ONSETCOLD is the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end; a post‑apocalyptic extreme metal entity built to be the heaviest, most unhinged, and most unpredictable force possible. The name marks a fixed point in time: past the fire, past the point of return, where collapse is inevitable and volatility is the only constant. They thrive on disorientation: cathedral‑scale orchestration one moment, bass‑heavy cosmic street menaces the next, then a sudden collapse into chaos. "Apocalyptic Sleep" is not a genre. It's a place, and a chilling descent into themes of pain, survival, and the end of the world. Ultimately, "Apocalyptic Sleep" is not a story of hope, but a visceral and honest look at the beauty and terror of a world in its final throes.

The album has ten songs, and "The Blue Room" is first. There are light orchestral elements in the beginning that are quite somber. Drums roll in, followed by eerie vocal screams and some dissonance. It begins to build, and then mysteriously, it fades. "The Oracle to Egypt" has a harrowing sound. The music is firm, aggressive, and dissonant, and the vocals change from horrid gutturals to tortured screams, backed with effects that keep you disoriented as listener. "Standing in the Rain Beside You" has some Classical chord progressions, showing that the band's pockets are deep with creativity. At times, the music borders on pure chaos, and at others, it breathes with melody.

"Under the Nuclear Sun" is an odd sound. Some of the music is dark, firm, and terrifying, but the clean vocals seem to float overtop as if they were in a dream. "Sleep Tonight" carries that same sound once again, and there are eerie electronic moments as well. This is an uncommon sound in the Extreme Metal genre for me. "Underworld" lets some more light into the dungeon, and some of the vocals are heavily effected with more electronics. I wouldn't call it gentle, but much of the heavy backbone is reduced. "Breathing in This Cult" combines heavy, dark aggression with chunky bass notes and horrid vocals that are so scary, they could turn your hair white. The clean vocals lament.

"Austere" is the final offering, and the vocals scream out in pain. There are also dreamy and ethereal passages, and it's almost like the song has a dual identity. Overall, this was a strange album that kept me engaged with a variety of sounds and techniques. One minute, the aggressiveness was turned up past 10, and the next, dreamy passages ensued. Through it all, there was a deep darkness afoot, making sure that you are tainted even when you believe all is well. All fans of Extreme Metal should check out this album, because it boasts a twisted sound you haven't encountered before.