Cold

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, the alternative metal band Cold initially mirrored the sonic approach of fellow Sunshine State outfit Limp Bizkit. Their sound blended technically intricate, dark, and aggressive metal drawing from Jane's Addiction, Metallica, and Tool, while also incorporating shoegaze textures alongside expansive, Snow Patrol-inspired alternative rock. Fred Durst, frontman of Bizkit, first encountered the group performing locally and facilitated their signing to the A&M imprint Flip. After emerging in 1998, Cold gained traction in the early 2000s through the Gold-certified albums 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage (2000) and Year of the Spider (2003). The band entered hiatus in 2006 before regrouping several years later primarily for live performances, returning to recording with the commercially successful Superfiction in 2011 and The Things We Can't Stop in 2019.

The act first formed in 1996 under the name Grundig, briefly using Diablo, with a core lineup of Scooter Ward on vocals and guitar, Kelly Hayes on guitar, Jeremy Marshall on bass, and Sam McCandless on drums. Durst took notice and forwarded demo recordings to producer Ross Robinson, who produced their self-titled debut. Issued on Durst’s Flip label in summer 1998, the album built a loyal audience through relentless touring across the United States. Terry Balsamo joined as second guitarist ahead of the follow-up. Released in 2000 on Geffen/Interscope after that label absorbed A&M, 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage marked their breakthrough with Gold status fueled by mainstream rock tracks “End of the World,” “Just Got Wicked,” and “No One.” The 2003 release Year of the Spider, propelled by the major hit “Stupid Girl,” debuted at number three on the Billboard album chart, sold over 100,000 copies in its opening week, and also earned Gold certification. At this stage the group had shifted from the Limp Bizkit template toward a darker style reminiscent of Staind, Fuel, and Seether.

Although Year of the Spider resonated with listeners, Geffen lost interest during its promotional cycle, resulting in the band’s dismissal and subsequent internal tensions. Hayes exited, Balsamo joined Evanescence, and McCandless along with Ward faced an uncertain future after a Ward family member fell ill. The group persisted, securing a deal with Lava/Atlantic and delivering the more melodic, less aggressive Different Kind of Pain in August 2005. The lineup at that time featured Ward, McCandless, guitarists Matt Loughran and Mike Booth, and bassist Marshall.

Following that album the members went separate ways, with Ward and McCandless forming the Killer and the Star, whose debut appeared in 2009—the same year Cold’s original lineup reunited. After a 2009 tour they recorded Superfiction, issued in summer 2011 and climbing the upper reaches of the Billboard Independent, Alternative, and Hard Rock Albums charts. For their sixth studio album, 2019’s The Things We Can't Stop, Cold partnered with Napalm Records.