London’s Cold in Berlin will release their fifth studio album, Wounds, on November 7 via New Heavy Sounds. This record stands as their most ambitious and experimental effort to date, already being tipped as a strong contender for the Mercury Music Prize 2026.
The album features synth arrangements by Bow Church, a pivotal figure in Berlin’s dark electronic scene and long-time collaborator of the band. His contributions bring chilling layers and dense atmospheres. On “12 Crosses”, brass sections were recorded by a renowned jazz musician who remains anonymous due to contractual obligations, adding an element of unpredictability.
Despite its meticulous construction, Wounds captures the raw energy of Cold in Berlin’s live performances. Free-jazz brass, irregular structures, techno-driven rhythms, and abrasive synths make this album their boldest statement yet.
Formed in East London in 2010, Cold in Berlin quickly became one of the UK underground’s most revered live acts. Fronted by the commanding voice of Maya, the band merged dark post-punk, doom, and krautrock into a singular identity. Their debut Give Me Walls (2010) was named “Album of the Year” by Artrocker Magazine, while follow-ups And Yet (2012) and The Comfort of Loss and Dust (2015) cemented their reputation across the alternative music scene.
By 2019, with Rituals of Surrender, they had fully embraced a post-metal sound, earning a place in the British Library Sound Archive. After a pause during the pandemic, their 2024 EP The Body is the Wound was hailed as their finest work to date. Now, with Wounds, Cold in Berlin deliver their most powerful and expansive record yet.
- Hangman’s Daughter
- 12 Crosses
- Messiah Crawling
- They Reign
- The Stranger
- We Fall
- The Body
- I Will Wait
- Wicked Wounds
