★★☆
Both the adversity and success experienced by Of Mice & Men in recent years has culminated inCold World, a record that proves incredibly diverse.
Indeed, if the album’s anything, it’s too diverse. Even though it does feature appealing and clean production, there’s just something missing.
The album does have its high points: there are moments when it proves pretty hypnotic. ‘The Lie’ in particular is a balanced serving of metal, angst and poetics and a quintessentially Of Mice & Men track, but save another two or three tunes traditional to the band’s sound, the album feels pretty standard.
The tail end of the album loses momentum, closing with several ballad-esque tracks of a torn and pensive nature, and sure it occasionally sounds great, it just drags on a bit. For all intents and purposes, Cold World is a metalcore album, one that dips its fingers into other sub-genres in an attempt to convey deep thought and meaning. Only, it doesn’t always sit well with the ears.
Neither pivotal nor bin-able, Cold World is an appealing bog-standard release in the overcrowded alternative-nether verse.
Of Mice & Men’sCold Worldis out now and available through Rise Records.
