Loathe (UK)
The Cold Sun


4.0
excellent

Review

by shem USER (9 Reviews)
October 10th, 2021 | 16 replies


Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Loathe as one

Following some uncertainty in their identity in their formative years it was here that Loathe got most of their signature sound nailed down. Loathe began in the early 2010s with the kind of theatrics that often get in the way when a band wants to appear mysterious and cool. They had code names and wore masks which by all accounts were ultimately a relief when they dropped all that and just became themselves.

So it was as themselves that Loathe, fronted by vocalist Kadeem France and guitarist/vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, created The Cold Sun, a heavy yet beautiful, bleak yet uplifting and brutal yet technical album. It’s worth noting that I’m writing this review after getting into Loathe with their follow up album I Let It In And It Took Everything, so I can write this with a little bit of knowledge of where they were going.

ILIIAITE was quite well discussed on this website so let me tell you what’s different here. TCS has big choruses, but at this point Loathe didn’t yet have dreamy pop/gaze choruses like Is It Really You? or Two Way Mirror, instead TCS has more standard metalcore choruses on this album but definitely top quality for what they are. This album has a lot of what I loved about their second album but that’s the main difference.

What is no different is that France is a beast. After an electronic opening track, comes It’s Yours, a huge rallying cry as France roars for you to ‘Claim What’s Yours!’ in a much more authentic way than injury lawyers do. This track really sets the tone for the whole album with samples and synths building a dense soundscape around huge baritone guitar riffs, pummelling drums and some brutal harsh vocals. It also opens up the listener to the first big chorus where Loathe utilise their dual vocals for the first time to great effect.

For me, the stand out track here is the bands title track, Loathe, which does everything Loathe are good at. There’s a real ‘djenty’ groove in the verses with back and forth call and answer harsh vocals, experimental guitar work with some Morello-esque whammy pedal useage, huge breakdowns and a soft section with ambience and a vocoder. It’s experimental and genre-blending but it flows properly and is an example of their experimenting really paying off to devastating effect.

Overall, I’d say The Cold Sun is more focussed and precise than its follow up album, while being a little less ambitious. There are more riffs here, born of more simplistic song structures, but that also makes this album more solid all the way through, with less skippable moments of ambience and a little less chaos in song structure, for better or worse.

For fans of I Let It In… it’s a must listen. For those who found I Let It In… a little pretentious or too far in the experimental territory - you could definitely find a lot to enjoy here too.



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user ratings (212)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Shemson
October 10th 2021


4157 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Couldn’t believe there wasn’t a review on this!

More straightforward than I Let It In but some real bangers here!

Lasssie
October 10th 2021


2082 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This is good stuff!

Purpl3Spartan
October 10th 2021


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Album bangs

MyColdShoulder
October 10th 2021


546 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Hell yeah, nice review



Thank you for giving a review for their best album

Shemson
October 11th 2021


4157 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

For me, the extra gaze influences on I Let It In… made it better but this rules and I really hope more people check it out as there’s a lot of love for good ‘core on here

Snake.
October 11th 2021


25376 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

ILII&ITE is objectively better

Purpl3Spartan
October 11th 2021


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Other album better yea but this rules too

SteakByrnes
October 12th 2021


30382 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

ya

Nomos2
January 6th 2022


1992 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Mmmm it's been a while since I peeped this, and it's just as good as the day I left it. I think for a few minor reasons this ultimately has a leg up on ILIIAITE for me personally. Can't believe there wasn't a review of this already up. Stellar record. Gotta dig up my vinyl copy and try it out for once.

kevbogz
September 7th 2022


6164 Comments


loathe (song) is like...... really fuckn good

twlight
November 4th 2023


9181 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Hmm also a 5

MyMentality
November 30th 2023


1574 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Think this is something I would appreciate a lot more in a live setting. Album is stacked full of energy, but in all honesty, it's lacking depth for me. The vocals come off a little corny at times too, don't get me wrong they sound ferocious for the most part, but in tracks like Stigmata ("I sold my soul to you") it can be a little cringe.

If they lost a couple tracks and an interlude or two, it would make for a pretty solid EP. But as an album it feels a little underbaked. That being said, It's Yours is a fantastic opening track and "Loathe" (the track) is also a great listen. Follow up is much better in my opinion.

Purpl3Spartan
November 30th 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Loathe and Eden are great ya

hangth3dj
July 8th 2024


865 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Surprised few people have gone back to this album, given a) how much their sophomore blew up; and b) it's pretty damn good.



I remember catching these guys opening for Bury Tomorrow back in late '17 I think, so they only had this album and some singles/EPs behind them. Will be seeing them support KoRn next month, will be great to see how far they've come since then.

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
July 8th 2024


2662 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I love this album almost just as much as ILIIAITE

Purpl3Spartan
July 8th 2024


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah it’s got some bangers



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