Metal synthwave band Young Medicine brings a new rich and eerie presence to their voltaic soundscapes on their new release, Cold Blooded.
If one wants to truly make it within the music industry, especially within the world of rock, it takes a certain kind of unbounded creative drive, the ability to become numb against adversity, and a willingness to devote every last ounce of energy to bringing their artistic vision to life. Once one embarks on this journey, there's no turning back. And while that cynical bit of realism leaves a bitter aftertaste, there is a glimmer of hope for those who do make it onto the other side.
Cold Blooded is an album full of musical experimentation, atmospheric indulgence, and contemplative depth. While this album can be enjoyed for its instrumental splendor, the second half of Cold Blooded's pensive deep dive is gorgeously mysterious, vulnerable, and potent all at the same time.
For the Kansas City synth metal act, Young Medicine, the ability to withstand intense pressure is in their DNA. Nothing about their start was easy, and when that dream came full circle, nothing made them work harder or longer to reach for something more. While their first album, Interlinked, gave us a multi-dimensional taste of the technical mastery such a band was capable of, their new release, Cold Blooded, offers something far more visceral and real.
Cold Blooded is an album that feels boreal from the very beginning. From the cover art to the music, it creates a haunting and otherworldly atmosphere that draws the listener in. First impression, "UFO Party" is inspired by the well-known iconic sci-fi series, The X-Files. However, there is much more to such experiences than their intelligent homages to television series. Every bit of this feels more cathodically transcendent and gritty, with a touch of theatrical grandeur—a distinct theme that eerily pervades through each encounter.
Other points of interest, such as "I'm Going To Hit Rock Bottom, You Guys Want Anything?" and "Ignorance Adrift," continue to carry the aggressive weight and eclectic electronic textures that Young Medicine has taken the time to cultivate. From the high-octane percussive energies that pulsate against an effortless acrobatic show of keytars and crunching guitar riffs in "I'm Going To Hit Rock Bottom, You Guys Want Anything?" to the melodic vocal and synthesizer elements that beautifully dance around bellicose guitar sections and technically masterful drum work, Cold Blooded is not just a sign of growth but a work of stylistic achievement for the band.
While other junctures like "Winter Solider" offer a slightly denuded and passionate take on their sound, Young Medicine doesn't lose their sense of edge or keep the listener wrapped up in their dark pools of contention, celestial spaces, and melodramatic soundscapes. It's a welcome distraction before diving into more gigantic and powerful movements, "Hot Chocolate" and the chilling number "Cold Blooded," inspired by The Haunting of Bly Manor. Fueled with dynamically potent guitar riffs, bombastically rich drums, and massively infectious choral and synth elements, Young Medicine continues to push boundaries of musical variance while effortlessly blending all the elements of their signature sound.
Beautifully 80s-tinged, "At the End of Everything" is a gorgeous dreamy state of synths and guitars that take us into sinister dark horse tracks like "Parasocial," featuring Essenger, and "Chryalis." A monster of an experience infused with virtuosic electronic, pop, and hard-hitting djent and metal soundscapes, what Young Medicine has managed to sew into these two musical tour de forces is downright remarkable and impressive. The album comes to the closing tracks, "A Lesson in Futility" and "Everything Is Perfect." The addition of the saxophone is something to take note of in "A Lesson in Futility," as it shows the level of depth Young Medicine is willing to dip their toes into other creative territories, while "Everything Is Perfect" showcases a charismatic and bold degree and depth of voltaic variance that the band is willing to lay on the line for a parting experience.
Cold Blooded is an album full of musical experimentation, atmospheric indulgence, and contemplative depth. While this album can be enjoyed for its instrumental magnificence, the second half of Cold Blooded's pensive deep dive is gorgeously mysterious, vulnerable, and potent all at the same time. Young Medicine has made quite the impression with this album after several years of hard work. Cold Blooded will make doubters take a second look, and old and new fans will fall in love with what the future brings for the band on the horizon.
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