Album Review: Cold Years – A Different Life (MNRK Heavy)

Scottish pop and rock punks Cold Years will release their brand-new full-length album, ‘A Different Life’ on April 26th, 2024, via MNRK.

An album focused on anthemic rock, with elements of pop-punk dashed in here and there, Cold Years have worked hard to craft an album filled with singalongs. Music that is deliciously infectious, music that has plenty of heart, and music that comes from a soulful place. Their attempts are a resounding success as this is an album, from beginning to end, that embodies the word ‘anthemic’.

Kicking things off with a punk-infused bang, Over It is an energetic body-shaker that speaks about removing a toxic person from your life. Before the rockier side of this album arrives in style with Roll with It. A fun tune that has a chorus you’ll be singing for hours afterwards. Then along comes Radio to make everything a little more melancholic, albeit, with the same level of catchiness that makes up the entirety of the album.

Cold Years’ ability to be morose, reflective, and honest, is impressive, especially as the likes of Low and Goodbye My Friend are so heartfelt. Each is lovably memorable in their own way. Jammed in between them is the danceable Youth, and after we get Choke, the album’s most political track as it takes a look at the current state of the UK in an excitably punky and rocky fashion.

One of the most lovable tracks is Fuck the Weather as it finds Cold Years inspired by 50’s style doo-wop. Something, it turns out, that they’re really good at doing. Likewise, stripping things back and getting a bit ‘ballady’ with it, suits them too, so the following Other Side ends up being another quality slice of fun.

Do you want something to lift your spirits? Something to make you stand a bit taller? Something to make you want to join in with a chorus of voices? If so, the rousing Let Go will deliver. Something that also exists within the following Sick, although there it’s all about reaching a crescendo after much emotive melodrama. Which leads to the finale, and just like the start, A Different Life goes out with a punk-infused energetic bang in the form of Die Tonight.

It’s a very accessible album, notably because it is anthemic from beginning to end.

Cold Years – A Different Life Track Listing:

1. Over It
2. Roll with It
3. Radio
4. Low
5. Youth
6. Goodbye My Friend
7. Choke
8. Fuck the Weather
9. Other Side
10. Let Go
11. Sick
12. Die Tonight

Links

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