Band: Coldwar
Title: Christus Deathshead
Label: none
Distribution: Code7 / Lugga Music
Release date: May 20th 2011
Review: CD

Coldwar are an Irish combo that started at the very end of last millennium, initially mixing Metal with Hardcore / Punk to create the most aggressive and angry brutality. The band recorded some stuff in the past, which did rather fine on the British Isles (Ireland + UK), yet on the main land, Coldwar were left in some underground-status - until now.
FYI: Coldwar won the 2011-edition of the Wacken Metal Battle contest in Ireland and in summer 2011 they will play on the Wacken Open Air Festival…
Christus Deathshead is the quintet’s third full length, and it’s a concept that criticizes religion (and its narrow-minded intolerance towards other religions), fundamentalism and politic(ian)s, and the dangerous interaction between those subjects. Society and the implementation of abstract law, belief and indoctrination by Holy Books, it’s a danger for humanity, it’s an insult for the brain…
The Hardcore-roots are less pronounced than before; the focus is based on brutal Death Metal aggression, yet of the crossing-over kind. It includes elements from Thrash Metal (especially within some guitar and bass riffs, not the drums) and, believe it or not, Nordic Black Metal (several guitar riffs and drum patterns, as well as the obscure atmosphere from time to time), and the whole bents over towards a so-called Deathcore-approach. The main tempo is fast - especially the rhythm section speeds up things - and the energy, absolutely connected to the heavy approach and fast-drive, is pure and honest. Nice as well are the unusual additions, like the atmospheric end of In Rapture, or the technical penetration / interpretation of UK-inspired Old School (Death) Doom.
This band certainly is not a bunch of infantiles trying to make loud music. No, Coldwar are a sonic front against hypocrisy, both lyrically and musically.

70/100

Ivan Tibos.