The Moshville Times - Review: Cold Snap

[avatar user=”Mosh” size=”50″ align=”left” /]Cold Snap are from Varazdin, Croatia and World War 3 is their third full album. It’s due for release on January 13th, 2015 through Eclipse Records.

Variety seems to be a keyword for Cold Snap. Initial impressions – stemming from opening song “Straight To Hell” – are of a balls-to-the-wall hard-hitting metal act. Elements of funk add to the driving rhythm, but this is definitely some catchy, toe-tapping noise.

However, “Carnival” turns the tables somewhat with far more of the funk at the fore and the metal riffs playing the supporting role. “Rise Again” pretty much does away with anything non-metallic and is a pounding track… up until 2/3 of the way through when a brief effects-laden segment reminds you that this isn’t any other run-of-the-mill band.

Confirmation that we’re not in Kansas any more comes with “Unleash Me” which is a bizarre piece of electronica. Distorted, evil vocals overlay creepy chimes in a track that’s vaguely reminiscent of the odd links between songs on Pestilence’s Testimony of the Ancients.

“Monster” drops us back into the heavy end again, with that mix of styles becoming more apparent… and on it goes for the remainder of the album.

World War 3 is very much one for those who want to try something a little different. It’s chaotic – something the band were aiming for – but it never seems unplanned… and I appreciate that’s a contradiction. Essentially, you never really know what you’re going to get next and even as the album plays through and you think you’ve nailed all the styles – Cold Snap go and chuck an other spiked curve-ball at your head. “Dead Guardian” has verses that hop along like a sea shanty, FFS.

An unusual album, but to break the boundaries of convention you have to take risks and try new things. There’s no denying that Cold Snap have done this and the results are strangely pleasing.

Interesting to note that some of the tracks on the album were written some time ago. The video below is the opening song, “Straight To Hell”, being performed at Wacken in 2012.