Review Summary: Having at first the appearance of another generic Hardcore album, Dreameaters debut album, Cold, betrays all expectations, delivering a brutal and unforgettable experience.
Each song is a beautiful piece of unrelenting force, bound together in composition work so tightly weaved that none of the pure liquid rage could slip through the cracks. So that when it hits you, like a water balloon of pure brutality, you can be assured of maximum soakageÂ*
Invoking bands such as alpha wolf and knocked loose, DREAMEATERS COLD, greets you in an ironically warm embrace that makes you feel as if you are listening to an old friend… but like, one of those old friends that only ever vented about their problems “i dont care that your mom was attacked by a pack of badgers, are you gonna split for the pizza or not”. They successfully come across as any Hardcore band should be expected to sound, using techniques such as muted chugs, ear piercing laser beam like scrapes, and dissonant harmonies, while simultaneously bringing their own personality to the mix. An extremely edgy personality.
The album begins with the dark electronic intro of Dontprayforme, playing off the initial face value of the album itself, and the listener's expectations of hard hitting metalcore, demanding that the listener keep their mind open and be ready for anything. The song itself perfectly introduces the album with a commanding exclamation of independence. The type of independence that acknowledges the vile state of their life and feels deserving of it.Â*
It's the type of song that perfectly describes the feeling of anger when you look at your life, and don't see a way to change and all you can do to live with yourself is put on a mask and "suppress the pain”
A dark ambiance leads the song out and the albums second song I Play God begins abruptly with a groovy riff, that just kinda makes me wanna do this. The song takes a turn for the brutal though with a transition into fast paced drums and the proclamation, “i am coming for your throat” which comes off less as a threat and more of an assurance.the song itself continues on in a generic hardcore fashion with chuggy chug guitars, until the breakdown. This song has one of the best breakdown buildups ive heard in a while with a dissonant ambiance serving as the forerunner to a decent breakdown. Dont get me wrong, i love the breakdown, i just expected more.
Next up on the album is No Sunrise, which starts out with a lowpass filter muffling the instrumental and slowly building into the release, and ask anyone i'm a sucker for that. The song itself is a anthem of strength through darkness, not giving up. Filled with energy fueled by simple but driving guitarwork , and pounding drums, the highlight of this song is the ending breakdown.
Delving back into that dark trap sound they touched on in dontprayforme hate me brings a very similar feel. Instrumentalwise with pounding guitars going on over trap high hats. Its a fun song that differs from dontprayforme, in that, it feels more like a transition track, something you can absent mindedly bop your head to.
Up next we have in my opinion one of the more forgettable tracks on the album, Self Destruct. Its one of the songs on the album that feels less unique and more like the bands contemporaries, with riffs sounding straight out of alpha wolfs discography. That breakdown though is one of the highlights of the album, with an absence of vocals leaving room for the pure brutality.
Hurt is one of the songs i liked the most on the first time hearing the album, but after listening to it a few times, it definitely sounds like one of the most confused and devoid of energy songs on the album. It is straight to the point and fairly predictable save a brief moment in which they break out the trap sound heard in Dontprayforme and Hate Me. The breakdown is definitely on par with the breakdowns preceding it, and its definitely a grade a mosh bringer.
Torment brings a welcome change to the pace of the album, with clean guitars coming in after one of the more recognizable riffs on the album, the songs tone challenges the grittiness of the rest of the album, betraying a metaphorical sensitivity during the chorus, before having the door shut by the repeating intro riff. We get another look at that epic chorus again before transitioning into my favorite breakdown of the album. The guitar reaches levels of lowness that made this little djenty bois heart cry tears of joy, like a dove. The chorus comes in again with hastened drums to beautifully lead out what is in my opinion the best song on the album
Disappear is the third song on the album to use the trap sound, and in turn feels very similar yet again to dontprayforme and hate me. It is one of the more forgettable songs on the album as well. Not really bringing anything new to the table, it serves the purpose of flow as a song that makes you nod along. It definitely feels like one of the last songs with a lack of pep in its step. The breakdown is lackluster to say the least and feels more just a way to end the song then a needed breakdown.
Fall has the same effect as one of the mind wipe devices from men in black. It seems like every time i listen to it i forget it right after. The intro brings a change in tone but it quickly is replaced by the first verse which sounds quite lacking and feels like a repeat of some of the earlier songs. But where this song stands out is its chorus. The chorus doesnt feel like any of the other songs on the album, and makes me very happy for that exact reason. Its more upbeat feeling and energetic. The second verse brings a feeling of relief cause it doesnt just sound like the first verse, and has some slapping guitar work. The chorus repeats and ends with piano, leading into one of the more vulnerable sounding parts of the album. The vocals which, up until this moment where filled with anger and spite, specifically shine in this part, revealing another, more emotional side to the vocalist. The bridge takes the cake with this song for me and the slowed, dark chorus at the end serves as a beautiful conclusion.
Ending the album we have its title track Cold. The song begins with Metalcore Esque guitarwork, sounding a little more proggy than usual. That doesn't last long as the song turns yet again back to the standard sound of the album with fast paced drum work and indecipherable guitarwork. Halfway through though we get a breakdown leading into a sort of bridge before repeating the riff in the intro of the song. Lyrically we get an epic conclusion during the ending verse. After everything, i remain cold, i know ive lost all self control
I have come to terms with who i am. The ending breakdown is a interesting choice in terms of closing the album, cause usually artists will have the album lead out in a sense of closure. But dreameater says no. they lead the album out in chaos, brokenness, anger, and confusion.
So as a whole i thoroughly enjoyed Dreameaters debut album Cold, and although i felt some of the songs where weaker than others, i found that i liked each song.Â*
