Cold as Life
{{Short description|American hardcore band}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Cold as Life
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| origin = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| genre = Beatdown hardcore,{{Cite web |title=Album Review: D-Bloc - Do Not Cross |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/reviews/album-review-d-bloc-do-not-cross/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=New Noise Magazine|quote=Old dudes like myself will think of the classic beatdown/metalcore; Cold As Life, Merauder, Bulldoze, Out To Win}} metalcore
| years_active = 1988–2001, 2007, 2015–present
| label = CTYC Productions, +/- Records, A389 Recordings
| associated_acts = The Apathetic Degenerates
The Mattress Rats
Sworn Enemy
Agents of Man
ALD
SBLC
Ramallah
H8, Inc.
Dogz of War
| current_members = Jeff Gunnells
Craig Holloway
Matt Martin
John Music
Jesse Wright
| past_members = Roy Bates
Jeff West
Rodney "Rawn Beauty" Barger
Jay Wade
Jake Loch
Jason Navarro
Jason Clifton
Johnny Hate
The Big Dog
Mike Couls
Tim Mycek
Enzo D
Jake Bulldog
Emery "E-War" Keathley
}}
Cold as Life is an American hardcore band based out of Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1988. Lyrical themes consisted of brutal depictions of the horrors of growing up and living in a city plagued with corruption, murder, drugs, depression and poverty, along with the tragedy of losing friends, family and bandmates to murder and drug abuse. Their shows were frequently violent, involving vicious fights that often included stabbings and beatings with various weapons. However, Cold as Life has a large "family" based following. Stories of these shows would spread throughout the Midwest punk and hardcore communities, contributing to the band's notoriety. Cold as Life drew musical influence from such bands as Negative Approach, Sheer Terror, Discharge, 4 Skins, Cro-Mags, Black Sabbath, and Slayer.
History
In early 2007, a reunion tour was organized by former members but featured Enzo D and Jake Bulldog (of fellow Detroit band Dogz of War) on vocals and Guitar instead of co-founder Jeff Gunnells.
On June 4, 2013, Jeff Gunnells was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison for armed robbery.{{Cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/court-of-appeals-unpublished/2014/317326.html|title=PEOPLE OF MI V JEFFREY RYAN GUNNELLS (Per Curiam Opinion)|website=Law.justia.com|accessdate=September 25, 2020}}
Cold as Life reformed once again in 2015 and have played sporadically since.{{Cite web|url=http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=877406|title=Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) – Offender Profile|website=Mdocweb.state.mi.us|accessdate=September 25, 2020}}
In 2021 the band's first record "Born To Land Hard” was released on vinyl for the first time through A389 Recordings.
The band officially re-united in October 2023, playing a reunion show in their hometown of Detroit together with bands like Madball, Integrity and Terror.{{Citation |title=Cold As Life Reunion show live! Russell Industrial Center - Detroit, MI - 10/7/23 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9ewzGpFJkA |access-date=2023-10-11 |language=en}} The band now consists of Jeff Gunnells (vocals and guitar), bassist Craig Holloway, guitarists Matt Martin and John Music, and drummer Jesse Wright.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-06 |title=Death, drugs, prison: COLD AS LIFE are leaving it all behind |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/death-drugs-prison-cold-life-are-leaving-it-all-behind |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Revolver |language=en}}
2023 also saw the re-release of their second album "Declination of Independence" on A389 Recordings. The record got remixed and remastered by Taylor Young and Brad Boatright.{{Cite web |title=THE SHORT LIST: 9.29.23 |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/column/the-short-list-09-29-23/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=New Noise Magazine |language=en-US}} That same year Cold as Life released an album with recordings stretching from 1988 to 1993 called "In Memory Of Rodney A. Barger 1970-1993".
Discography
= Studio albums =
- 1998: Born to Land Hard (CTYC Productions, +/- Records)
- 2000: Declination of Independence (CTYC Productions)
= Splits =
- 2001: Split with Ringworm (Stillborn Records)
= Demos =
- 1989: 1989 Demo
- 1991: 1991 Demo
- 1992: 1992 Demo
- 1995: 1995 Demo
- 1997: 1997 Demo
= Compilation albums =
- 2004: 1988–1993 (CTYC Productions)
- 2023: In Memory Of Rodney A. Barger 1970-1993 (A389 Recordings)
= Non-album tracks =
- 1996: Detroit Is Distraught Compilation 1996 – "How Much Longer"
- 1997: Feisty Cadavers and the Brotherhood (Idol Records) – "Live Like Vampires"
- 1999: Only the Strong Survive: 1999 (Victory Records) – "My Own Worst Enemy"
- 1999: The Spirit Lives On: A Tribute to Raybeez and Warzone (Hate Core Records) – "Fight the Opressor"
- 2007: United States of Hardcore (Hate Core Records) – "Pete's Sake (S.O.I.A.)"
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.myspace.com/ctyc Cold as Life – MySpace profile]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkEi931PGE8 LIVE @ the Magic Stick in Detroit 31 October 1998]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups from Detroit
Category:Hardcore punk groups from Michigan
Category:Metalcore musical groups from Michigan
Category:Musical groups established in 1988
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2015
Category:1988 establishments in Michigan