Scooter Ward has returned. In a year filled with resurgences from Tools and Slipknots and Sacred Reichs, no one could’ve predicted that the little band that could would come back and deliver one of the most endearing and earnest records of their career. But they did just that on their sixth long player, The Things We Can’t Stop. Cold has persevered through Grunge and Nu-Metal, transcended Alternative and become this unstoppable beast that uses heart as a weapon and on The Things We Can’t Stop, they’ve managed to conjure up a truly timeless snapshot of their musical legacy.
But I digress…
First things first, though, let’s address the elephant in the room: If you’re looking for 13 Ways… v.2 skip directly to “Without You” right now, hit repeat ten times then head somewhere else because that track is the closest fans holding out for the “old sound” are gonna get to a retread here. And “Without You” isn’t a retread by any means! Within the world of The Things We Can’t Stop, the song is a glorious nod to the sound the band became synonymous with when they first exploded as Aaron Fulton drives the song forward in a flurry of beats with Nick Coyle’s riffs providing a solid accompaniment to Ward’s poignant words.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s begin….
After the slight build up of “Intro”, TTWCS is off and running with the instant charmer “Shine” and its’ message of positivity and anti-bullying. Ward is a master songsmith, crafting intricate stories within the songs of Cold to bring light from the dark. “Snowblind” continues that trend as this moody and somber slow burn, a song that’s actually been kicking around the interwebs in live clips for some time now, delivers an emotionally heavy anthem with Lindsay Manfredi’s throbbing bass accenting the mood perfectly.
“The Devil We Know” is pure Cold, replete with huge choruses and an epic drum/guitar breakdown as Ward’s serene delivery hovers over all like an angel. “Better Human” is a piano-laden mover with Ward once again providing these sweeping vocal lines with Coyle’s guitars screaming as the song, and emotions, build to an impassioned climax.
“Quiet Now” is focused, driven and a solid reminder that, like every song on The Things We Can’t Stop, Cold is back! And ever evolving as evidenced on the epic “Systems Fail” which shines a light on Ward’s songwriting with this track playing like a waltz almost with these broad passages that sounds unlike anything Cold has laid down thus far.
Done with the feels yet? Well, the feels ain’t done with you as the one-two punch of “Beautiful Life” and “We All Love” close out Cold’s sixth full-length in a proper way. The former is symphonic and sweet while the latter brings to mind previous Cold closer’s like “Bleed” as this quiet, reflective piano fueled ditty brings an end the most welcome comeback of 2019.
The Things We Can’t Stop triumphantly lands in stores on September 13th through Napalm Records. Pre-orders are available now in a variety of options which you can check out by clicking here. For more on Cold, including dates for their just kicked off tour which hits The Stafford Palace Theater on 8/30 (That’s in CT, folks), head here and here.
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