Stop (out September 13). This track is very much in the vain of 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage era and that’s a great thing.
It’s been a minute since Cold has released new music (2011 to be exact). Well, the wait is over, as Cold has released the single “Shine” from their upcoming album The Things We Can’t Stop. This song is Cold at a more mature stage but, with the same emotional charge that they’ve always been known for. The new album is out September 13.
Remember the band Cold? I sure do. Their album 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage is one hell of an album and is still in constant rotation in my stereo since it came out over 15 years ago. The members of Cold have been hard at work on a new album, scheduled for a 2018 release via Napalm Records. The following is a rough version of a new song called “Beautiful Life.” Check it out!
There are certain singers that I truly feel captivated by. The way they deliver their lyrics, write songs, work out melodies, and even their stage presence, all this really grabs me and makes me feel like I’m a part of the song. One singer in particular that I’ve really loved for over 20 years now is, Scooter Ward of Cold. His ability to do all the above and be as open and vulnerable as he is, is a statement to the honest approach he takes to music. Cold is currently working on a new album, which is pretty exciting. Though in the mean time, until it’s released, check out a few songs that Scooter has guested on over the years.
Scooter Ward & Tony Iommi- Something Wicked This Way Comes:
I can remember two times in my life when a genre of music has really hit me. First, in the early 90’s with bands like Nine Inch Nails and Alice In Chains. Then, again in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. I’ve always thought I was born later than I should have been, so I could have been fully emerged in the 90’s movement. That’s not to say that I wasn’t, but it would have given me the opportunity to see some of those bands back then. When the “Nu Metal” phase hit, it grabbed my attention greatly. It spoke to me just as the “grunge” movement did, only now I was older and angrier than I was when I was younger. Bands like Deftones and Korn were constants in my stereo, discman, and in the car with my parents. There was a band in particular at that time that really stuck out to me and hit me hard. That band was Cold. The album of theirs that got me right off the bat was 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage. Songs like “No One,” “End Of The World,” “Confession,” “It’s All Good,” “Outerspace,” and “Bleed” would be the ones that resonated with me the most while listening to that album. The entire album was a huge help during my adolescence. But it wasn’t just that album. After hearing 13 Ways, I went out and got their self titled debut, and fell in love with that one too. To me the first album is a more grunge influenced album than nu metal. Songs like “Go Away,” “Give,” “Everyone Dies” really stood out to me and still do to this day. By the time their third album Year Of The Spider was released I was fully emersed in the band. Despite Cold losing their more “raw” aesthetic on Year Of The Spider, the songs still were just as impactful as their previous albums. Songs like “Remedy,” “Suffocate” featuring the very talented Sierra Swan, “Cure My Tragedy,” “Don’t Belong,” “The Day Seattle Died,” and “Black Sunday,” were the ones that drew my attention more than anything. During this time of the band, they started to really take off. Sadly the label they were on didn’t care enough to put forth the effort to push them the right way. Thus leading them to leave their label and sign with another for their next album. That album A Different Kind Of Pain, like 13 Ways To Bleed, is one of the most heart wrenching and intense albums of their career. You can hear it in songs like “Back Home,” “Feel It In Your Heart,” “A Different Kind Of Pain,” “Happens All The Time,” and “Ocean.” After taking some time off, Cold released a new album in 2011 called Superfiction, which saw the band take a different approach lyrically by making it more story driven, adding to their already emotional lyrics. Now in 2016, the band is working on a new album to be released later in the year.
They say that music can save lives. I really believe that. Certain albums, lyrics, and the connection to music can really take you places that get you out of your own head. Scooter Ward the singer/guitarist for Cold writes some of the most personal, heartfelt lyrics. His pain and vulnerability shines though all the darkness that exists around him. The band helps to create music that not only fits his lyrics, but also helps create a vibe that makes it complete. Cold is one of the more underrated bands of the time. They have a way with melodies and emotions that can make you feel at peace amongst your own issues. It’s sad they got lumped in with that nu metal genre, as they were more of a grungy band than anything. Also the association with Fred Durst didn’t help much either, but that’s beside the point. Cold is a band that should have been huge. But as a testament to their willingness to be themselves, the fans they have love them, and swear by them.
There are certain singers that I truly feel captivated by. The way they deliver their lyrics, write songs, work out melodies, and even their stage presence, all this really grabs me and makes me feel like I’m a part of the song. One singer in particular that I’ve really loved for over 20 years now is, Scooter Ward of Cold. His ability to do all the above and be as open and vulnerable as he is, is a statement to the honest approach he takes to music. Cold is currently working on a new album, which is pretty exciting. Though in the mean time, until it’s released, check out a few songs that Scooter has guested on over the years.
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