Cold Cave

Cold Cave was founded in 2007 by Wesley Eisold, vocalist of hardcore groups Give Up the Ghost (previously known as American Nightmare), Some Girls,{{cite web |author=Brandon |url=http://stereogum.com/archives/band_to_watch/band-to-watch-cold-cave_039341.html |title=Band To Watch: Cold Cave |publisher=Stereogum |date=December 3, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814090121/http://stereogum.com/?p=039341 |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }} and Heartworm Press founder. Cold Cave represents Eisold's first venture into instrumentation.{{cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/36258-rising-cold-cave/ |title=Rising: Cold Cave |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2009}} Eisold was born with one hand which led him to electronic music.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/update/9172-cold-cave/ |title=Update: Cold Cave | Features |publisher=Pitchfork |date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}

File:Cold Cave live 2010 in Portland.jpg

After initial releases on Dais Records, Hospital Productions, What's Your Rupture?, and Eisold's own Heartworm Press, he signed to Matador Records,{{cite web |last=Remington |first=Gracie |url=http://www.thefader.com/2009/08/17/cold-cave-signs-to-matador/ |title=Cold Cave Signs to Matador |work=The Fader |date=August 17, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813120500/http://www.thefader.com/2009/08/17/cold-cave-signs-to-matador/ |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} who re-released his self-released debut album, Love Comes Close, on November 3, 2009.

In April 2011, Matador Records released his second album, Cherish the Light Years.{{cite web |url=http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2011/01/19/cold-cave-new-album-cherish-the-light-years/ |title=Matablog | New Cold Cave album: Cherish The Light Years |publisher=Matador Records |date=January 19, 2011 |access-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022001925/http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2011/01/19/cold-cave-new-album-cherish-the-light-years/ |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In July 2011, Cold Cave remixed "I Didn't See It Coming" by the band Belle and Sebastian. The song appeared on their 12-inch single "Come On Sister" released by Matador Records and Rough Trade Records.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/43155-listen-cold-cave-remix-belle-and-sebastian/ |title=Listen: Cold Cave Remix Belle and Sebastian | News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=July 12, 2011 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}

In April 2012, Cold Cave performed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum between John Chamberlain sculptures as part of the museum's Divine Ricochet series.{{cite web |url=http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/press-room/news/4632-cold-cave-performs-at-the-guggenheim |title=Cold Cave Performs at the Guggenheim |publisher=Guggenheim.org |date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307024816/http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/press-room/news/4632-cold-cave-performs-at-the-guggenheim |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

In October 2012, Cold Cave performed at the Getty Center.[http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/saturdays_405.html/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401124304/http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/saturdays_405.html/|date=April 1, 2013}}

In September 2012, Eisold announced Cold Cave would be touring the US later in the year, he would be recording a new album, and that the new live lineup included: Hunter Burgan (AFI), London May (Samhain), Jessie Nelson, and Cody Votolato (The Blood Brothers).{{cite web| last = Colwell| first = Matthew| title = Cold Cave announce new lineup, to tour with Divine Fits this fall| work = Alternative Press| date = September 4, 2012| url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/cold_cave_announce_new_lineup_to_tour_with_divine_fits_this_fall| access-date = September 5, 2012}}{{cite web| last = Martins| first = Chris| title = Cold Cave Start Over With Members of Blood Brothers, AFI, Samhain| work = Spin| publisher = Buzz Media| date = September 4, 2012| url = https://www.spin.com/2012/09/cold-cave-start-over-with-members-of-blood-brothers-afi-samhain/| access-date = April 1, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/10/divine_fits_pla_3.html |title=Divine Fits played Webster Hall with Cold Cave (pics, setlists) |publisher=Brooklynvegan.com |date=October 24, 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2014}} This lineup was exclusive to this two-and-a-half-week tour and Eisold said performing with a full band was something that failed to materialize during Cherish the Light Years tours. While continuing to work on a follow-up to Cherish the Light Years and not under contract with a label, Eisold began independently releasing a series of stand-alone singles.{{cite web| last = McGovern| first = Kyle| title = Cold Cave's 'God Made the World' Precedes World Tour, Dual 7-Inch Releases| work = Spin| publisher = Buzz Media| date = April 1, 2013| url = https://www.spin.com/2013/04/cold-cave-god-made-the-world-7-inch-tour-dates/| access-date = April 1, 2013}} Eisold wrote and recorded these new songs by himself similar to how songs on Cremations and Love Comes Close were crafted. He said they were created "by myself, at a desk in my apartment. It was freeing and exciting in a way because I didn't owe anyone an album. I got to just make them to make them. The songs were minimal, honest, electronic and without help."

The first single in the series was "A Little Death to Laugh."{{cite web| last = Hogan| first = Marc| title = Hear Cold Cave's Frosty Goth-Pop Single 'A Little Death to Laugh'| work = Spin| publisher = Buzz Media| date = September 24, 2012| url = https://www.spin.com/2012/09/cold-cave-a-little-death-to-laugh/| access-date = April 1, 2013}} The single was released in October 2012 through Heartworm and a music video for the song was released in March 2013. In 2013, Eisold released "Oceans with No End" (through Jacob Bannon's Deathwish Inc.), "God Made the World" and "Black Boots", for which Slava Tsukerman, known for his 1982 film Liquid Sky, directed a music video. {{cite web| last = Poitras| first = Andrew| title = Interview: Cold Cave| work = Death and Taxes| date = April 2013| url = http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/196646/interview-cold-cave/| access-date = April 13, 2013}} In October 2013, Cold Cave released a digital-only, fifth stand-alone single titled "Nausea, The Earth and Me."{{cite web| last = Marshall| first = Wyatt| title = Cold Cave released a digital EP; Wes Eisold reissuing his Anti Aquarian EP, 'Chrome Jesus'| work = Brooklyn Vegan| publisher = Spin Media| date = October 22, 2013| url = http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/10/cold_cave_relea_3.html| access-date = October 23, 2013}}

File:Cold Cave live August 2013.jpg

On February 21, 2013, Eisold announced that Justin Benoit, a former live contributor to Cold Cave, had died.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/49663-rip-former-cold-cave-member-justin-benoit/ |title=R.I.P. Former Cold Cave Member Justin Benoit | News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}

In support of the new singles, Cold Cave embarked on an extensive tour of Asia, performing in Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Nepal, and Hong Kong in April 2013;{{cite web|url=http://bk.asia-city.com/events/article/interview-cold-cave-wesley-eisold-bangkok-may-15 |title=Interview: Cold Cave's Wesley Eisold Talks Unconventional Touring and his 'Realist' Sound Ahead of Bangkok Gig on May 15 | BK Magazine Online |publisher=Bk.asia-city.com |date=May 9, 2013 |access-date=March 6, 2014}} performed live with industrial/noise pioneer Boyd Rice in mid-2013; toured with synthpop artist Gary Numan in September 2013;{{cite news|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/07/cold_cave_speak.html |title=Cold Cave speaks about Boyd Rice controversy, opening for Gary Numan on the West Coast ++ other dates |newspaper=Brooklynvegan |publisher=Brooklynvegan.com |date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=March 6, 2014}} and toured with Nitzer Ebb frontman Douglas McCarthy in October 2013. In January 2014, Cold Cave remixed the song "Running" by Nine Inch Nails as part of a remix EP Seed Eight, to coincide with the launch of Beats Music.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1637411/stream-nine-inch-nails-seed-eight-remix-2014-ep/mp3s/album-stream/ |title=Trent Reznor Shares Nine Inch Nails' Seed Eight (Remix 2014 EP), Will Score Gone Girl |publisher=Stereogum |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=March 6, 2014}} In May 2014, Cold Cave opened for Nine Inch Nails on their full European and UK tour.{{cite web| last = Whitehill| first = Gaby| title = Nine Inch Nails tickets for 2014 UK arena tour on sale now| work = Gigwise| date = November 21, 2013| url = http://www.gigwise.com/news/86311/nine-inch-nails-tickets-for-2014-uk-arena-tour-on-sale-today-9am| access-date = November 23, 2013}} They were also invited to open for Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden on their North American tour, after Death Grips, the band originally chosen for opening, decided to split.{{cn|date=May 2015}}

Cold Cave began working on its third studio album and follow up to Cherish the Light Years tentatively titled Sunflower in 2013, and a release date in 2014 was originally anticipated. On what the potential sonic direction of the new album, Eisold said it would be a "mix between some of the bigger sounds on Cherish and more minimal stuff I'm interested in now, like Suicide or 39 Clocks." However tours in support of Full Cold Moon and the 2012–2013 singles series proved to be more fruitful than anticipated, and as a result, work on Sunflower was put on hold.{{cite web| title = Interviews: Cold Cave| work = Destroy-Exist| date = May 2015| url = http://www.destroyexist.com/2015/05/de-interviews-cold-cave.html| access-date = May 23, 2015}}

In June 2015, Cold Cave performed at the wedding of Tony Hawk and Catherine Goodman at the Adare Manor in Ireland.{{cite web |url=http://weddingjournalonline.com/skateboarding-legend-tony-hawk-marries-in-co-clare/ |title=Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk marries in Co Clare |website=Weddingjournalonline.com |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129024011/http://weddingjournalonline.com/skateboarding-legend-tony-hawk-marries-in-co-clare/ |url-status=dead }} Cold Cave would be featured on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 later that year, and two of their songs were selected by Hawk for inclusion on 2018's Tony Hawk's Skate Jam.

In mid-February 2016, a single called "Nothing Is True But You" was released. In Spring, Max G. Morton, who played keyboards for a short portion of the band's early days and also collaborated with Eisold on prose and publishing via the singer's own Heartworm Press, rejoined the band. At end of August 2016, the band shared another single, an almost cacophonic track called "The Idea of Love". In September, they embarked on a domestic mini-tour together with dark electropop act TR/ST.

In late September 2017, Cold Cave released a single called "Glory", a track reminiscent of early New Order. The video accompanying the track revealed a full live band featuring, besides the ever-present Eisold and Amy Lee, steady touring member Max G. Morton, Nils Bue (bass/guitar) and Ryan McMahon (drums). The band kicked off a small US tour before heading to Europe to support The Jesus and Mary Chain until mid-October.

In early April 2018, the band premiered another song, "You & Me & Infinity", and announced a 26-date North American Spring tour with Choir Boy and Black Marble. At the end of the month, a new EP bearing the title of their latest single was made available digitally. In November of the same year the band headed overseas for a string of selected European dates, again with support from Choir Boy.

On April 12, 2023, it was announced that Cold Cave will tour in support of Depeche Mode's "Memento Mori" World Tour and will be at the following European dates and cities: May 16 & 18 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. May 20 in Antwerp, Belgium. May 23 in Stockholm, Sweden. May 26 in Leipzig, Germany. May 28 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

In March 2025, the band was featured on vocals on a track called "So Then..." on a new album released by Chris Liebing.{{Cite web |last=Bhanawat |first=Akshay |date=2018-09-07 |title=Chris Liebing's second album - Burn Slow, is out now! |url=https://themusicessentials.com/music/chris-liebing-burn-slow-album/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Music + Essentials |language=en-GB}}

File:Cold Cave live 2009 1.jpg, Wesley Eisold and Caralee McElroy]]

Cold Cave is essentially a solo project by former Give Up the Ghost and Some Girls frontman Wesley Eisold. While there have been other people contributing to Cold Cave either on tour or in the studio since its conception, Eisold doesn't consider any of them to be official band members. On the subject of band members, Eisold said in an interview, "I struggle with the word 'member' because there are no 'members' of Cold Cave. It's just me. I've collaborated with many people. Some were extremely worthwhile and others were extremely worthless, and I've come to the point where I'm more comfortable doing things by myself."

Studio albums

• Love Comes Close (2009, Heartworm)
• Cherish the Light Years (2011, Matador)
• Passion Depression (2024, Heartworm)

Compilations

• Cremations (2009, Hospital){{cite web| title = Cremations — Releases| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/cremations-mw0000830151/releases| access-date = March 30, 2013}}
• Full Cold Moon (2014, Heartworm)

EPs

• Coma Potion (2008, Heartworm){{cite web| last = Phares| first = Heather| title = Cold Cave — Biography| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cold-cave-mn0001598114/overview/| access-date = March 30, 2013}}
• Painted Nails (2008, Hospital)
• Electronic Dreams (2009, Heartworm)
• Easel and Ruby (2009, What's Your Rupture?){{cite web| last = Catbird| first = Ryan| title = New on What's Your Rupture: Love Is All, Cold Cave, Silver Shampoo| work = MBV Music| date = June 8, 2009| url = http://mbvmusic.com/2009/06/08/new-on-whats-your-rupture-love-is-all-cold-cave-silver-shampoo/10248| access-date = March 30, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160129024011/http://mbvmusic.com/2009/06/08/new-on-whats-your-rupture-love-is-all-cold-cave-silver-shampoo/10248| archive-date = January 29, 2016| url-status = usurped}}
• The Laurels (2009, Big Love Records)
• Death Comes Close (2009, Matador){{cite web| last = Dombal| first = Ryan| title = New Release: Cold Cave: 'Death Comes Close' 12" Single| work = Pitchfork Media| date = October 7, 2009| url = http://pitchfork.com/news/36734-new-release-cold-cave-death-comes-close-12-single/| access-date = March 30, 2013}}
• Stars Explode (split with Prurient) (2010, Hospital){{cite web| title = Stars Explode — Releases| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/stars-explode-mw0001974292/releases| access-date = March 30, 2013}}
• Life Magazine Remixes (2010, Matador){{cite web| title = Life Magazine Remixes EP — Releases| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/life-magazine-remixes-ep-mw0002446558/releases| access-date = March 30, 2013}}
• New Morale Leadership (2010, Hospital){{cite web| title = New Morale Leadership| work = Matador Records| date = April 28, 2010| url = http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2010/04/28/new-morale-leadership/| access-date = March 30, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130509183304/http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2010/04/28/new-morale-leadership/| archive-date = May 9, 2013| url-status = dead}}
• Rebellion Is Over (collaboration with Genesis P-Orridge and Black Rain) (2015, Heartworm Press/Dais Records)
• You & Me & Infinity (2018, Heartworm Press)
• Fate in Seven Lessons (2021, Heartworm)

Singles

Music videos

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web| last = Cohen| first = Ian| title = Update: Cold Cave| work = Pitchfork| date = July 23, 2013| url = http://pitchfork.com/features/update/9172-cold-cave/| access-date = August 1, 2013}}

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{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [http://www.matadorrecords.com/cold_cave Cold Cave on Matador Records]

{{Cold Cave}}

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