Cold

Make no mistake: Cold's Scooter Ward has issues.

This fact will be no news to those who spun through the band's two previous releases, and the new "Year Of The Spider" won't disappoint fans interested in hearing how Scooter's holding up these days. Titles such as "Suffocate," "Don't Belong," and "Sad Happy" offer new pictures of the Cold experience in varying shades of red and black.

There's good news, however, to listeners who have found Cold to be a bit one-dimensional. The band approaches subjects with a stronger melodic sense this time around, and regardless of whether you identify with Ward's emotional state, the accessibility offered by the melodic boost increases the album's impact.

The soaring hooks at the center of the buzzing guitar rush of "Stupid Girl," the first single, could end up making the guys stars before their appearances this summer on the Lollapalooza tour. The guys from Alice In Chains would be among the first to tell you that a strong chorus can undoubtedly be a hard-rock band's friend, and "The Day Seattle Died" offers a nod of acknowledgment in that scene's direction.

For those interested, a limited edition of the CD includes a bonus DVD with the "Stupid Girl" video as well as a behind-the-scenes material and some live acoustic footage. B-

- Hays Davis

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