{"id":13823,"date":"2026-05-05T18:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13823"},"modified":"2026-06-28T19:00:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T18:00:50","slug":"the-flatliners-release-another-winner-in-the-shape-of-seventh-album-cold-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13823","title":{"rendered":"The Flatliners release another melodic punk banger with seventh album Cold World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM: The Flatliners – Cold World (Equal Vision\/Dine Alone\/Rude Records)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Canadian punks The Flatliners<\/strong> are back with their seventh studio album, and the big question is whether they can match their previous effort, 2022’s New Ruin<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me that was the high point of the Toronto band’s 24-year career so far, and it made our Top 10 albums of the year (check out the full list here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cold World<\/em> sees a shift from the rage of that record to something more reflective and quietly defiant, where the fallout of modern life lingers in every hook and lyric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no reinventing the wheel from the band, who have the same line-up they did in 2002 – Chris Cresswell on lead vocals and guitar, Scott Brigham on guitar, Jon Darbey on bass and Paul Ramirez on drums.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Over the course of 12 tracks they display the same knack for a catchy hook, singalong chorus and heartfelt sentiment as they ever did, and this is an album which delivers a new highlight with every listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it’s engaging opener Stolen Valour<\/em>, which addresses the breakdown of society as we know it, or lead single Good, You?<\/em>, which shines a light on toxic masculinity, there’s plenty to command your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The riffs are sharp, the rhythm section tight, and Cresswell’s vocals capable of being tender and gritty in the space of a few seconds. That’s the case on Inner Peace<\/em>, which lays bare the problem of struggling to cope, to wondering why we bother on And They’re Off,<\/em> which concludes “The horse we’re betting on’s already dead, so what’s the use?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pounding drums drive Only Darkness<\/em>, with its chorus sounding like prime era Foo Fighters, while Whyte Light<\/em> highlights the positive effect good people can have on your life, as Cresswell sings: “I am me\/Because I knew you.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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