Cool Kids Of Death

Cool Kids of Death took their name from a Saint Etienne track and deliver new wave sounds aimed at jaded intellectuals through infectious pop hooks, shoegaze-style guitar textures, and sharply cynical words. Formed in Lodz during 2001, the lineup featured vocalist Krzysztof Ostrowski, bassist Jakub Wandachowicz, guitarists Marcin Kowalski and Wojciech Michalec, keyboardist Kamil Lazikowski, and drummer Jacek Fras. After circulating only a homemade demo, the band secured a formal deal with Sissy Records. Their debut arrived in 2002 as the self-titled Cool Kids of Death, introducing signature tracks that included “Butelki z Benzyna i Kamienie,” “Specjalnie Dla TV,” and “Uwazaj.” That August, bassist Kuba Wandachowicz published the essay “Generacja Nic” (“Generation Nothing”) in Gazeta Wyborcza; paired with the group’s defiant lyrics, the piece positioned CKOD among Poland’s emerging youth rebels. Returning dramatically in August 2003, the band unveiled the abrasive sophomore release Cool Kids of Death 2, whose raw, atonal character prompted a same-year reissue titled Cool Kids of Death 2.2. November 2004 brought their first English-language collection, also titled Cool Kids of Death, which compiled standout cuts from the initial pair of Polish albums. CKOD completed their third studio effort, Cool Kids of Death 2006, in March 2006.