Cold Is the Absence of Heat

Cold is the Absence of Heat is a typically fascinating Savage Aural Hotbed Release — the ensemble lays out hugely percussive pieces centering on found objects like barrels, saws, grinders, and pipes, but also including enough bass, vocal elements, and eastern percussion instruments (as well as the general percussion aesthetics of both the far east and electronica/industrial) to move consistently through different territories. The only real flaw in Cold... is the recording — Gomi Daiko presents the band's rhythms in a setting that's far more clear, concrete, and palpable, and this makes it the better release by quite a bit.