Ireland's COLDWAR recently released their fifth record "Pantheist" via Candlelight Records, an album which subject delves into the darkness of the soul and natural evil. But before we elaborate on "Pantheist", let's rewind to 1999 when COLDWAR first formed and learn how this Dublin outfit came to be what it is today.

Listening to "Pantheist" it's hard to believe that at first COLDWAR were a three-piece punk band. But it wasn't to be for long because they were in search of something much grander than good old Punk. Something darker and heavier and as time gradually wore on COLDWAR would get ever closer and closer to it.

"Whore Bred & Hell Raised", the debut album, was released in 2002. The Punk roots are most apparent on this record though it is still undeniably Metal. Punk attack vocals and drums but riffing in a more metal vein make this a fantastic crossover record, closer to the Hardcore genre and one which COLDWAR would only build upon over the coming years.

Over the next two years between playing on both sides of the Atlantic the COLDWAR ranks seen a swell to five as a dedicated vocalist Trevor McLave joined the fold and in 2004, the second record "In The Suns Dead Rays" saw the light of day via local Dublin label Underground Movement. The record contained six tracks which took COLDWAR further into the realms of metal and further away from their Punk roots albeit the undertones still lay in wait. "In The Suns Dead Rays" went on to receive great support from the media and music fans alike. The band hit the road and toured throughout their native Irelandand the UK, but soon after, Ian Lawless, who had played guitar and also held vocal duties on "Whore Bred & Hell Raised" left the band and was replaced by Bert Gore.

In 2006 the band released their "Live at CBGB's 02" DVD, a concert that the band had filmed from their show at the infamous CBGB's in 2002 and acted as a great stop gap while the band started writing for the follow up record. In 2007 the band recorded and released that follow up which was entitled "Bloodfire Sunset". The band set out on touring campaigns across Ireland, UK and mainland Europe in support of the record.

The trail blaze continued and in over 8 years together, three records and a live DVD, multiple tours on multiple continents and with line-up change acting as little deterrent it seemed as though COLDWAR were unstoppable. But the road was about to get rather bumpy for the band. As COLDWAR began writing for their next release Bert Gore leftand was replaced by Eoin Broughal. All the material the band had written was scrapped and they started again from scratch. The gigging continued between writing bouts and eventually a new record was completed! "BloodFire Sunset" was released in 2007, once again via Underground Movement.

The trail blaze picked up once again after the release of "BloodFire Sunset" but then founding member and bass player Skinny Kelly passed away which brought COLDWAR to a complete standstill. After the funeral COLDWAR put together two benefit shows, one in Dublin and one in London, to pay respect to Skinny and invited friends and bands that Skinny had a great connection with or had previously played in. Both shows were a great success.

The band, after long discussions, decided they would continue and Andy Coade who had filled in bass duties on the benefit shows became a permanent member and with the line up complete the band started writing and recording "Christus Deathshead" which was released in 2011 and distributed by Code7 Music. "Christus Deathshead" was the most successful record with the band going on to share stages with the likes of EHG, SEPULTURA, FEAR FACTORY, SOULFLY, SUFFOCATION and to play prestigious festivals such as Wacken Open Air in Germany which would be the highlight of the "Christus Deathshead" touring campaign.

With all the success of "Christus Deathshead" in the past COLDWAR started building on it and started writing their most recent record "Pantheist". During the process Eoin Broughal called it a day and as guitarists came and went throughout the writing of "Pantheist" all wouldn't settle until Dave Greene stepped up to the mark and became a permanent fixture in the band ranks. COLDWAR played only two shows while writing the new record, one in Ireland and the other at Obscene Extreme Festival in Czech Republic which was one turned that out to be one of the bands best shows ever. The band finally entered the studio in the summer of 2013 and "Pantheist" was finished and mastered by early autumn.

The main difference with recording "Pantheist" compared to previous outputs was that COLDWAR consciously made an effort in the studio to take time over the recording and make sure everything was how they wanted it to be and not rushing or settling for second best. The efforts paid off because when the record was being shopped to labels the band received a solid offer from the highly reputable Candlelight Records not just for the release of "Pantheist" but also for future records. On April 28[sup]th[/sup] "Pantheist" was released worldwide and to date has been the most well received record by COLDWAR from the metal press earning the band column space in major magazine titles, airplay across the world, and much more.

"Pantheist" is a far throw from the "Whore Bred & Hell Raised" days. Musically COLDWAR are tighter than ever, the song writing is more mature and for once progressive tendencies have become a part of the sound and song writing style. The media have found it difficult to box COLDWAR and that's exactly how it should be. COLDWAR aren't Death Metal, they aren't punk, they aren't Hardcore, they aren't black metal... In fact COLDWAR are all of those aforementioned and all of those influences brought together and infused with the experience of the many highs and lows leading back fifteen years and the knowledge and attitude gained from said experiences make COLDWAR sound like COLDWAR.

As stated by the band themselves lyrically "Pantheist" touches on subjects such as, "The darkness of the soul, esoteric symbology, natural evil, scrutinization of the irregularity of the Gregorian calendar, the meltdown crisis point at which capitalist society presently finds itself and the possible final gasp of our current 'material age', to pave way for a potential revolutionary shift in values-consciousness for a jaded humanity." These are some of the varied concepts with which COLDWAR lyrically engage in on "Pantheist". It's complex for sure. What COLDWAR write about isn't exactly the norm, they don't follow the trends, they prompt discussion and provoke thought and this is what makes a great artist.

Another important part of the release for COLDWAR was the artwork, which was done by Sean Fitzgerald, an Irish artist who has worked with COLDWAR on all their artwork. Sean commented on the commission, "Lyrically I find COLDWAR like an amalgamation of George Orwell's "Oceania" and the biblical apocalypse. So I looked to the didactic engravings of Theodoor Galle from the 16th century, which have emblematic images of earthly pleasures and power. Then combined bastardised elements of them within a geometric figure composed of 13 equal circles (a Metatron's cube) to symbolise the track "13th Moon". Then interlinked some binary code and a bleeding heart to represent the "Heart Of Darkness". The hybrid of the bear and deer is the "New Messiah For The Lost" looking over the decay of mankind. The band wanted to avoid overused truisms, so it can be tough coming up with a cover. So it goes back and forth until it's right. I'm colour-blind so normally stick to very black and white or sepia tones. So it was very much COLDWAR's idea of the purple and gold colours."

With a band on the rise on the back of their greatest work to date COLDWAR are now planning to take it on the road. The band will support CARCASS on the Irish leg of their upcoming tour in September (19[sup]th[/sup] Belfast, 20[sup]th[/sup] Dublin). The band will hit the UK in October and will perform at Candlefest in London. November will see the band in the Balkan states and performing at November To Dismember Festival. COLDWAR are just getting started!

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