ALBUM REVIEW: COLD 2 THE TOUCH BY ANGEL DU$T
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Release date 13 February 2026
Angel Du$t deliver a hard rock ‘n’ roll album in 11 tracks and in 26 minutes that is ultra-lean but high on the interesting quotient. The band has produced an album that has a hardcore punk philosophy with short songs and minimal instrumentation. It appears the punchy drums, bold guitar riffs and the lead singer’s Justice Tripp's charismatic vocals lead the way: it’s a rock album that is slightly unhinged.
Angel Du$t is an American punk-rock group formed in Maryland and was originally made up of members of Turnstile and Trapped Under Ice, the band has undergone multiple line-up changes, and lead vocalist Justice Tripp is the band's sole constant member. However, he has been joined by guitarist Steve Marino, bassist Zechariah Ghostribe, drummer Nick Lewis and guitarist Jim Carroll (American Nightmare, Suicide File, The Hope Conspiracy) to create this new record. The album features many guest appearances from all across the hardcore universe: including Scott Vogel (Terror), Wes Eisold (American Nightmare, Cold Cave), Patrick Cozens (Restraining Order), UK punk legend Frank Carter, and Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues, Deadbody).
This group delivers a big rock ‘n’ roll statement with the first song ‘Pain is A Must’. Justice Tripp’s vocals are melodic and contrasted with more screamed vocals and a killer guitar solo. The wild and unbounded punk energy of ‘Cold 2 The Touch’ is really punchy with those big electric guitars. ‘I’m The Outside’ is a great driving rock track with a big melodic hook in the vocals, chorus with a big breakdown. It is an infectious song that can easily be played on repeat.
The experimental song ‘Jesus Head’ is an alternative rock track with swing and echoing melody with a late 1970s vibe as there is “blood on the Jesus Head”. It is followed by the more pop-punk sound of ‘Zero’ with its driving drums and guitar riffs and more shouty vocals and electronica flourishes and samples of “the beating heart” as the synth leads out. ‘Downfall’ follows with its big drum kick and electric guitar riffs as the lyrics state the protagonist is “fed up to the gills” as the aggressive rock ‘n’ roll lets out rage in a drum solo.
The slow-burn ‘Du$t’ starts with lovely acoustic guitars and Justice Tripp’s yearning serenade, before careening into blast beats, blown-out guitars, and a climactic breakdown that’s equal parts stomp and shake as the “kingdom comes” as “I have a gun in my hand”. The strumming guitars and the beautiful lyrical vocals burst into the rock of ‘Nothing I Can’t Kill’ where “there is nothing left to break”.
It is followed by the slower paced ‘Man On Fire’ underscored with a big bassline and whispered vocals with its deliberate groove that swells and comes back down before the big drums and urgent screamed vocals cut in. The distorted guitar squeal and big drums bring in ‘The Knife’ with its psych-rock-tinged hardcore sound and baby cries. It’s unsettling! The album closes out with ‘The Beat’ and its aggressive hardcore, grunge-heavy guitar riffs and screamo vocal fry.
Angel Du$t new album ‘COLD 2 TOUCH’ is economical, hard, experimental with a wide-swinging rock ‘n’ roll sound. There is a lot to like here in these songs.
