Review | The Cold Stares – The Southern

Mascot Records / MLG

US rockers The Cold Stares are back with their seventh album ‘The Southern’. Ever since signing with the US department of Dutch based label Mascot things for singer/composer/guitarist Chris Tapp and drummer Brian Mullins have clearly improved. They recruited bass player Bryce Klueh for their album ‘Voices’, that appeared in March 2023 and showcased an enormous progression in their music, sound and production. Combining classic rock, with blues, and some alternative stuff I described ‘Voices’ as an album that was (and still is) warm, sensitive and with enough rocking power to appeal to a large audience. I mean a fan of Rival Sons could really dig this, but also because of the heavy riffing by Chris Tapp even Black Sabbath/Soundgarden lovers might find something to take home.

INTENSITY

It pleases me to hear that ‘The Southern’ has all those elements that I just mentioned as main ingredients as well but the band sounds on this CD just one notch more intense while several songs such as for instance ,,Seven Winds From Sundown’’ have a certain suspense as well. As was the case with ‘Voices’ this is also an album that grows on you. When I heard it for the first time in its entirety it felt like the band was just continuing where they left off with ‘Voices’. In a way that is the case but the intensity just even seems to be bigger. Take ,,Woman’’, a real cool rocking song with a superb chorus and riff while ,,No Love In The City Anymore’’ has this astonishing heavy riff that just creeps in your mind and refuses to go away. Intensity people.

THE COLD STARES – THE CONCLUSION

As the sequence of the songs is absolutely to scratch, this album sounds as versatile as can be. Sometimes the band is a bit moody, sometimes hard rocking, swinging, and mixing several different musical elements together into a style that makes the group recognisable, as Chris Tapp has his own and quite unique singing style. The most astonishing is that Tapp and his mates manage to keep their songs between the three and four minute mark (with the exception of ,,Confession’’), proving that you can you say what you have to say simple and effective at the same time.

It does not always have to be complicated and/or long winded to get your message across. The 41 minutes playing time have been well spent and filled in. And just as was the case with ‘Voices’ I cannot get enough of this record with eleven songs that has no weak moments at all and should appeal to the modern dat music lover with a more adventurous taste. Give this band a listen, folks!

Release date: 6 September 2024