Southern Californian shoegaze sensations, COLD GAWD, are set to release their highly anticipated second album, I'll Drown On This Earth, via Dais Records on 30 August. This album marks a significant evolution in their sound, promising an immersive experience of distortion and dream pop.
From the outset, I'll Drown On This Earth plunges into a "go for it" mode, as described by vocalist and principal songwriter Matthew Wainwright. Written primarily in 2022, the album's tracks were meticulously refined and recorded in March 2024, resulting in a blend of crushing downer bliss and swooning walls of noise. The lead single, "All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned For A Thing I Cannot Name," exemplifies this dynamic sound.
The album was recorded at Paradise Recorders in Anaheim, CA, with Colin Knight of post-punk unit Object of Affection handling the strings and Cameron Fonacier on drums. This collaboration, sharpened by years of performance, brings a precise and potent energy to the music. The lyrics, penned by Wainwright just a week before recording, weave themes of surreality, infatuation, and melancholy, all enveloped in a hazy reverb.
COLD GAWD’s unique take on shoegaze, first showcased in their 2022 release God Get Me The Fuck Out Of Here, continues to evolve in I'll Drown On This Earth. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences, from "Loveless" to Drake, post-hardcore, and Beach House, the album captures a vivid and varied muse. It's a dense collection of riffs and raptures, offering both escape and revelation.
Track List for I'll Drown On This Earth:
Gorgeous
Portland
All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned For A Thing I Cannot Name
Duchamp
Malibu
Tappan
Nudism
Bird in Space
With I'll Drown On This Earth, COLD GAWD solidifies their place in the shoegaze canon, delivering a collection that is both haunting and exhilarating. This release is sure to captivate fans and newcomers alike, showcasing the band's ability to push the boundaries of their genre.
Save the date for I'll Drown On This Earth, and watch the visualiser for “All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned For A Thing I Cannot Name”:
