Cold Summer’s Altlasten 7″ record is a furious shot of raw energy straight to the veins. It embodies the sheer force of an underground scene that flourishes on the interplay of aggression, melody, and precision. Lean, relentless, and shining with a dark urgency, it’s one of those records that brings back those dark, gloomy, abrasive punk rock sounds back. From the onset, Altlasten is all forward momentum, pulling you into its world of desperate shouts, grinding distortion, and intricate rhythmic interplays. Cold Summer understands that punk isn’t just about volume, it’s all about intent. The vocal performance is unfiltered, raw, and immediate, delivered with a rasping grit that makes every word feel like a manifesto. It commands attention with conviction, thrashing against the tension built by the music underneath. The guitars shape the mentioned impact and atmosphere. Arpeggiated and regular chord progressions interweave through layers of distortion and synth-like textures, creating a crushing and strangely hypnotic soundscape. These elements collide beautifully, forming structured yet chaotically alive ambiance. Unlike bands that rely solely on walls of noise, Cold Summer introduces nuance, harmonies rise through the discord, melodies emerge like fleeting shadows, and everything coalesces into a rich, urgent whole.
The impeccable rhythm section holds the foundation together. The basslines are warm and intricate, never content to simply follow along. They add a subtle, driving heaviness that binds the chaos, providing depth and clarity without overwhelming the mix. The drums, on the other hand, exemplify precision and power. Detailed beats, explosive breaks, and controlled percussive outbursts dictate the pacing of the record, shifting between relentless propulsion and brief moments of tension. Every fill, every crash feels calculated yet completely organic, pushing the music forward. For all its rawness, Altlasten is incredibly well-constructed. Cold Summer is not interested in simply regurgitating familiar punk tropes, they reshape them, tighten them, and inject them with a renewed sense of purpose. The song structures are deliberate and engaging, refusing to settle into predictable patterns. There’s a sense of craftsmanship here that elevates the record beyond just a furious outburst. It’s a finely tuned, visceral experience that reveals new details with every spin.
The production balances between clarity and grit. Captured by Anton Hoyer in the band’s own rehearsal space, the recording carries an authenticity that can’t be faked. It sounds live, immediate, and confrontational, exactly how a record like this should. The mastering ensures that every layer, whether the searing guitar work, the pulsating bass, or the relentless drumming, retains its impact while blending into the overall sonic assault. There’s a restless energy to Altlasten that makes it endlessly replayable. The aggression isn’t hollow, it’s purposeful. The melodies aren’t incidental, they’re carefully and expertly knitted into the fury. This is music that grips you from the first note and refuses to let go, delivering a cathartic and addictive experience. Cold Summer has crafted a 7″ that exemplifies how punk rock music should sound nowadays. Dark, raw, abrasive, gritty, reverby, and memorable. From powerful vocal lines and luxuriant guitar works to intricate basslines and energetic drumming performance, this band has so many qualities ready to be discovered not only by the local but also by the global punk rock community. Therefore, you should place their new 7″ on your listening radar as soon as possible because these folks unquestionably deserve your utmost attention. Head to It’s Eleven Records for more information about ordering.
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