The Wilkes-Barre hardcore unit Cold World has a lot to answer for. First, they were the band that effectively shut down Posi Numbers Fest for good. They are also responsible for a new crop of fashion conscious hardcore kids outbidding each other on eBay over street wear influenced t-shirts... lots and lots of t-shirts. Cold World also likes to call their releases "joints." Look, Cold World, I know you've released some rap mixtapes online and you use some sampling on songs, but you aren't token hip hop artist #44463567. And Wilkes-Barre isn't really known for it's extensive collection of mansions adorned with Scarface posters and large swimming pools surrounded by large breasted big bootied ladies doing that weird butt shake dance they do. You're a hardcore band from Pennsylvania...act like it. Cold World suddenly became a band bigger than themselves in a few short years. Seriously, in 2006 was there a band more hyped than Cold World? Well if Spike Lee said anything truthful in his life, we shouldn't believe in it.
Minus that one weird track on the Generations compilation, this is the first time I've actually sat down and listened to Cold World. I think my former roommate played that Ice Grillz 7" when he lived here and proceeded to jokingly mosh up and down my hallway. Nevertheless, I haven't really heard Cold World before I picked up No Omega on sale at Hot Topic of all places. No Omega is a collection of all of Cold World's previous releases including their demo and maybe one new track
uh, joint. If anything, Cold World sounds like a tamer version of Biohazard's Urban Discipline as I hear some semi-rapped vocals barked over metallic riffs with mosh parts galore.
If I expected anything else from Cold World, I'd be fooling myself. However, Cold World can write a good riff and these songs are heavy without being overbearingly metal. No Omega is a tough album. It's no wonder why these songs could cause their fans to raise such a ruckus at a festival entitled "Posi Numbers Fest." Oh the irony is killing me. Anyhow, I really don't hate Cold World with their thick brooding testosterone filled hardcore. I like when they throw in some grunge vocals and rip off early Metallica riffs. Hell, I even like the sampling and the hip hop beats used during mosh parts. You aren't going to see me trying to get one of their limited edition t-shirts any time soon, but I will be picking up their releases. All in all, Cold World isn't the pseudo tough guy crap rap influenced hardcore band they were hyped out to be. Cold World is a decent heavy pissed-off hardcore band, which is all I need.
There's also a DVD included with No Omega that shows Cold World in the studio, on tour in Europe, and harassing some poor girl in her car. It's long and if you aren't really a huge fan of the band watch it in short bursts or you'll be thumbing the "next" button in no time.
