Jesusfreakhideout.com: World Gone Cold, "World Gone Cold

JFH Music Review

CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

World Gone Cold
World Gone Cold - EP

Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Rock / Post-Hardcore / Metal
Album length: 7 tracks: 25 minutes, 31 seconds
Street Date: March 17, 2023

READER RATING:

When the World Gone Cold project was first announced, I was both excited and intrigued. I've been a fan of most of the bands the members have been involved with (including Inhale Exhale, P.O.D., Disciple, Attack Attack!, among others), but couldn't quite anticipate how all the pieces would fit together. Sure, the members' other groups all fit comfortably somewhere in the realms of metal or hard rock, but spanning a massive diversity of subgenres. Would influences from all be clear, or would they create an entirely different sound? The answer I think ends up being somewhere in the middle. Fans of late 2000s/ early 2010s metalcore will be very happy, as the EP ends up spending most of its time playing with those sounds, but each member brings their talents and influences to the project in clear and beneficial ways. It offers little flourishes that make it plain that the quality of musicianship and attention to detail is extremely high for the genre.

I was not expecting the level of experimentation we get here. The foundation of the sound sits comfortably in the extremely saturated alt-metal/post-hardcore realm, but it reaches far beyond simply recreating what's been done before. As could be expected, there's a great focus on riffs to drive the music forward. They rarely do anything too technically ambitious, but there's more than enough creativity and energy to set the instrumentation apart from many others in this space. Vocally, World Gone Cold is excellent in every direction, and can be favorably compared to both modern peers and the slightly earlier state of the genre it seeks to update. I'm absolutely in love with the production on this album. It's extremely crisp and modern, without sounding overproduced.

I'm also very appreciative of the variety between songs, both in stylistically distinguishing them from one another and sprinkling highlight moments across the entire EP. The breakdown on "Burn" is particularly great, really elevating the energy of the entire release. "Again" is very fun, returning to the neglected microgenre of 'electronicore' with bright synths and chunky guitars that evoked strong nostalgic feelings for me, and also features a really great guitar solo. "Apology" is another highlight that showcases the band's versatility. It starts off as another excellent modern metal track, but shifts into an intriguing ambient interlude in the bridge that transitions back into the chorus with yet another incredible guitar solo. It's really advanced songwriting. Closing track "Reality" is the softest track on the album, but even it can hardly be classified as a true ballad. Evoking Vital-era Anberlin, the track provides a satisfying conclusion to the album with big electronic rock riffs and a delightfully controlled vocal performance that hints that what we've been shown on this EP is only the surface.

It's not a flawless release - the chorus on "Attention" feels a bit disjointed at times, and several other moments could use a touch more polishing to maximize their impacts - but I'd much rather have an album with weak points from trying things that don't quite work out than one that takes zero risks. And even these are very minor points on what is otherwise an incredibly enjoyable modern metal release.

- Review date: 3/16/23, written by Kevin McGuire of Jesusfreakhideout.com

(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

JFH Staff's Second Opinion

What comes to mind when you hear the term "super group?" Sure, over the last 15 years, maybe your mind goes to Marvel movies. But when it comes to musical super groups, especially in the faith-based scene, perhaps the obscure Neon Horse made up of Stavesacre and ex-Crucified singer, Mark Salomon and singer/multi-instrumentalist, Jason Martin of Starflyer 59, may come to mind. But perhaps you've been looking for a super group that leans toward the heavier side of things. Enter World Gone Cold, made up of Yogi Watts (Demon Hunter), Traa Daniels (P.O.D.), Ryland Raus (Inhale Exhale & Attack Attack!), Mark Anthony (The Letter Black), and Andrew Stanton (Disciple).

You might think, before hearing World Gone Cold, that you can guess just how they might sound. And sure, there are elements that each member brings from their respective other bands, but it might not be quite what you're expecting. What we have with this debut is a well-crafted metallic active rock sound with catchy melodies, a good mix of aggressive screams and soaring choruses. And therein lies, perhaps, the band's biggest strength - the vocal talents of Ryland Raus. It's clear throughout just how much he's grown as a singer since his Inhale Exhale days (not that he was a bad singer before, but his control and range are clearly on display more than ever).

If there's one thing I don't particularly connect with for this release, it's the lyrical content. Not that there's anything objectionable or inappropriate, but I don't find much relatable. For example, on "Attention," the chorus comes off as a bit cheesy and "tough guy," with the line, "What do I have to say to you? Do I have your attention now? Standing over your body, there's something you're about to find out." Huh?

After more than a few listens, however, I've found World Gone Cold to be a fun and enjoyable listen that may just leave you with an earworm or two. I truly hope this release and the upcoming shows the band has scheduled do well for them. - Review date: 3/9/23, John Mark Amos of Jesusfreakhideout.com

JFH Staff's Additional 2 Cents

I've never been a huge fan of the "super-group." For starters, they come preloaded with too high expectations and preconceived ideas of what their sound is supposed to be. Almost every time I have walked away severely disappointed by the material that these bands put out. To say it's unfair to feel this way about a new band goes without saying, but it is also a warranted disclaimer before I get into the nuts and bolts of this review.

World Gone Cold boasts a loaded lineup for anyone that has any familiarity with 2000's Christian metal/hardcore, especially in the case of Ryland, they all pack some serious street cred. This is where the massive expectations come into play and, unfortunately, on my first few listens I was severely let down. Once I corrected myself and approached the music from a more balanced perspective, I did find a lot to enjoy here. Let me begin by saying, don't let the aggression of the opening few minutes turn you away if you are not fond of metalcore. This is very much a metalcore album in its conception, but it also tries to find that balance between more of the radio friendly rock sound you'd find comfortably resting its laurels on a Disciple album and the aggression of Inhale/Exhale. Thematically, they do a great job of balancing that tension, and the expert musicianship is on full display as there is little doubt that each of the respective members are masters of their craft. I always lean toward the more experimental and aggressive sounds when I listen to music, so at times it came across as formulaic and bland. Again, this is probably due to my high expectations; I just couldn't find anything that set them apart from the crowded scene.

Lyrically, most of the themes touched on are dealing with negative things while striving to find some hope and a little light somewhere within the darkness. Their first single, "Opposites Attract," is the perfect example of this struggle as it tells the story of a relationship on the rocks with lines like, "Pressure on my chest but I'm still wishing you the very best... and Try to forget what we've been through, there's no way out. Restoration!" The lyrics drive home the theme and the intentions of the band very well. Another highlight track is "Again," probably my favorite one musically and thematically, delving into our brokenness and where our hurts lead us if uncontrolled.

Overall, World Gone Cold has crafted a solid group of seven songs, and if one gets past the high expectations you can find a lot to enjoy. It's just a shame that there wasn't much new ground broken by these guys, but that also leaves the door open for bigger and better things soon. - 2/21/23 Matt Baldwin