Interview: Coyote & Jimi of Cold Burn

When two seasoned forces from the Serbian hardcore and metal scene join together, you know something powerful is bound to happen. That’s exactly what we got with Cold Burn, a project born from the ashes of Eyesburn and In From The Cold, merging the unmistakable energy of Nemanja “Coyote” Kojić and Slobodan “Jimi Triple B” Đukić. Their newly released “Dream Is Over” EP, out now via Geenger Records, breathes new life into songs that were nearly lost to time. You can listen to it HERE

Originally written and partially recorded during the final run of Eyesburn‘s hardcore all-star lineup between 2015 and 2016, these tracks sat dormant for years. It wasn’t until Coyote and Jimi revisited the recordings in 2023 that they realized the raw power and emotion still pulsing through them — too strong to stay buried. With the help of producer Miloš Mihajlović at Blaze Studio, they dug up the original tapes, polished them with a fresh mix and master, and even added a new track, “Don’t You Leave Me Alone,” to complete the EP.

We sat down with Coyote and Jimi to dive into the story behind Cold Burn, from reviving these songs to navigating the creative and production process, overcoming challenges, and mapping out what’s next for this explosive collaboration.

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Cold Burn is a fusion between Eyesburn and In From The Cold. How did the idea for this project come about, and what made you decide to revisit and complete these recordings?

Jimi: It was never a project between Eyesburn and IFTC. It’s a differtent, 100% spontaneous story.  In the end of 2014. Eyesburn was goin’ through line up changes and they called me to fill in on bass. They needed a drummer too, so I recomended Boris, my longtime friend, brother and a drummer for almost all my musical journeys.  They (Coyote and Mysterious)  liked the idea and that was it. We started rockin’ shows and writing songs. We wrote total of 16 songs for a new Eyesburn album during the process, recorded demos for all of them and eventually entered the Blaze studio and started recording the album. Somewhere during the process the band broke up and the recording stopped at the song No. 5. In the end of 2023. Coyote and me revisited those tracks and realized those are really good songs, very well played and recorded by a really good band that was made up of allready established musicians, veterans of the regional HC/Punk scene that have never before or after played together in exact same line up. So we ringed Miloš (Blaze Studios) to dig up the trax and we finished all the mixing and mastering in the beginning of 2024. Geenger Records putted the EP out on Febrary 14^th of year 2025. 

Coyote: Yep,as Jimi said…it would be pity if this material stayed on the shelf…even thou we are not active as a band these songs deserve to be available for the people.

The songs on “Dream Is Over” were originally written during Eyesburn’s 2015–2016 lineup. How does it feel to finally release this material after so many years?

Jimi: All the songs except ‘’Don’t You Leave Me Alone’’ were recorded almost 10 years ago and they are mixed and mastered last year, so we got the chance to hear them properly for the first time in the beginning of 2024. It felt awesome. The whole EP hits hard with very first seconds. I am very happy how Miloš did the work and of course I am very proud with the delivery of the band.

Coyote: This stuff sound fresh to me…after I heard it after a long time, I was actually surprised by the quality of production and the style that songs have. It’s very different from In From the Cold and Eyesburn…kinda punky post hard core rock n roll crossover album…like the ones that Southern Lord is re-issuing now. Great that we have this thing out.

Can you take us through the songwriting process for these tracks? Did the songs change in any way during the mixing and mastering phase?

Jimi: We had a really strict routine considering rehearsals and writing new songs. It was a brutal militant discipline. 2-3 times a week rehearsals (Mon-Fri) and weekends are for shows. In between all of that, Mysterious, Coyote and me were meeting at my place, writing new songs and recording demos. It’s important to mention that at the same time Coyote and me were actively rehearsing, recording and doing shows with reggae band Soulcraft, he was also doing live solo shows, I was rockin’ with Jimi Triple B’s 666 Blues Band, In From The Cold and hc/punk band W.A.T.T., and Mysterious was (like always) very busy sound engineer. The songs didn’t change at all during mixing process, ‘cause they were pretty well written and tested (in rehearsals) before the recording.

Coyote: O yeah. It was a really musically rich period while we were making these songs. We were listening to all kinds of music together, reasoning about great albums…the rest just happened organically…    

What was it like returning to Blaze Studio to retrieve and finalize the recordings? Did the atmosphere bring back any particular memories from that period?

Jimi: Actually, it was only me that went there twice (ha, ha, ha…). Back then, when we were recording, all the editing was done during the process and all the sounds were already there, so we had 100% trust in Miloš that everything is going to sound top notch! He was a sound engineer for the band for couple of years already before that recording and he already recorded one album with Eyesburn before this one, so he knew the band, he had it all in the pocket. I mean, I knew how I wanted my bass to sound, Coyote and Mysterious already built their guitar roars, Boris is a drum scientist,  so, everything  went nice and easy and we all enjoyed the process. I went to Blaze studio first time to check that we have all the right tracks and projects ready for work and I went second time to help Miloš  boost some guitars on 2 particular songs and that’s it. Miloš did everything alone and he nailed it! 

Coyote: You know how it goes these days…We didn’t go to studio…We had absolute trust in Milos and he did a great job. Actually the first time Ive heard the material  it was already mixed. Great feeling…hearing the songs you did and forgot about all of a sudden mixed.

“Rainy Days” is a cover of an In From The Cold song. Why did you choose to include it, and how does it fit into the overall concept of the EP?

Jimi: That was totally organic. We were hangin’ around at my place after rehearsal, listening to various music, chillin’ and I played some old In From The Cold demos to the guys. “Rainy Days” is a song from IFTC “Ghostsongs EP” from 2010. Coyote really liked the song and he felt that we should cover it for a new EB album. Of course, we rearranged a little bit, added some trombones and rehearsed a lot in addition to make the song become more “ours”. I am very, very happy how it came out. It has a slightly different vibe than original version, but the emotion is the same and that’s what’s important. We had genre wise similar songs written for the EB album, so it was never a question does “Rainy Days” fit the EB esthetics or not. Eyesburn is a crossover band, always creating its own genre, so there were no limitations in the creative process. 

Coyote: When Jimi came with “Rainy Days” I was blown away…beside “Side by Side” my favorite track from the release.

“Don’t You Leave Me Alone” was recorded in early 2024, long after the original sessions. What inspired you to add a new song to the release, and how does it differ from the rest of the material?

Jimi: Coyote and me felt that we need one more song for the EP. We knew we need some classic acoustic rock song to connect all the material together. We pay serious attention to song order on the albums. It’s very important how You deliver the material to the people, so they can really understand what You meant with it.  

Coyote: Another beautiful one brought by Jimi…It fits perfect for this release. I love it.  

The title “Dream Is Over” carries a strong emotional weight. What does it represent for you personally and as a band?

Jimi: “Dream Is Over” is really a great song. It’s the first one we wrapped up as a band. I remember Coyote played that one on acoustic guitar for Mysterious and me in studio in Amsterdam when we were on tour with Soulcraft. We immediately knew it’s gonna be big. And when we published the single the crowd really liked it and sang along on the shows. It’s brutally honest song and we can all connect with it in lots of ways, in different contexts. I am really proud of that one. 

Coyote: It’s a perpetual motion another circle…”Again Im rising in the presence of the most High” until I fall into a next dream. Until we meet again and so….

How do you think Cold Burn differs musically from your past projects, and what elements do you feel remain the same?

Jimi: Well, I don’t think we can talk about the “Dream Is Over” material from that point of view. In the end of 2014. we were all well grown up musicians with dozens of albums, hundreds of shows, thousands of kilometers on our backs and we teamed up under the Eyesburn banner. We gathered to honor the EB legacy and to help the legendary band survive hard times, but on the other hand, from the very beginning we had a clear vision of writing new songs and trying to push things forward. So again, this was never a project, we were writing songs for a new Eyesburn album. We were all focused on creating songs that will still have “the Eyesburn grove & vibe”, but at the same time to  progress on some levels. It helped us a lot that all four of us have a pretty good background in lots of different genres of music. 

Coyote: Its definitely different…doesn’t have reggae influence like Eyesburn, neither Doom deepness like In from the Cold…Its influenced by melodic rock albums and hard core punk…somewhere in the middle of everything we did before as individuals and as bands.

Looking back at the 2015–2016 Eyesburn lineup, do you have any memorable stories from rehearsals, songwriting, or live performances?

Jimi: Of course there are lot of great memories from that period, we were constantly on the road, playing club shows and festivals, it was really dynamic, at least to say… My greatest impression is sharing time on stage and writing songs with people that are 101% real musicians, dedicated, deadly passionate about it and really good at what they do. “A” game OGz if You ask me. 

Coyote: I remember Sziget festival that was a great one.

What were some of the biggest challenges in completing “Dream Is Over” after such a long break?

Jimi: No challenge at all. We knew what we were doin’ back then, we know what we’re doin’ now. And it’s a same line up, musicians, technicians, producers. Easy-peasy…

Coyote: No challenges, material came out of nowhere…Milos just surprised us with the mix…and we were like…GREAT!!! Let’s find an output for this. Lets GO!!!

With the EP now released, do you see Cold Burn as a one-time project, or do you plan to continue making music together?

Jimi: It’s hard to say, we didn’t plan this…We are all neck deep in our base bands and other projects. Then again, we’re still friends, colleagues, we meet each other regularly at shows, in studios …etc. Who knows?

Coyote: We are together on the scene…we hang out together here and there…Jimi and myself  we reason often about the news in music…we keep the  good relations…so who knows?….never say never….

Do you have any plans to perform these songs live, either as Cold Burn or within your other projects?

Jimi: I still really didn’t think that far…

Coyote: …as far as Im concerned that would be exciting…I would do it if the rest of the guys say so….

What was it like working with producer Miloš Mihajlović on this release? How did he contribute to the final sound?

Jimi: The very first band to ever record in “Blaze” studios was my hard core band Hang. We did “Wolfpack Hunting Sable Sun” album (2009/10) there, that was later mastered by great Billy Anderson. After that, Miloš recorded dozens of albums at “Blaze” (both mainstream and underground) for bands various genres and did sound engineering in clubs, arenas and on stadiums. Miloš is a stand up guy, real professional, real artist, an O.G.!

Coyote: Oh man..Milos is great…I love the sound on this one…its universal big rock n roll sound…can’t say it’s been shaped like any temporary genres…it will stand the test of time definitely…

How do you feel this EP fits into the legacy of Eyesburn and In From The Cold? Do you see it as a continuation of that history, or as something completely new?

Jimi: It’s a family tree.

Coyote: It’s one of these lost gems.

Now that “Dream Is Over” is out, what’s next for you as musicians? Are there any upcoming projects we should keep an eye on?

Jimi: New Jimi Triple B’s 666 Blues Band vinyl “Bad Cards, Hard Rains & Nowhere Trains” is out on Geenger Records and Pop Depression Records! Also, I have a new album with with my aforementioned hard core band Hang called “Nothingness” soon out on Geenger Records (digi/vinyl)! We plan to record new In From The Cold album later this spring. Working title is ‘’No Scene Music’’ and it’s gonna be a brand new material counting 10 songs in total. Roots/reggae/dub band Soulcraft has two new albums ready for publishing, one with Ras Mac Bean called “Move On” and one instrumental dub/reagge/jazz album with jazz brass trio Masso Narradi.  

Coyote: I’m busy recording reggae projects worldwide as a trombonist…Just released two albums as Hornsman Coyote…and I play guitar in the Allstar hard core/metal band “STOMP!”