Cold - 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage (2000, Geffen)
Lineup
Scooter Ward - Vocals
Jeremy Marshall - Bass
Sam McCandless - Drums
Terry Balsamo - Former Rhythm Guitar (2000 - 2004)
Kelly Hayes - Former Solo Guitar (1993 - 2004)
Eddie Rendini - Current Rhythm Guitar (formerly of Darwin's Waiting Room)
Matt Loughran - Current Solo Guitar (played with Scooter, Jeremy, and Sam before Kelly joined in early 90's, under the band name "Grundig")
Background Info
Cold began its journey in Jacksonville, Florida under the name of Grundig. In 1998, they released their debut album under A&M records (weeks before A&M defunct to Geffen). In 2000, Terry joined to replace Scooter's guitar so Scooter could concentrate on singing and the crowd. Terry played for Limp Bizket for a short time. Terry and Kelly left the band in 2004, and Cold picked up Eddie and Matt to continue on. They are currently writing songs and are soon to be in the studio recording their fourth record.
http://www.bleedinginternally.com/bl...y/13_cover.jpg
Track Listing
1. Just Got Wicked
2. She Said
3. No One
4. End of the World
5. Confession
6. It's All Good
7. Send in the Clowns
8. Same Drug
9. Anti-Love Song
10. Witch
11. Sick of Man
12. Outerspace
13. Bleed
Just Got Wicked
One of Cold's best, and most recognized songs. Drums are exceptional and the guitars are odd to the ear with the fret tapping, but it's a good vibe. I enjoy how the tempo differs so much from the verses and the choruses. The lyrics are somewhat vauge and the verse is the same both times, some lines are just repeated more.
8/10
She Said
The piano intro/outro is very depressing to me. When the guitars kick in right after, it adds to the mood. Lyrically, this is a great song. It seems to be talking about a love lost or something of the sort. I don't think Scooter has ever told the fans what it means, because i have never seen anything on it. The guitars on the chorus are awesome, in my opinion as a guitarist, and they go along with the lyrics very well.
9/10
No One
The guitars in this song are very basic, as are the lyrics. Sometimes the simpler things are, the better it is. This is one of the best songs on the album with the feel that it gives off when you listen to it. Scooter wrote the song about his mother and some problems she was having years ago, so with that in mind when you listen to it is important. The extra touch of the amazing Sierra Swan in the chorus makes this song that much better. I also like the doubled over vocals on the bridge, along with the guitar pitch whine.
9/10
End of the World
A very simple song, musically. This is not one of my favorite Cold songs, but none the less it is a great song. The drum intro starts off the tempo a bit faster than the two songs before it, and the delay on the guitar sets a more murky tone. The lyrics send out a bit of a hopeless feeling, while the tempo of the song might set some anger.
7.5/10
Confession
The guitar effect used in the intro sets a very slow, sad feeling to the song. Scooter's voice in this song also makes a sad vibe rip out of this tune. The chorus is the most emotional line on the album up until now. "the only thing you'll ever be is just a way for me to bleed on this stage...". Being a huge Cold fan myself, i know a lot of fans feel this line. The bridge slows the song down and adds even more emotion behind the lyrics.
9.5/10
It's All Good
It's All Good is 13 Ways' power balad, if you wish to call it that. The guitars are the most simple on the album in this song, but that doesn't take away from the message it sends. Lyrically, it is one of Cold's best songs. The emotional power this song has behind the sound of Scooter's voice on the chorus is also one of the best Cold has produced. It's All Good sends quite a depressing feeling, but in an angered way if you listen to the lyrics.
9/10
Send in the Clowns
Send in the Clowns steps up the tempo of the album, accompanied by the screams of Staind frontman, Aaron Lewis. The guitar intro, with its phased tremolo sound, sets a misty mood when the drums kick in. The origin of the lyrics are unknown, as Scooter has not revealed the meaning behind the song, but most fans believe it is about the fans. The drums and guitars in this song are a step in a different direction from the rest of the album, which makes me believe it may have been one of Cold's songs from when they were Grundig. It is rumored that Cold put a few old songs on the Self Titled album, along with 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage.
8/10
Same Drug
Same Drug slows the tempo set from Send in the Clowns. It sounds to me like this is a "love and lost" song. I believe this because if you listen to the lyrics, it sounds like he is talking about someone he loved and tried to get, and in the end they threw that love away for nothing. The bridge slows the song down even more with a bit of acoustic guitar sliding into the works. Nice touch if you ask me.
9/10
Anti-Love Song
This song is a little off-the-trail for Cold's standards. The choruses don't have that rhythm that other Cold songs have, but the guitars fit perfectly with the vocals. Cold uses odd effects in this one, from WAH effects to some things i don't even know the name of. The bridge has some acoustics in it, which sound awesome with the muffled drums and the yelling lyrics Scooter is doing. The name of the song says it all, though. In more emo terms, this might be considered a "break-up song".
7/10
Witch
Witch has some lovely guitar effects in it. The fret tapping, similar to those in Just Got Wicked, set an eerie tone to the song in the bridge. Lyrically, i love this song. It seems to be talking about friends telling him about a love he had that isn't right for him, and she "f**ked up" with him. The WAH pedal used in the verses is a different setup than normally seen from Cold, but i love the vibe it gives off. Sierra Swan makes her second appearance on the album on the bridge, her voice adding to the eerie tone of the song.
8.5/10
Sick of Man
Sick of Man is about a boy whose father leaves in the middle of the night and doesn't return. The instruments thruought the entire song gives this Cold fan favorite a "dark alley" feeling. This is one of Cold's most depressing songs, and it is also one of their most odd. Being a guitarist, this song doesn't follow any usual order of any other Cold song, which is one reason why it is such a great song. The difference in order makes the bridge and outro the most powerful one Cold has created.
10/10
Outerspace
The name of the song goes right along with the guitars. The chorus/delay effect makes an out of this world feel. Outerspace seems to be a love song, "wanna go off to outerspace, no one but me and you...". I loved this song from the get-go for its lyrics. I love the off-the-wall love songs that Cold seems to create, especially this one. It has lost some of its meaning for me personaly because of some things that have gone on, but it is an amazing song none the less.
8.5/10
Bleed
Aaron Lewis makes another appearance with Scooter on Cold's most emotional songs. This song is about what Cold is... the music. This is Cold's best acoustic song, if not their best. There isn't much more i can say about this song besides I will live and die by this song as a guitarist.
10/10
13 Ways to Bleed on Stage is just that... 13 ways to bleed on stage. In my opinion, this is Cold's greatest album and I'm not certain if they can top this one. Every song has emotion and is full of meaning from intro to outro. If you haven't gotten a Cold album yet, this is the one to buy. You will get hooked from this album and be in love with their music for a long time to come. Year of the Spider compares to 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage with its emotion, but it can not compare to 13 Ways instrumentally. 13 Ways is also more clean-sounding than the Self-Titled.
Album rating
9/10
