We recently reviewed the intricate single, Seeds from UK Rock stars, Colder Suns, so we were beyond thrilled to get to finally experience their debut album Ex-Display in full!
Setting the vibe with rippling drums and a guitar frequency, expanding into a luscious tapestry of alternative rock, we are already hypnotized by Chemicals, the first single from the album.
The opening lyrics of the record are “I don’t mind a little carpet ride, the kind that takes you where you want…”, cementing a narrative for the journey of the record as Colder Sounds immerse us in their epic soundscape.
With thought-provoking lyrics, a fierce guitar solo and out-of-this-world drum work, there is no doubt that Colder Suns are here to prove their place in the UK Rock scene.
Next up is I.A.N. which opens with the lyrics, “What better place to start
than at the very end, dipped in the melting pot, with constellations close at hand…”
The song goes on to discuss the human condition and the constraints of the system. The track once again features a sickening guitar solo.
The band itself features Ben Martin on vocals, guitars and keys, Paul Hayes on guitars and vocals, Redd Reddington on drums and Charlie Hayes on bass. An introspective lyrical highlight from I.A.N. is “We’re told to toe the line, when I’m fed this cruel disease, it’s a death between the scenes…”
We love the way the song rings out on guitar, leading into Waiting For Red. This give us a subversive longer instrumental introduction. The band instills a sense of wisdom on their songs and in Waiting For Red in particular, we love the lines “For all the hours spent watering flowers, that never want to grow, rarely do we reap the things we sow…”
Next up is Creepers which teases us with the sound of the opening and starting of a car followed by a memorable guitar hook as the song grows into a more mysterious vibe. Mountains of Size opens with a more intimate feel with intricate guitar playing which really dimensionalizes the album.
Seeds is a masterful composition and speaking on the track, the band says that “the song is about how even the smallest of erroneous misunderstandings can blow up into something huge and corrupt one’s thinking until it becomes all consuming.”
In discussion on the record in its entirety, Colder Suns say, “The album as a whole draws inspiration from experiences and people the band have met during their lives, both collectively and as individuals. It is a bit of a collage of experiences in love, life and lessons learned.”
Spent has a beautiful introduction that lends itself to more vulnerability for the band before expanding. “I watch the city fly, I watch the city fly by, and it seems to call, but never knows your name…” are the opening lyrics of the song which featured exquisite guitar riffs that really amplify the emotion of the song. When the song explodes for the chorus, we feel the impact and the emotional bar is raised for the whole record.
The eighth track on the album is Come Back which has a more playful, 80s energy. The band cites Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Foo Fighters, GnR, Stereophonics and The Police as some of their influences, but it is clear that Colder Suns are creating their own sonic universe.
Fight For The Skies delivers more of the iconography and optimism that we deserve, whilst Janus takes a more subversive turn with lyrics like “Stoke the furnace, set the world aflame, the faint impression, of a fascinating thing, vanity’s cruellest sin, I can feel the waves are baring down…” We are in love with the harmonies on Janus which once again elevate the record exponentially.
The Pendulum is the final track on the record and gives us an epic finale where the band continues to search for meaning in their words but with a sense of self-realization running though as a theme for closure on the album.
Colder Suns have an upcoming album launch gig at The Camden Assembly on St Georges Day (April 23rd). Speaking on their mission, the band says, “We wanted to prove that Rock music, and in particular UK rock music is very much alive. We also wanted to write an album that had a mixture of songs ranging from straight-forward “no nonsense” rock tracks, to more complex layered songs.”
It feels like Colder Suns have achieved that goal and with grace and iconography. Paul Hayes from the band leaves us with, “This album has been a LONG time coming and we are so excited it’s finally out there. It’s been something of a labour of love as we have been nurturing some of the tracks for a couple of years now.”
“We’re so proud of how it has turned out and we really hope that people enjoy it and that perhaps a song or two might resonate with something they have felt along their way”, concludes Paul.
We have added Janus to our New Music Spotlight playlist along with Seeds and are excited to listen to the record more frequently!