I seem to have hit a peak of bleak with my review picks of late and knew that with Swiss “Extinction Advocates” ColdCell in front of me that little in the way of light would be shining through. No point getting melancholia (sic) about the end of the world though, this follow-up to 2021 album ‘The Greater Evil’ examines the ‘(un)reason of being’ with all the pessimism one would expect and although I would like to say it is delivered with some semblance of hope for a future, it doesn’t! In fact, you could well say abandon all hope all who enter here, well at least we know exactly where we all stand and fall.
Rugged and windswept musicianship spreads over a brooding domain as we leave all joy behind at opener ‘Hope and Failure.’ It’s a hefty and bruising sound trembling away akin to a relentless scourge turning everything into desolation. Wretched rasps join the fray courtesy of vocalist and lyricist S and the drums from Schammasch sticks-man aW provide a rigid backbone. Pace is measured and although cold and hostile this is no fast extinction event. Gloom and futility are cast by some acoustic lines and vocal parts suggesting a gaze into the abyss of ruination and the overall atmosphere is dreadfully foreboding. Vocals are understandable and it seems like S is really providing an end times narration as we move into the statement that is ‘Dead To This World’ and reflect upon ultimate demise through the greed of our actions. It may well be a familiar story but it is told well and with conviction, if you are in any doubt that our times are numbered listening to this is likely to change your mind. Perhaps you should avoid it and keep on keeping on as things spiral continually out of control. Sharp stabbing lines from the guitar weave plunge and tumble. There are plenty of those mournful post metal parts residing in the blackened firmament which make you wonder if we will still be here 28 Days Later. Is there any point attempting to survive? “We should at least die trying” comes the message but it seems as though it is already cast from the grave…
Mournful bass tones lead into ‘Left’ and we are reminded that the world keeps turning. Solitude as we cut ourselves off from others and the complete meaningless of existence are to come but here there is rage at our predicament from the now pulverising torment of the musicianship and the ever-increasing vocal disgust. By comparison ‘Solidarity or Solitude’ starts at a pace that would have many a funeral doom band in tears before savagely thrusting onward full of shimmering tones and angst ridden screams and rasps. By now the listener is wallowing but this is a bracing number with plenty of beauty within its barren womb. The band have a secret weapon and detonate it in the form of guest vocalist Ines Brodbeck of Inezona on ‘Meaningless.’ The message may not be any different but it is projected by clean dulcet tones over looser, almost shoe-gazing melody and is just as effective at casting dark tones as it weaves its way to a haunting conclusion like a sweat meteor of death. Lyrically Lars Von Trier and a certain film strike as being inspirational on this one, which kind of makes me smile.
With a couple of tracks left one is well aware that there will be nothing in the way of a happy ending here. As we stumble towards the conclusion like headless chickens ‘Discord’ sinks us down to the depths and all that’s left are the arguments about who to blame for the predicament we find ourselves in. Of-course it’s all pointless and far too late, the seeds have been sewn and will be all that sprout on an otherwise dead planet, bereft of all life for the rest of eternity. Stark honesty here on an album that doesn’t pull any punches. ColdCell have provided a message that is loud and clear, for those that heed its call welcome to a pit of despair on what is inevitably a cold and tough listening experience.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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