The music bursting from Australia and New Zealand has more than impressed me for the past few months, and The Boxer Rebellion (@boxerrebellion) can certainly count itself on that list. After grabbing tracks of theirs such as “Spitting Fire” and “Evacuate”, the potential for more of the same on The Cold Still was something I eagerly awaited. The songs that truly grabbed me on the new release, though, were surprisingly the lower tempo, melodic tracks. The whole album, however, is a solid piece of work, transitioning well between the melodic sounds of some songs and the gnashing guitars of others.

The first two tracks from The Cold Still are the prefect representation of both ends of this group’s musical spectrum. With a mysterious bass riff setting the tone and dark piano chords layered on top of patient drumbeats, “No Harm” immediately sets itself apart from the grainy, upbeat nature of “Step Out Of The Car”. The clear, soaring vocals of….that run throughout, though, keeps the contrast more as a compliment than dislocation. Other songs such as “Cause For Alarm” keep a balance between the two, incorporating a gentler tone, string accompaniments, and more acoustic based instrumentation.

The guitar flourishes and delicate but forceful melodies are what set this band apart from the danger of becoming generic. While some of the songs run together, the balance between tempos, tones, and aggression of most songs provide enough unique qualities to balance out the rest. Though this band is not attempting anything new necessarily, their take on natural instrumentation and reliance on genuine vocals never ceases to impress.