Album Reviews

After more than two decades together, The Flatliners - Chris Cresswell (vocals, guitar), Scott Brigham (guitar), Jon Darbey (bass) and Paul Ramirez (drums) - still refuse to simply relive the past. On album number seven, Cold World, they sound as hungry and urgent as ever.

Opener “Stolen Valour” wastes no time setting the tone, kicking in with a riff sharp enough to cut glass before rapid-fire drums and gang vocals announce the band’s triumphant return. The verses briefly ease the pressure, only for the track to explode again into a massive, instantly memorable chorus.

They tackle toxic masculinity on “Good, You?,” another standout that constantly shifts gears while somehow remaining aggressive, melodic and oddly comforting all at once. The same balance defines “Inner Peace,” where Cresswell’s familiar growl gives way to more melodic vocals during the chorus. It’s enough to make you think the album’s original title might have been Cold But Still Somehow Warm World, though admittedly, that doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well. Elsewhere, the anthemic “Whyte Light,” the relentless “Pulpit” and the closing “United In Spite” further showcase the band’s ability to blend raw intensity with undeniable hooks.

What makes Cold World hit so hard is the balance between urgency and maturity, friction and melody. The Flatliners haven’t lost the fire that made their earlier records so compelling, but they’ve learned how to channel it with greater nuance and depth. Whether leaning into blistering punk energy or pulling things back for more reflective moments, every song feels purposeful rather than nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake.

More than twenty years in, many bands would be content to coast on reputation alone. The Flatliners sound like they still have something to prove, and on Cold World, they prove it beyond doubt.