James and the Cold Gun share new single ‘Bittersweet’
James and the Cold Gun | Photo credit: Luke Shadrick
Dubbed "South Wales' loudest group", Cardiff's James and the Cold Gun have returned with a propulsive new track titled ‘Bittersweet’. The new song follows their recent single ‘Something To Say’, which saw support for the band from the likes of Kerrang!, Rock Sound, and more. Both tracks are taken from their highly anticipated debut self-titled album, which is due for release on 21st July via Seattle-based label Loosegroove Records, owned by Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) & Regan Hagar (Malfunkshun, Brad, Satchel).
With Gossard describing the band as “a shot of pure adrenaline”, their garage-punk sound has already seen a wall of plaudits on earlier singles with support from NME, Kerrang! Magazine, Rock Sound, Running Punks, Daniel P Carter on the BBC Radio One Rock Show, KEXP Seattle's Kevin Cole, Alex Baker at Kerrang! Radio, John Kennedy at Radio X, and more. They were also in Apple Music's Rockstars of 2023 predictions and have recently toured with the likes of Creeper and Church Of Salem, as well as joining Pearl Jam's BST Hyde Park alongside the likes of Johnny Marr and Stereophonics. The band also made their US debut last month with two packed out showcases at SXSW.
The new single ‘Bittersweet’ is a consummate snapshot of James and the Cold Gun’s compelling ability to interweave frenetic, groove-led riffing with huge hook-heavy choruses. The track mirrors the musical dynamic of the album with the band balancing melody and power on a knife-edge.
The single also comes ahead of the band's performance at BST Hyde Park on Fri 30th June supporting Guns N' Roses, The Pretenders, The Darkness, and more. More info and tickets here.
Listen to ‘Bittersweet’ here
It took James and the Cold Gun less than three years to go from writing songs in a garage in Cardiff — where the band also recorded their forthcoming album — to Hyde Park supporting Pearl Jam. Stone Gossard and Regan Hagar signed the band instantly after hearing them on Kevin Cole’s show on KEXP Seattle. In this time, the band has released limited singles and one EP (on Venn Records) prior to the forthcoming album which have been on the receiving end of widespread critical acclaim, whilst earning swathes of fans along the way.
True to form, their debut record captures the band at their frenetic best. A garage rock band recording a garage rock album in their garage elicits a certain compelling sound, and James and the Cold Gun deliver on that in spades, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is simply primitive guitar rock. Whilst this exists at the band’s core, they regularly toy with the dynamic of the genre with excitable tension and release, epiphanic choruses, driving rhythm, and moments of gentle reflection.
Recent single and album opener ‘Chewing Glass’ is a concise snapshot of the band’s fierce and insistent sound with galvanising vocals and a chest-beating rhythm section - the track became an instant fan favourite earning upwards of 250K streams. Elsewhere, songs such as the acoustic-led “Grey Through The Same Lens” sees the band leaning more heavily into their more melodic sensibilities, whilst “Cheating On The Sun” sees them explore a more widescreen sound with expansive instrumentation that nods to the glory days of 90s alt-rock.
Speaking on the album, frontman James Joseph says, “We can't wait to get this album out into the world, it's a no frills rock and roll ripper recorded ourselves in the garage where we first started jamming as a band, we think it's a great introduction to what we're about at our core, loud, energetic guitar rock...”
With an ever-growing swell of fans, their recent signing to Loosegroove Records, a string of sold-out live dates, and a veracious appetite to get back out on the road. “James and the Cold Gun” is a devastatingly efficient representation of a band firing on all cylinders and they’re only at the beginning of their journey.
Tracklisting:
1. Chewing Glass
2. Something to Say
3. All the Wrong Places
4. Bittersweet
5. Headlights
6. My Silhouette
7. Grey Through the Same Lens
8. Saccharine
9. Alone Again
10. Cheating on the Sun
11. Three Years
James And The Cold Gun are:
James Joseph - Guitar and vocals
James Biss - Lead guitar
Peter Smith - Bass guitar
Al Jones - Guitar
Jack Wrench - Drums
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