Ukrainian sludge metal trio Cold Shell presents new single; guitarist and vocalist Kostiantyn shares his four most life changing albums!

Late last month, Ukrainian sludge metal band Cold Shell unveiled »Nobody Wants To Die Alone«, a single that marks a spin-off from their aggressive roots to a more introspective sound. The track combines melancholy with powerful lyrics that explore existential dread and the fear of dying alone.

»Nobody Wants To Die Alone« is available now on all streaming platforms!

Emerging from Kyiv’s underground music scene, Cold Shell formed in 2016, by founding members Kostiantyn and Roman, both of whom have been deeply affected by their roles in wartime Ukraine. Roman currently serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a reality that threads through the band’s compositions, embedding their work with a raw sense of urgency and a haunting reflection of a nation at war.

The lyrics, written years ago by bassist Oleksii, explore existential dread and the fear of dying alone, with Oleksii’s words capturing this universal fear in a profoundly human way. The lyrics resonated with guitarist/vocalist Kostiantyn deeply, aligning perfectly with a riff he had created during a moment when he sought escape from the emotional burden of the ongoing war.

Photo by Fedir Ivanenko

To further escape the realities of life in wartime Ukraine for a brief moment, Kostiantyn has shared with us four albums that have changed his life and influenced the crushing sound of Cold Shell.

Acid Bath – When The Kite String Pops

It’s easy to start with this one. About 12 years ago, I went through a really tough period in my life when everything that had once made me happy seemed to fall apart in an instant. I had a band, my first band and we were hopeful, playing groove/thrash type stuff, but it broke up because of internal conflicts. At the same time, my girlfriend left me. Suddenly, I found myself without music, without a band and I was struggling with depression. I started searching for music that could match my feelings, checking out sludge albums from bands like Crowbar, EyeHateGod, and Grief. I couldn’t quite connect with their sound at the time. But then, When the Kite String Pops by Acid Bath completely grabbed me. In just a few minutes, it hit me hard, resonating with everything I was going through. This album marked a turning point in my life, shaping my musical tastes for years to come.

Martyrdöd – List

I tried thinking of an album that has helped me during the incredibly difficult time faced by my country and Martyrdöd’s List has probably had the biggest impact on me. Of course, I was already familiar with Martyrdöd’s music and I even saw them live in Kyiv in 2019. But in 2022-2023, I rediscovered List in a completely new light. The album’s raw anger, apocalyptic tone and underlying sense of hopelessness became deeply relevant in those dark times. As the war raged on, people were dying and an atmosphere of uncertainty hung over everything, List felt like the perfect soundtrack for the chaos and turmoil we were living through. It captured the intensity of the moment and gave voice to emotions I couldn’t always express.

Slayer – Reign In Blood

This is just a classic. No need for much explanation, it speaks for itself!

Godflesh – Streetcleaner

Another classic, but this one needs a bit more context. Streetcleaner and Godflesh’s other albums introduced me to a concept that good music doesn’t have to be complex. Their approach to guitar playing, which is often simple yet powerful, showed me how noise can create atmosphere. The dissonant riffing on high notes, almost caustic and uncomfortable, left a strong impact on me. I took a lot from Justin Broadrick’s style and incorporated it into my own guitar playing, helping me to craft a sound that was raw, simple, and emotionally charged.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well