It’s pretty cool – pun very much intended – to hear a band so dedicated to making their music sound cold. What makes Cryogenic Division so cold? Why, the synthesiser, of course. The synth is hardly a novel utility at this point, even in the world of punk rock, where recent records by Osees (see Sorcs 80) and acts like The Ghoulies form goblin-ised synth punk bases that act as the backbone for Cryogenic Division. But this new Cleveland outfit uses its synths a little differently, often for surprise melodies that one wouldn’t expect from such a nasty band (they’re erratic, use egg punk-comparable lo-fi production, their vocals are growled, and their longest song is an epic two-minute-fifteen), and of course, to show the world just how icy their timbres are. They’re arctic, frosty, polar, frozen but never stiff, and every other synonym your thesaurus might provide you with. Listen to this great, sub-ten-minute, subzero album; you’ll find few other punk albums as illustrative or distinctly personality-driven this year.
They’re pouring snowstorms all over their synths, as soon as the lead line of 1-800-FREEZE slips down an icy staircase via its descending melody. I love how different each synth patch sounds, from the clubby motif of SNOWJOB – which somehow still grooves with the lo-fi quite well – to the Super Mario 64 ice stage soundfont of (Oh My) Quick Death; Nitrous Death ain’t too far from that area either, the area being Cool Cool Mountain. Impressively, Cryogenic Division still sound like your “friendly” neighbourhood punk band, despite the potential gimmickry of Nintendo punk, despite the potential gimmickry of each bandmember having a comic book-style nickname (The Collector, The Doc etc.).
The most original melody presented by these Mr. Whippy synths belongs to Cold Lovin’; a slender, yet monstrous, lead line that rushes through the track much like the rest of the band’s impulsive playing. The best non-synth melody belongs to Ice Bone; a loveable, quasi-vintage ‘80s guitar riff. Credit is deserved for the band not relying on any overused guitar tones.
You’ll have an absolute Tango Ice Blast of a time over the ten minutes of Cryogenic Division’s debut album. If you like your punk impulsive, fun and distinctly unique to the dudes playing it, get your ass in your igloo, and listen to this!
Best tracks – Ice Bone – (Oh My) Quick Death – Cold Lovin’.
Rating – 8 out of 10
