The Flatliners - Cold World

2026 • EQUAL VISION RECORDS • PUNK / ALTERNATIVE

70/100

The Flatliners may have it all figured out. Next year will mark the band’s 25th anniversary—a career milestone few are lucky enough to reach. The Ontario-based punk quartet, who met as preteens and have been friends ever since, had already been together for fifteen years by the time I myself had started listening to punk and alternative music. Quickly, I became a fan.

Four years after the release of 2022’s New Ruin (one of my favorite albums of that year), the Flats are back, although they never really went away. In addition to extensive touring, vocalist/guitarist Chris Cresswell also moonlights as one of the frontmen for post-hardcore legends Hot Water Music, who released their tenth album, VOWS, last year.

The twelve tracks on Cold World are more of what the Flatliners do best: catchy, fast-paced, high-energy melodic punk. In an interview with Dying Scene, Cresswell described the album as a “spiritual successor to New Ruin,” noting that while that record was fueled by the anger of the COVID era, the world has only "gotten worse" since.

Though the Flatliners don’t stray too far from their established sound, it’s obvious the band is comfortable enough—both as friends and as a musical unit—to take risks. Take “Pulpit,” for instance. Featuring dual-tracked vocals and a driving rhythm section, the track calls to mind IDLES’ smash hit “Dancer,” just with a Flatliners twist. Other influences on the record (which, at sub-40 minutes, is eminently replayable) range from early My Chemical Romance on “Good, You?” to the jittery energy of DEVO on “Inner Peace.”

Where Cold World falters, however, is in its cohesiveness; the album feels more like a collection of songs than a unified work. While I enjoyed the record, it isn't one I’m keen on revisiting frequently. Writing this review made me realize I feel that way about much of the Flatliners’ discography: it’s consistently good, but it rarely stands out in an increasingly crowded field.

...And maybe it doesn’t need to. Above all else, it’s clear the Flatliners are still having fun. Sustaining a decades-long career—especially in a genre not known for longevity—proves the band knows their role and plays it well. Most people would jump at the chance to achieve this level of success while simply hanging out with their best friends. I know I would.

NBA COMP: NICOLAS BATUM

You know what you’re gonna get. A solid vet, nothing but consistent. But on the right day, they can still put up some big numbers.