         |
The
following from coldinside.com:
The world warmed up to Cold thanks to the band's stunning
self-titled 1998 debut, one journalist praising the line up as "hands down, one
of the coolest bands to hit the 'heavy rock' scene to date." Thanks to 1998
singles including "Give" and "Go Away," Scooter Ward's songs were said to
contain the "songwriting subtleties of Vedder and Cobain." That's no small
praise to live up to, but 13 Ways to Bleed On Stage, the quintet's long
anticipated second outing, fulfills and furthers Cold's early promise, the
premier single, "Just Got Wicked," a memorable, emotive, mid-tempo rocker that
infiltrates the ears with futuristic touches and an insulting, dark melody.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based band, who eschew too-limiting categories for
their reflective, moody, melodic rock, count Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst among
their fans. Durst, too hails from Jacksonville, where he was a fan of the
pre-Cold lineup Grundig. The Bizkit front man turned Grundig/Cold onto Ross
Robinson, who produced Cold's self-titled debut, which was remixed by Terry
Date. Cold was released on Bizkit's home label, Flip, via A&M, and fanatical
websites appeared instantly, Cold garnering rave reviews on cool tours with Limp
Bizkit, Jerry Cantrell and Soulfly. In fact, the climate of sudden success,
touring expenses and industry change influenced the writing and mood of what was
to become 13 Ways to Bleed On Stage, produced by Adam Kasper and Chris Vrenna
(Ex Nine Inch Nails Drummer) and released via Flip/Geffen.
After touring
wrapped on their first record, Cold took advantage of the switch from A&M to
Geffen to make changes of their own, adding Jacksonville friend/guitarist Terry
Balsamo to the band in mid-1999, freeing up Ward onstage. "With a guitar around,
I wasn't as personal with the crowd as I wanted to be. I wanted more energy and
intimacy. I can concentrate more on vocals and performance now," explains Ward.
Although 13 Ways… was tracked in late 1999 with producer Kasper in
Seattle, the tunes were written in both Jacksonville and a rehearsal space in
Los Angeles. The album finds the cerebral and enigmatic Ward digging even
further into his psyche, the band pushing themselves to write better, deeper
songs. The emotive sounds and were fleshed out with subtle piano touches,
beautiful guitars, warmly insistent melodies and a heavy, unique vibe and
propulsive rhymes.
"We were so excited to write new shit, and the vibe
was really cool," recalls Ward, who adds that while he's introspective as a
person and writer, the outside world made its presence felt on 13 Ways… "For
instance," recalls Ward, "While we were in Seattle, it was time of the World
Trade Organization riots, and we'd go outside our studio and watch the mayhem.
So, external things had a lot to do with the mood of the CD." And although, Cold
considered doing a cover tune "for a moment," explains Ward, "we had so many of
our own that couldn't even fit on our record."
13 Ways to Bleed On Stage
also benefits from several outside talents, Nine Inch Nails drummer/programmer
Vrenna, a band fan, added thoughtful programming touches to the album. "We
wanted programming, but not too computer-sounding," notes bassist Jeremy
Marshall, "because basically we're an organic band." Vrenna concurred, expanding
Cold's carefully crafted songs with equally skillful electronic touches. Guests
on the album include pal Aaron Lewis from fellow Flip band Staind, who sings on
"Send in the Clowns" and on the acoustic track "Bleed." Then There's up and
coming singer Sierra Swan, who lends her dulcet tones to "No One" and "Witch."
"She's fucking killer," enthuses Ward, "She's in this band called Dollshead and
has a beautiful voice. Me and Terry saw her at a club, and we were like "Hell
yeah, we want her on our record!"
Clearly, Cold writes and lives from an
emotional place, but it's musical hook that Ward hangs his words on. "If
something doesn't have a hook, or make us feel emotions…if we don't cry, get
upset, or whatever, we're like 'what the fuck would we put that on the record
for?'" The CD title refers more to emotional than actual bleeding, "We put all
our blood and sweat into the songs, but," adds guitarist Kelley Hayes. Yet both
Cold and their rapt audiences are so ensconced in the band's hypnotic
performances that physical selves are often after though.
Cold's intense
new songs were previewed on the way-cool Tattoo the Earth tour prior to the
release of 13 Ways… And Cold are looking forward to almost a new beginning with
their second record, new label and new bandmate. "In some ways, though we have a
lot of fans out there, this record is starting from ground zero," concludes
Ward. "We're heavy, we rock. We put our emotions on the line. And we appreciate
the chance to make a record and bring it to people." |
