(Photo Credit - Natalja Kent)
Album Review - Cold Beat: War Garden (September 17, 2021)
A year of COVID-19 isolation lockdown brought Cold Beat (Hannah Lew, Sean Monaghan, Kyle King, and Luciano Talpini Aita) to develop a truly poignant album. War Garden is itself about themes of connection, loss, and hope. The electronic and post-punk vibes on this one may evoke a lot through the lyrics, but the music beckons you to dance.
Synth-heavy and vocally understated, War Garden plays with just the right amount of fire to keep the listener engaged, but leave them wanting more. Lew's vocals especially shine here as they're both melodic and dynamic. The flavor of War Garden leans heavily electronic, but not overly so, there's still a mix of post-punk with a dash of alternative for those who are more concerned with genre.
Overall, this is a strong effort from the four-piece, it speaks to the times we're in but doesn't beat you over the head with sadness. You'll definitely want to pick this one up.
Rating - 4.5/5