"Fight to Survive" - Cold Summer, EP Review

Above: Cold Summer (image courtesy of Cold Summer)

Released earlier this year, the 4-piece band Cold Summer of Leeds, released their EP "Fight to Survive". They are a post-hardcore quartet who have supported the likes of Milk Teeth and Sorority Noise and have also played Long Division Festival. 

This self-released EP encapsulates everything that post-hardcore music is about. Through maintaining originality, it's energetic nature is melodic while having angst and passion. The EP is driven throughout and there isn't a moment in which it lulls. 

Not only does "Fight to Survive" present high quality vocals, but it has a strong foundation of finessed musical ability which matches the excellent lyrical content. "A Time Imagination Forgot to Inspire" is undoubtedly a stand-out track but "Something, Nothing, No-one" provides fierce competition and concludes the EP in the perfect way.

Cold Summer have produced something very special in this EP - they are a band which need to be followed as they have an incredible level of potential. Every track is polished to perfection and there is little debate that the content they've produced themselves is strong competition to any label on the scene.

'Cold Summer' - remember this band because they are one to watch.

Rating: 7.5/10

You can get your own copy of "Fight to Survive" on iTunes here, can view the music video for "A Time Imagination Forgot" here and can listen via Spotify here.

What do you think of the EP? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews?

The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance, 10 Years On

Above: album artwork for The Black Parade/Living With Ghosts (Twitter)


Yesterday marked the 10 year anniversary of the album that has been described as the one to "define a generation". At the time of its release, My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade" reached number 3 in Australia, number 2 in the US, UK and Canada and topped the album chart in New Zealand; 10 years on it is still inspiring the next wave of musician and continues to heavily influence the scene.

In honour of the decade it's been since the album first hit the shelves, Rock Sound Magazine produced "Rock Sound Presents The Black Parade" in which they got current bands to cover each track of the original album. The entirely positive reaction to this shows exactly how passionate MCR fans continue to be - but even more to the point, how the music of this band continues to be at the heart of the industry.

Rejoining for the first time since their split, My Chemical Romance re-released the album as "The Black Parade/Living With Ghosts" and met with Rock Sound for a feature and interview.

While the band have gone their separate ways they still continue to push creative boundaries in various ways: Gerard Way has focused on his solo career but has also continued to pursue his comic writing, Frank Iero has continued with music through 'Frank Iero and the Patience', Mikey Way is currently killing it with his new band 'Water Parks', Ray Toro has begun to prepare for his solo debut and James Dewees has continued to pursue music.

Even after all these years, the fact that this album continues to be as adored as it is proves just how wonderful it is. It's incredibly rare for albums like this to come around and when they do, we must cherish them for a long time to come.

You can purchase the original release of "The Black Parade" on Amazon here and can get hold of the re-issue "The Black Parade/Living With Ghosts" here.

What do you think of the album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews?