Reviews of The Contaminated Void

COLDWORKER
The Contaminated Void
(Relapse)

In Coldworker, Anders Jakobson (ex-Nasum) returns with a massive roar. Backed up by four younger lads, he blast away hard as hell. With this new band it's all about blasts with death metal roots, but his background in the world's hardest grindcore act is noticeble in both the playing and songwriting.

Therefor I am prepared for the hard discharge that starts with "The Interloper", after all he has a black belt in blastbeats. What I am less prepared for is the incredible groove that follows the blasts towards the end of the same song, a very delicate element that is one of Coldworker's real strengths.

Almost all of the songs are right under the three minute mark and it's hard not to be floored by the mix of furious high speed blasting and led drenched heaviness that is offered. Further more I am very impressed by the very nice aggressive and rough voice belonging to Joel Fornbrant (ex-Phobos), who rapidly screams his way into my list of favorite singers.

The musical focus is obviously on fast blasting, but d-beats, fast Slayer-beats and a few slowers parts keeps you on your toes and with a constant attention. Sometimes the riffing sounds a little bit like Vomitory, but first and foremost it sounds fresh and inspired. None of this album's players doesn't believe in any single beat, chord or vocals he deliveres.

It's actually quite hard to understand that a band can be this together and focused on their first offering, especially since they didn't even knew eachother four months before the recording! A group who makes their debut like this can go far beyond everything. (8/10)

- Daniel Löfquist, Close-Up Magazine (badly translated by Anders)

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Coldworker - "The Contaminated Void"

Nasum's end with the tragic death of Mieszko A. Talarczyk has terribly saddened us all. What a great drummer like Anders would do afterwards was a matter of curiosity since he has his own unique style that is appreciated and accepted by a lot of people… While the questions about whether life would go on with Krigshot or maybe Nasum would reshape were in people's minds; things began to get back on track before we knew it.

Coldworker is a band that has achieved to find its place, in one night, among the tightest and most brutal bands I've ever heard by far, with only one album. And about the genre, unlike Nasum, Coldworker isn't on the line of purebred grindcore in their album. The album is rather in the vein of death-grind but there are fast songs with a lot of spirit for sure.

The incredible album "The Contaminated Void" is released by Relapse and the track list is:

1. The Interloper
2. D.E.A.D.
3. An Unforgiving Season
4. The Contaminated Void
5. Death Smiles At Me
6. A Custom-made Hell
7. Return To Ashes
8. Strain At The Leash
9. Flammable
10. Antidote
11. They Crawl Inside Me Uninvited
12. Waiting For Buildings To Collapse
13. Heart Shaped Violence
14. Generations Decay

The Japanese edition of the album has an extra song called "Far Beyond Driven". With the first song "The Interloper", we immediately understand that the album has a pretty powerful sound. Normally, I don't like mentioning other bands or albums while I speak of a specific band or album, but in order to describe, I can easily say that the general sound of the album is very classy, just like Nasum had. I've carved Anders's name in my head as my favorite musician, one of the musicians that I'd never argue about his work or anything he did before; and with this album I saw once again that I was right. There are striking partitions and incredibly controlled drum techniques of him again…

"D.E.A.D" is a song that has stunning riffs, these guys have an incredibly intense energy. The vocals are insanely good and the back vocals are feeding it well, all in all it can be said that these guys created a unique style and character right from the very first album.

"Death Smiles at Me" is one of the sickest songs of the album. It has a little bit of a Napalm Death taste to it, but since we know that Anders adores ND, we think it's more than understandable.

"Return to Ashes" is the most down-tempo, most depressive and darkest song. I've checked the lyrics on the webpage and then thought that a song couldn't reflect the lyrics any better than this. A very classy and successful piece.

"Flammable" starts with bass lines that have a very threatening and brutal tone then goes on with tight riffs that wipe the skin off your skull. Anders again is beating the shit out of the drum kit and double vocals are done in a very professional harmonious way.

"Antidote" is a song that reminds me of the old school Nasum songs… Their spirit is inevitable. I have a habit, I try to imagine the songs that I love in a concert atmosphere and how they'd affect the people. For this one, I think it'd be difficult for people to handle. It'd be hell on earth for the audience.

"Waiting for Buildings to Collapse" is rather one of the down-tempo songs but Anders is keeping up a high profile with his work and now as I listen to the song I have a hard time keeping on writing because the song has cursed my fingers. I can't help myself but think of some way to save some money and go to Sweden in freezing cold, to see Coldworker play, and maybe some other bands while I'm there…

I can say that "Heart Shaped Violence" is the lord of all songs of the album. I don't know why it's put towards the end of the album but on the other hand, in an album that is so great, a sensible lining of songs becomes meaningless. The song is one of the most cruel and fastest songs of the album and actually from beginning to the end of it; it's a total Napalm Death worship piece.

At the beginning of "Generations Decay" there are the attractions of the bass player. With his sound, he is competing with Tom the chief, from Sodom , and he has a very heavy classy bass tone… All I can say is these guys are enemies to speakers indeed.

This album is the clearest answer to the questions that have been in our heads for a long time. The people that like Nasum, Krigshot and the sorts of them shouldn't hesitate for one second about buying it when they see the album.

More info about Coldworker can be found on www.coldworker.com and while you're there, be sure to check out the media files and hear the Coldworker cruelty if you haven't already… It will slap you hard on the face. And "A Custom Made Hell" video under media files will impress you even better…

- Bira Darkzine (Translated from Turkish by Nisa Pet Skeleton)

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COLDWORKER - The Contaminated Void

It's only been a year since Anders Jakobson, former drummer of the Swedish band Nasum layed hands on the sticks again. At least he thought time was right to focus on a new project.

In a blog on the Nasum homepage he called out for people willing to form a grind band with him. Coldworker is the successful result of the search. And not only that. With "The contaminated void" the debut of the newly formed quintet is already available. It couldn`t have been any faster. All the band members are far away from being inexperienced. Anders Bertilsson serving the guitar in Coldworker used to play in Ruin. Bass player Oskar Pålsson was in Relentless, André Alvinzi, second guitar player, in Carnal Grief and shouter Joel Fornbrant did the vocals in Phobos.

“The Contaminated Void” is – how could it have been otherwise – a mixture between death metal and grindcore. It`s no big surprise that the band already harmonizes very well on “The Contaminated Void”.

The longtime musical experience comes in here. Most of the 14 songs fascinate with their breathtaking speed the immense playing ability and complexity of the riffing. If a musical comparsion is needed bands like Arch Enemy, Cannibal Corpse or Suffocation should be named. Responsible for the powerful clear production of “ The Contaminated Void” is Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity ).

Coldworker already know which direction their way should lead. Determined and exceedingly certain they get through their impressive debut, which sure will be a feast for every grind maniac.

“The Contaminated Void” has all a release in this dimension should and must have !

- Dennis Grenzel, Sweet Jane Music (translated from German by Marco)

Note from Coldworker: Anders B, Oskar and André is still playing in their other bands, although this review says something else.

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Coldworker: The contaminated void

I have been curious as for what drummer Anders would cook up after the tragic ending of Nasum. Most of us (at least in Sweden, but I’m sure their plague will spread) know it by now: Coldworker. To be perfectly honest, I was never a huge fan of Nasum, or grind in general, though I easily understood that Nasum were on top of their game, not to mention they were a fucken awesome live act. So, learning that Coldworker would have a more death metallish approach was very welcomed by me.

And man, this is some really, really good fucken shit…

Americanized death metal with the needed Swedish touch and tons of blasts that makes it groove like a fucken fag on a vibrating dildo from hell. That’s Coldworker to the bone.

And I’m fucken impressed.

The youngsters (except for Anders who’s up there at my terrific age) display a nerve and vitality seldom found in today’s new bands. Not to mention actual talent, especially in the axe-solo’s and vocal department. Joel’s got a terrific growl with quite a huge fucken punch to them, not too far away from Dan Swanö’s prime growls at times. Nice as fuck. Anders’ performance is fine as always and he could most likely be one very underrated drummer. Hopefully this album will change that fact. He deserves the recognition. Whoever of the guys playing guitars is responsible for doing the solos (maybe both of them are?) sure preferred practicing the axe instead of watching porn while growing up. It seems it paid off in the end even if it means he/they missed out on alot of glorious masturbation. The rhythm guitars aren’t exactly cat shit either. Semi technical riffs here and there together with interesting basic riffage. Groovy, dammit! Oskar’s bass could for sure be higher in the mix coz I can’t say I’m getting a clear picture of it (in the intro to “Return to ashes” it’s really audible though). It’s there as I can hear it in some breaks, but that’s about it.

Production values are ace as well, and if I’m not mistaken I think that they recorded this themselves and had Dan Swanö mix it. If not, fuck it. The guitars contains a huge fucken crunch while still maintaining a clear and crisp tone. I love it. I could wish for a little louder kick drum, but now I’m just nitpicking.

While alot of the material might blend together at a first listen, the following hours of repeated listening to “The contaminated void” make the details stand out. It’s a very well crafted piece of brutality with few breathers. Competent as fuck.

No matter how good the album actually is, “Coldworker” will always be a shit name. It’s awesome that the music more than makes up for it.

8 contaminated penises out of 10.

- Lord K Philipson, Global Domination

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COLDWORKER - The contaminated void

After the end of NASUM, COLDWORKER is the new engagement of drummer Anders Jakobsson who teamed up with musicians of Swedish bands like RUIN, RELENTLESS, CARNAL RUIN and PHOBOS in order to blast on properly. But this is not a prosecution to NASUM. COLDWORKER are definitely more Death Metal than I expected. Only the blasting drumming of Anders reminds me for sure on NASUM. The music makes me think of CANNIBAL CORPSE predominantly, but around the Death Metal-Basis COLDWORKER still owns enough Grind-Attitude. This is especially for straight songs like “Death Smiles at Me”, also the average length of the songs is despite the technical approach of the Death Metal-Elements between 2 and 2:30 minutes – “The Contaminated Void” clocks nearly 40 minutes with its 14 tracks. The vocals are powerful and deep, in connection with some old-school riffs (as on the last, rather long and dragging “Generations Decay”) this reminds to big days of Swedish Death Metal. Also through some melodic impact in the solos and the riffing, this reminds to the later days of this genre. The sound is brutal as it should be, so everyone who is in Death Metal and likes grinding blasts should own this – especially the vocals are exactly as it should be. COLDWORKER sound like CANNIBAL CORPSE meeting NASUM accentuated with a bunch of Swedish Death Metal. This is straight in your face-music, but always having interesting riffs and diversity through dark, dragging, groovy and technical Passages within. Nice one!

- Karim, Laermbelaestigung Zine (translated by Christoph Ziegltrum)

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COLDWORKER
The Contaminated Void
(Relapse Records)
39:44min

A lot of people out there will regard Anders Jacobson's new band as heir to NASUM. A fact, which is on the one hand traceable, since he wrote half of the songs on NASUM's masterpiece "Shift". But on the other hand NASUM and the genius of Mieszko Talarczyk belonged together, otherwise Mr. Jakobson would have simply kept the name NASUM after the tragic death of Mieszko. So let's be fair and look upon COLDWORKER not as some kind of NASUM 2.0, but as an unique band. Although all members of COLDWORKER have been active in other Metal outfits, it is quite amazing that this release only took the time of about five months to be recorded! In January 2006 A. Jakobson started searching musicians for a new band, and in June the same year they did their first live show and began recording their debut. Death Metal, mixed with Grindcore, may give a rough description of "The Contaminated Void". The riffs tend more to the typical American Death Metal, in fact the decent listener may find similar guitar work for instance on the latest CANNIBAL CORPSE or IMMOLATION releases. Additionally typical Grind riffs and some fine melodies are added, a good resource against boredom. The vocalist could, from my point of view, be a little more flexible, because he is just deep grunting all the time. Not really bad, but also nothing spectacular. All songs are played fast or very fast, the structure of the most songs (i.e. breaks and playing time) has a tendency more to Grind or Metal Core than the above mentioned American Death Metal. Dan Swanö produced the album, so you know what to expect - a killer sound. www.coldworker.com. Available here.

- Mirco Szymyslik, Voices From The Darkside

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Coldworker - The Contaminated Void (Relapse Records)

In the wake of the untimely death of vocalist/guitarist Mieszko Talarczyk, who died in the Asian tsunami disaster in December 2004, it took a year after the demise of Swedish grindcore act Nasum for drummer Anders Jakobson to find the inspiration to put together another band. But within another six months, he returned to the drum stool within a group formed under the moniker Coldworker, who quickly put together its debut offering, “The Contaminated Void.” (The band also consists of ex-Phobos vocalist Joel Fornbrant, Ruin guitarist Anders Bertilsson, Carnal Grief guitarist André Alvinzi and ex-Relentless bassist Oskar Palsson.)

“The Contaminated Void” is initially a little unexpected for Nasum fans, since Coldworker is essentially a death metal act with only subtle shades of Jakobson’s grindcore past filtering through. A strong Cannibal Corpse influence is heard within the opening riff of leadoff track “The Interloper,” but it isn’t long before the rest of the band join in, giving Coldworker a different (if somewhat familiar sound) that enables it to dodge the Cannibal Corpse clone syndrome.

Follow-up track “D.E.A.D.” boasts a punishing groove and great solo moment, while the band quickly casts aside the darker and slower introduction of “An Unforgiving Season” to go straight for the throat with a speed-induced jump.

For the remainder of the album, Coldworker rarely breaks out of the mold the first three tracks set. But having said that, there’s enough variety and downright brutal moments (especially Fornbrant’s vocal assaults and Jakobson’s battery behind the kit in tracks like “Death Smiles At Me” and “They Crawl Inside Me Uninvited”) to keep self-respecting modern death metal fans entertained, or at least until the band establishes a sound that’s rightfully theirs, and theirs alone.

- Justin Donnelly, Blistering/The Metal Forge

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Coldworker - The Contaminated Void

I have to admit that this release took me as somewhat of a surprise. The longest cried selling point is that COLDWORKER contains the former NASUM skinsman, leading me to presume - even hope for - a strong element of similarity. However, while this was obviously not the case, the direction of Anders Jokobson’s new band is surprisingly savage given the contemporary clichés that spawned it.

COLDWORKER’s debut offering should appeal strongly to fans of modernised Death Metal. Those who like HYPOCRICY, DECAPITATED, even later BEHEMOTH should find a liking for this release, despite the content being quite far from those realms. The production is a powerful illustration of the potential quality of modern technology. Heavy, balanced and retaining a grinding sharpness, the production lends itself well to the blasting drums and dynamic riffing. The style is a hybrid of classic American and Swedish Death Metal, with subtle undertones of Hardcore and Crust, all made modern with sheer savage ferocity.

I don’t like all of the influences - and my prejudices show clearly against most forms of modern metal - but for what it is, COLDWORKER’s debut album is something for metal heads to get excited about. This is honest, well written, well delivered Death Metal that borrows from the past to bring it to the future. Indeed, despite its flaws - bland vocals, a couple of filler tracks and not enough tempo dynamics - this is a quality offering that will leave those more closely following this scene than me greatly satisfied. (7/10)

- Niall, The Metal Observer

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Coldworker
The Contaminated Void

There has been a bit of a brouhaha surrounding The Contaminated Void, considering the involvement of former Nasum drummer Anders Jokobson. It's understandable, especially considering that Nasum, without a doubt, was and still remain one of the greatest powerhouses within contemporary grindcore. Plenty of bands are vying for the throne, but it has been that way long since their departure from the scene after vocalist/guitarist Mieszko’s tragic death. Sentimental attachments aside, I'm glad as hell that this isn't simply a nostalgic retread of the past; Coldworker charge forward towards annihilation with a refreshing vitality.

The big question on most people's minds is going to be how similar is Coldworker to Nasum. The honest answer there isn’t a whole shitload of similarity to be had here, but nonetheless the boys of Coldworker have offered a rabidly competent album of extreme metal, effortlessly blending various grindcore elements along with a contemporary sort of Stockholm tinged, modern death metal. The album opens with the frenzied burst of “Interloper”, quickly setting the mood and intensity at a relative high with effective doses of skin flaying guitar lines and subtle, infectious groove, before the melodic flourishes of “D.E.A.D.” and the rabidly punishing rhythms of “An Unforgiving Season” add themselves to Coldworker’s vitriolic arsenal. From the high velocity grindcore of “Death Smiles at Me”, to the controlled calamity of “They Crawl Inside me Uninvited”, it’s pretty damn apparent this is a band that knows what they’re doing. Be it the ominous rumblings of "Generations Decay" or the distinctively modern sound of "The Contaminated Void", the consistent quality of songwriting and musicianship is evidence that there's a new force in town to be reckoned with.

Despite the exceptional level of aural violence, after a few songs it comes a bit apparent that there’s not much deviation from the norm in Coldworker’s sound, and the predominate chunk of the material tends to tread much of the same area. While by no means a complete recapitulation of previous material, the critical listener might be slightly disappointed with the lack of variety. There's simply not enough variety and contrast between songs to account for much of a difference, resulting in a somewhat predictable and dulled response after the listener manages to catch on to the general idea, no matter how good the original was. This is by no means crippling in regards to the quality of the album, but it is a significant barrier to it stepping into the territory of excellence.

Perhaps some of my critique came from my high expectations, but despite the small flaws here and there the band is impressive in their own right. This is by no means another Nasum, and there’s absolutely no apology from Coldworker to be had. The Contaminated Void is well executed, even if it isn’t exactly anything revolutionary-- albeit there are layers of originality bubbling under the surface. However, I can’t help but feel the band hasn’t quite come into their own enough to stand above and beyond, but as far as I’m concerned this is a damn fine start. As long as the album is approached with an open mind, unclouded by bias, plenty of people will find enough to clutch onto in order keep them content, even if not wholly satiated by the onslaught. (Production: 4,5/6, songwriting: 4/6, musicianship: 4,5/6)

- Jeremy Garner, Metal Review

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Coldworker - The Contaminated Void

Coldworker was formed by Nasum drummer Anders Jakobson after the tragic death of Mieszko Talarczyk, who died in the Asian tsunami disaster in December 2004. The band also consists of vocalist Joel Fornbrant (Phobos), guitarists Anders Bertilsson (Ruin) and André Alvinzi (Carnal Grief) and bassist Oskar Palsson(Relentless). Since the recording of their debut album Alvinzi has left the band and been replaced by another former Ruin member, Daniel Schröder.
The Contaminated Void is mainly melodic death metal with elements of grindcore and thrash mixed in. It's extreme and intense with plenty of crushing blast beats and frenzied tempos, but there are also a lot of really melodic riffs. The vocals are typical death metal cookie monster style.

Coldworker rips through 14 tracks in just under 40 minutes. Each song is compact and destructive, and there is a surprising amount of variety. They vary styles and tempos and make this a very listenable CD, even though it is extremely brutal and aggressive. (4/5)

- Chad Bowar, About: Heavy Metal

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Coldworker
The Contaminated Void

After the tragic end of Nasum ( singer Mieszko Talarczyk died during the tsunami end 2004) drummer Anders Jakobsen , after a period of grief, decided to start with a brand new band.. Together with his hand-picked selection of musicians Coldworker was founded.

The band’s debut album turned out to be anything but a Nasum-clone, and is far more death-metal oriented. Relentless speed, ferocious vocals, crushing riffs… you know, the usual brutal stuff.

Is the music OK? Yep. Is it original? Not really. But these 14 blasting tracks in 40 minutes always will do well at any metal party. (7.5/10)

- Kire, Punkrocktheory

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Coldworker - The Contaminated Void

Coldworker started out last January, initiated by the drummer of Nasum after they quit because of the tragic death of singer Mieszko Talarczyk, a subject which has not been touched upon on this album by the way. Anders Jakobsen gathered some talented musicians and only two months after the first rehearsals they started to record The Contaminated Void. Let’s see how this worked out!

If you’d expect that Coldworker continues where Nasum ended you’re totally wrong, because Coldworker’s sound is mainly death metal. It has some grindcore influences, like the songs are all relatively short for death metal standards and Anders still keeps blasting on the drums, but overall the songs are much more diverse. In opener ‘The Interlooper’ we get to hear an almost too standard Cannibal Corpse riff, but when you hear the rest of the CD this appears to be an exception. Coldworker really managed to develop a great sound of their own. They don’t push the gas peddle constantly, but also give the listeners some time to get their breath, which makes this album very well listenable. Like in the song ‘Return to Ashes’ with its really swinging rhythm which feels a bit weird but it simply works out great, especially when the song evolves in a more brutal sound with a nice slow grooving riff accompanied by some awesome high pinches.

There isn’t like one genius behind this band; singer Joel Fornbrant is the only one who didn’t write a single riff for the album, the other four musicians’ input blended into a successful mix of US death metal brutality and the European, well Swedish, melodic death metal. It’s full blasting death metal like they said for themselves in the interview last month on this site. The vocals add more brutality to the sound with the low grunts, but nothing really spectacular here. Most of the material is pretty technical like in the title track of the album; it never becomes hard to get into, but the riffs are simply very well constructed and complicated without losing the almost catchy flow of the songs.

This album is definitely worth checking out, it won’t disappoint you. In the beginning of next year they’re going to tour Europe with an interesting package: Necrophagist, Misery Index and Burning Skies/Diskreet. Not all tour dates have been confirmed yet, but we’ll keep you updated!

Oh, and be sure to visit their website, because there is a nice track by track explanation of how every song came together! (87/100)

- Sledgehammer Messiah, Metalrage

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COLDWORKER
The Contaminated Void (Relapse)

Anders Jakobson’s hands and feet must have started itching little over a year after the tragic demise of Nasum, so he put together a whole new band and managed to record a new album in half a year. Such rushed eagerness may be questionable, and the negative effects of it do show on The Contaminated Void, but it’s hard to criticize the drummer’s passion for his music. Coldworker is less of a grindcore band than Nasum was, with longer, more elaborate songs (which are 14 in total), but the brutality is there all the same. Coming across like a mix between Nasum and sharp death metal, little ditties such as “An Unforgiving Season” or the outrageous “Strain At The Leash” will wreak havoc on a mosh pit or on your stereo speakers. The general hardcore leanings, much helped along by the screamed vocals of Joel Fornbrant, contribute to the urgent feel of the album, which works s a charm when you need a quick fix of instant brutality. Repeated listens do bring to light a bit of inconsistency in the songwriting, and the album loses a bit of its shine after a while, but it still remains a very enjoyable blast. If this is what they can do in 6 months together, the future looks bright indeed. (7.5/10)

- José Carlos Santos, Unrestrained!

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Coldworker
The Contaminated Void
Relapse Records

Ultra brutal thrash death metal from NASUM legend…Prepare for your ears to bleed from the speed…

If you like your metal speedy and heavy like a JCB on overkill, and your vocals like some undead banshee is having a rage fit, then from the word go, this album is for you.

The brainchild of NASUM legend - and all round bad egg - Anders Jakobson.

And featuring a plethora of dark, heavy metal musical geniuses, this is an album of uncompromising brutal riffage, thundering bass lines, drums like a war march pounded out by hells own army, and vocals that sound like someone has just shat themselves and are none to pleased about it.. this is an album that could reinvigorate a scene fast becoming a parody of itself.

Like Satyricon, this band puts the emphasis on performance and music, rather than schlocky Halloween attire or bogus “we’re so scary” make-up… the whole purpose of this music is to heavy as, and tight as, and pound you within in inch of submission, before pounding you some more…

Its brilliant, if very dark.

I am not personally into my black metal, or my thrash, but this is an abum that could change anyones opinion, its dedicatedly musical, and very very heavy, but the execution of the idea is all that maters, and they execute that idea in spades.

Well done chaps!

- AJ Chamberlain, Subba-Cultcha

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COLDWORKER
The Contaminated Void (Relapse)

Is it death? Is it grind? In this hyperintense Babel of a metal scene, such labels are becoming as obsolete as a cassette deck head cleaner. COLDWORKER attain all the obvious qualifications for death metal, while dishing out frequent grinding blast beats that spit sparks and debris like shrapnel. The songs are short, sharp bursts of intense riffing, but they maintain melodic solos and more traditional death metal parts, along with occasional speed-picking thrash riffs and uniformly bloodsoaked and gory enunciated death vocals.

The resulting sound could be compared to a more filth-caked VADER, a (very slightly) more tradition-minded NASUM, or even a phlegmier NAPALM DEATH at times. The thing is, once you hit play, it all becomes academic — COLDWORKER just violently kick ass, more than anything else, and it would take a pretty fucking pig-headed purist on either side of the fence to deny how much they rule due to simple obsolete dogma.

Founded by former NASUM drummer Anders Jakobson and assembled from his hand-picked colleagues, COLDWORKER is a band comprised of individuals who've already done most of the sorting out that needed done. Thus, it makes sense that the band hits the ground running with "The Contaminated Void" — there's not an ounce of fat on these 1-3 minute songs, not one part that doesn't instinctively satisfy and ratchet up the overall level of intensity. The guitar has a very overdriven, dirty sound to it, and the vocals are practically wet in your ears, while the bass throbs in some sick bowel-twisting frequencies (especially effective on the slow, seething "Return To Ashes", an epic by COLDWORKER standards at an uncomfortable four minutes and change).

There's enough paint-peeling, bone-snapping grindcore ("Strain At the Leash", "Antidote") and enough brutal, relentless death metal ("D.E.A.D"., go figure) on "The Contaminated Void" to satisfy just about anyone into the extreme end of the scale. In a scene glutted by well-intentioned imitators and arguably at its creative and technological limits, COLDWORKER manage, through sheer piss and vinegar combined with savvy experience, to push the envelope that one iota further. 2007's first essential slab of extreme metal. (8.5/10)

- Keith Bergman, Blabbermouth

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Coldworker
The Contaminated Void
Relapse

Need for speed: underground rivals

It's little surprise to discover that the debut release by this Swedish outfit finds its 38-minute running time given rocket booster propulsion by a steel limbed display of beat battery hyperkinesis in extremis. Coldworker, after all, is the brainchild of Anders Jakobson, drummer and occasional throat shredder for Nasum, until the tragic loss of guitarist/vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk brought the grind luminaries' reign to a close in 2004—and if you can play that damned hard and fast all the time, why stop now?

Speed, rather than anything else, is the primary weapon here. Favouring a streamlined death-strike over Nasum's unhinged grindings, numbers like "The Interloper," "An Unforgiving Season," and the fantastically titled "Heart-Shaped Violence" rip off the launch pad in a hurricane of breakneck riff violence and merciless blasting, although you could easily exchange those choices for any of the 14 tracks on The Contaminated Void with much the same result. For an album that barely lasts half an hour, concerns of interchangeability can be cast aside for the greater, energized good, even if the likes of "Return to Ashes"—Coldworker's one moment of comparative contemplation that slows the nail gun death rally (a little) for some lumbering, skull-drilled density—show that there's room for some more interesting manuevers.

In the meantime, aural adrenaline junkies could do far worse than this white-hot shot in the arm.

- Catherine Yates, Decibel

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Coldworker - The Contaminated Void

More than recovered from the trauma of loosing his ex-Nasum friend Mieszko Talarczyk in the 2004's tsunami, Anders Jakobson now shows to the extreme world his new band Coldworker. Listened the sonic strength contained in this debut, "The Contaminated Void", you can say that the best thing that could have happen to him would be to build an album of this quality. With four youngest musicians (in it's majority unknown to each other few months before the recordings), Jakobson conceives a very showy work in the domain of death metal and grindcore.

The band sounds surprisingly interacted, and this fourteen tracks show us an homogeneity which can only be found in projects with innate charisma and talent. In a globally "less dirty" sound than Nasum, Coldworker is a band leaning to death metal, although the grindcore mark from the first band is present in most of the songs. The great commander of this album, band, and main member are the blast beats.

From the beginning to the end, "The Contaminated Void" is a deadly attack, shot directly from Jakobson's drum kit with rhythms that almost reach incredulity, as you can listen in tracks as "Waiting For Buildings To Collapse" or "Flammable". In the vocal department, this record is also something big, because Joel Fornbrant, ex-Phobos, is clearly the exact man for this malevolent mission. Also, do not forget the melody dose in part of this material. The forceful solos create an effect which reminds Nile, and, contrary to what it may seem, give the whole picture a more violent look. With all tracks having more or less three minutes, "The Contaminated Void" is a cold blooded blow with the ferocity of someone who has a
lot to purge. (8/10)

- N.S., LOUD! (Portugal), translated by Maximiano Tomé

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COLDWORKER
The Contaminated Void
(Relapse)

One of my favorite extreme metal bands is Sweden's Nasum. Like a more modern Napalm Death, they channeled righteous political anger into a vaguely futuristic grind-metal attack that was gratifyingly hard and abrasive. Sadly, Nasum guitarist-vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk died during the 2004 tsunami while vacationing in Thailand. The group was at its peak, but drummer Anders Jakobsen — Nasum's only other longtime member amid an otherwise revolving-door cast — wisely decided not to continue under the band name.

Coldworker's debut is Jakobsen's first post-Nasum effort — although, to be fair, he is simply one-fifth of a ensemble that distributes its songwriting evenly. Coldworker isn't designed to be Nasum 2.0, but with The Contaminated Void, its members have done for death metal what Jakobsen's previous band did for grindcore: they don't reinvent it so much as reanimate it. It's all about the execution. So many current bands in the genre are preoccupied with fancy technique, complicated songwriting, and note-perfect Pro Tools recordings — Coldworker just put their heads down and barrel forward. Make no mistake: the songwriting is excellent, with masterful tempo shifts and menacing, subliminally melodic guitar riffing throughout. The production is superb, accentuating the noise and the dirt in Coldworker's sound rather than buffing it clean. Ultimately, though, it's the single-mindedness and sheer physical impact of the music that distinguish it from anything I've heard from the metal underground in ages.

- Will York, San Francisco Bay Guardian

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COLDWORKER
The Contaminated Void
Relapse

Coldworker is a band founded by Anders Jakobson after the demise of the great Nasum following Mieszko Talarczyk’s death in the Asian tsunami of 2004. I only mention that because Nasum is one of my favorite bands, and Jakobson’s involvement is what led me to track down this release.

Coldworker play a slightly grind influenced death metal, fairly straight up, but with enough of their own character to keep it interesting. “The Interloper” starts us off on the right foot, with a nasty riff backed up by superb blast beats, and then transitioning into a nice groove riff momentarily. The guitars have the distinctive 'Swedish sound' to them, that is heavy, bone crushing distortion, while still allowing the melody parts to come through with the clarity they need.

It should be mentioned that Dan Swanö did the mixing for the disc, so you should know what to expect in terms of sound quality here. “D.E.A.D” has the band showing their more technical side, with some really good guitar work on the riffs and a great solo as well. “Return to Ashes” is a mid-paced affair that reminds me of Cannibal Corpse a bit, and also showcases the band's heaviness quite nicely.

The Contaminated Void is a great release, showing off all the aspects and talents of the band. Songwriting and production are both top notch. Insanely good stuff from this group of Swedes. (A-)

- Goz GASPetc.com

The Doomsayer's Call

TRACKS

1. A New Era
2. The Reprobate
3. The Glass Envelope
4. Flesh World
5. Murderous
6. Pessimist
7. Monochrome Existence
8. Vacuum Fields
9. Living is Suffering
10. The Walls Of Eryx
11. Violent Society
12. Becoming The Stench
13. The Phantom Carriage

INFORMATION

Full length album released by Listenable Records, February 13, 2012.

• Drums recorded December 2010 at Soundlab Studios, Örebro, Sweden by Anders Jakobson.
• Guitars and bass recorded January 2011 at Ülgnor Studios, Örebro, Sweden by Johan Berglund.
• Vocals recorded January 2011 at Coldworker Studios, Örebro, Sweden by Anders Jakobson.
• Jason Netherton’s guest vocals on "The Reprobate" recorded January 2011 at Cell Block Studios, Kent Island, Maryland, US by Darin Morris.
• Mixed and mastered February 2011 at Unisound, Örebro, Sweden by Dan Swanö.
• Outro by Oskar Pålsson.
• Band photo by Terése Andersson.
• Artwork by Pär Olofsson.
• Design by Anders Jakobson.
• Coldworker logo and symbol by Anders Jakobson.

STUFF TO READ

• Lyrics
• Track by track
• Reviews
• Studiodiary

A Tribute to Nasum

TRACKS

1. Coldworker - Den mörka tiden
2.-53. A lot of bands!

INFORMATION

A Tribute to Nasum released by Power-It-Up on LP/CD November 2009.

• Recorded in Coldworker Studios October 2008 by Anders Jakobson.
• Guitars re-recorded in Ülgnor Studios, April 2009 by Johan Berglund.
• Mixed by Johan Berglund.
• Featuring Rickard Alriksson on backing vocals

STUFF TO READ

• Track by track

Split with Deathbound

TRACKS

Coldworker:
1. Identify with the Aggressor
2. Cold World Paranoia

Deathbound:
1. Contributing with Social Sickness
2. Routine Life

INFORMATION

7" split EP released by Power-It-Up August 2009.

• Tracks recorded during the "Rotting Paradise" session in December 2007. Drums recorded at Soundlab Studios by Anders Bertilsson and Anders Jakobson. Soundcheck engineering by Dan Swanö and Niklas Källgren. Drum tuning by Peter Damin. Guitars recorded at Studio Ülgnor by Johan Berglund, Anders Bertilsson and Daniel Schröder. Bass recorded at A Noble Home by Anders Jakobson. Vocals recorded at Coldworker Studios by Anders Jakobson.
• Mixed and mastered December 2007-January 2008 at Unisound by Dan Swanö
• Cover artwork, Coldworker and CW logos by Anders Jakobson.
• Band photo by Terése Andersson.

STUFF TO READ

• Lyrics
• Track by track

Tribute to Repulsion

TRACKS

1. Afgrund - Splattered Cadavers
2. Belching Beet - House of Freaks
3. Blockheads - Horrified
4. Cephalic Carnage - Decomposed
5. Coldworker - Crematorium
6. Collision - Six Feet Under
7. Cretin - Eaten Alive
8. Fondlecorpse - Crypt of Terror
9. General Surgery - Maggots in your Coffin
10. Goregast - Lurking (the) Fear
11. Grind Crusher - Festering Boils
12. Impaled - Helga (Lost her head)
13. Inhume - Acid Bath
14. Haemophagus - Excruciation
15. Hamorrhage - The Stench of Burning Death
16. Looking For An Answer - Driven to Insanity
17. Machetazo - Pestilent Decay
18. Mindflair - Repulsion
19. Nashgul - Slaughter of the Innocent
20. Necromorph - Something Dead
21. World Downfall - Rebirth

INFORMATION

Tribute to Repulsion released by FDA Rekotz on LP July 2009, CD December 2009.

• Recorded in Coldworker Studios October 2008 by Anders Jakobson.
• Guitars re-recorded in Ülgnor Studios, April 2009 by Johan Berglund.
• Mixed by Johan Berglund.
• Featuring Rickard Alriksson on backing vocals

STUFF TO READ

• Track by track

Rotting Paradise

TRACKS

1. Reversing the Order
2. Citizens of the Cyclopean Maze
3. Symptoms of Sickness
4. The Black Dog Syndrome
5. Comatose State
6. Paradox Lost
7. The Last Bitter Twist
8. Seizures
9. The Machine
10. I am the Doorway
11. Scare Tactics
12. Deliverance of the Rejected

Japanese edition

1. Reversing the Order
2. Citizens of the Cyclopean Maze
3. Symptoms of Sickness
4. The Black Dog Syndrome
5. Comatose State
6. Paradox Lost
7. The Last Bitter Twist
8. Seizures
9. The Machine
10. I am the Doorway
11. Scare Tactics
12. Deliverance of the Rejected
13. Necromancer (Sepultura cover)

INFORMATION

• "Rotting Paradise" was recorded in December 2007. Drums recorded at Soundlab Studios by Anders Bertilsson and Anders Jakobson. Soundcheck engineering by Dan Swanö and Niklas Källgren. Drum tuning by Peter Damin. Guitars recorded at Studio Ülgnor by Johan Berglund, Anders Bertilsson and Daniel Schröder. Bass recorded at A Noble Home by Anders Jakobson. Vocals recorded at Coldworker Studios by Anders Jakobson.
• Mixed and mastered December 2007-January 2008 at Unisound by Dan Swanö
• Cover artwork and design by Orion Landau.
• Coldworker and CW logos by Anders Jakobson.
• Band photo by Terése Andersson.

Vinyl editions

• 300 copies in yellow vinyl
• 300 copies in red vinyl
• 300 copies in white with red splatter vinyl
• 100 copies in clear vinyl (not for sale)

From Relapse.com

Coldworker has evolved into a finely tuned Swedish death metal machine on its second full-length Rotting Paradise. Rotting Paradise balances modern metal brutality, and distinctly European flourishes of metallic grandeur to form the quintessential Swedish death metal album for a new century of extremity.

STUFF TO READ

• Lyrics
• Track by track

Pig Destroyer/Coldworker/Antigama

TRACKS

1. Pig Destroyer - Abaraxas Annihilation
2. Pig Destroyer - Understand
3. Coldworker - Far Beyond Driven
4. Antigama - Zoom

INFORMATION

Limited (1000 copies) 3-way split 7" EP with Japanese bonus tracks from Pig Destroyer, Coldworker and Antigama. Only available from the Relapse store with any purchase from the featured bands.

• Recorded June 6 - June 24 2006 by Coldworker at Coldworker Studios, Örebro, Sweden. Additional guitars recorded in The House of Alvinzi, Arboga, Sweden by André Alvinzi.
• Mixed June 26 - July 5 2006 by Dan Swanö at Unisound, Örebro, Sweden.
• Mastered July 10 2006 by Peter In de Betou at Tailor Maid Production, Spånga, Sweden.

STUFF TO READ

• Lyrics
• Track by track

The Contaminated Void

TRACKS

1. The Interloper
2. D.E.A.D.
3. An Unforgiving Season
4. The Contaminated Void
5. Death Smiles At Me
6. A Custom-made Hell
7. Return To Ashes
8. Strain At The Leash
9. Flammable
10. Antidote
11. They Crawl Inside Me Uninvited
12. Waiting For Buildings To Collapse
13. Heart Shaped Violence
14. Generations Decay

Japanese edition

1. The Interloper
2. D.E.A.D.
3. An Unforgiving Season
4. The Contaminated Void
5. Death Smiles At Me
6. A Custom-made Hell
7. Return To Ashes
8. Far Beyond Driven (bonus track)
9. Strain At The Leash
10. Flammable
11. Antidote
12. They Crawl Inside Me Uninvited
13. Waiting For Buildings To Collapse
14. Heart Shaped Violence
15. Generations Decay

INFORMATION

• Recorded June 6 - June 24 2006 by Coldworker at Coldworker Studios, Örebro, Sweden. Additional guitars recorded in The House of Alvinzi, Arboga, Sweden by André Alvinzi.
• Mixed June 26 - July 5 2006 by Dan Swanö at Unisound, Örebro, Sweden.
• Mastered July 10 2006 by Peter In de Betou at Tailor Maid Production, Spånga, Sweden.
• Band photo: Robert Johansson
• Album artwork: Orion Landau

Vinyl editions

• 600 copies in white vinyl
• 300 copies in grey vinyl
• 100 copies in clear vinyl (not for sale)

From Relapse.com

Sweden's Coldworker storms out of the gates with it's debut The Contaminated Void. Conceived and created by Anders Jakobson (of the legendary Nasum) and his hand-picked selection of burgeoning metal players, Coldworker's razor-sharp attack is destined to send shockwaves through the international extreme scene. The Contaminated Void's fourteen tracks swarm with equal parts crushing riffs, blazing speed, and menacing vocal onslaughts. Outrageously agile guitars balance melodic leads with relentless aggression. From start to finish, The Contaminated Void burns with a ferocity and intensity rarely seen in any genre of metal. Simply stated, Coldworker and The Contaminated Void is among the finest Scandinavian metal this side of the 21st century.

STUFF TO READ

• Lyrics
• Track by track
• Reviews
• Studiodiary