Florida comes through again.
Living up to the well-established legacy of loud, fast, heavy music originating from The Sunshine State, Cold Steel have emerged as the newest formative forces in contemporary thrash. Sourcing from a range of influences spanning from classic Metallica to pioneering Machine Head, the band's corrosive meld of aggression is both well-composed and sonically relentless.
Thus earning the support of renowned producer Arthur Rizk along with the mentorship of Trivium vanguard Matt Heafy, Cold Steel have officially launched their rollout for their debut full length album, Discipline & Punish. Having previously shared the explosive first single, "Blacksmith of Damnation" the band have doubled down on their dominance with the second showing in "No Escape".
Progressing from mid-tempo heater to full-scale torrent, the track showcases the band's undeniable talent, limitless potential and musical timelessness that bridges classic and contemporary thrash in a way that resonates with generations of fans.
The band explained the personal catharsis of the new single, “'No Escape' focuses on the struggle of being yourself, the trap of becoming something you’re not, and the balance between being authentic and survival. We didn’t choose to be here, but we can choose how we play the game. We’re conditioned not to question the things around us, to fall in line and bury emotions deep. We build walls so high that we can no longer see our way out. There’s a lot in this track about identity, pressure, control, and realizing that if you don’t confront what you’ve been running from, it will eventually catch up to you.”
Further elaborating on the process of making the album, producer Arthur Rizk weghed in on the creative environment of the record and how the right personnel made the experience as enjoyable as it was productive. “Working with COLD STEEL was a lot of fun, mainly because of their attitude towards making the record. They were fully immersed and willing to go down every avenue until something memorable was achieved. Getting to collaborate with Matt Heafy was a killer experience for everyone, as he encouraged and helped with a lot of decisions. Coming from a super successful artist, that kind of validation kept the process powerful.”
Offering his take on the trajectory of Cold Steel, Matt Heafy shared his vision for the Tampa outfit. "COLD STEEL are a band who could change the face and sound of heavy music. Their sound defies barriers: metal kids like them, punk kids like them, hardcore kids like them. They live authentically and unapologetically in their own world and are ready to show the masses what they do best - and that’s being themselves. Get into COLD STEEL if you haven’t… now."
The debut full length builds on the band's acclaim achieved with their 2023 EP, Deeper Into Greater Pain. The full length debut, Discipline & Punish, arrives November 7th via Spinefarm Records. Pre-order the album - HERE
