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Oct 12, 2012 Web Exclusive By Paul Bullock

The debut full-length from this glowering Los Angeles act is a focused sonic assault that borrows a great deal from Joy Division, early Interpol, and A Place to Bury Strangers to create just under 35 minutes of tastefully restrained post-punk. From the pulsing opener, “Alight,” to the shimmering, highly danceable finale, “Seminary,” the entire album projects a series of sometimes familiar, always unsettling, images. These eight tracks have a purposeful, soiled quality that will leave listeners feeling more than a little guilty. For a band called Cold Showers, this is a remarkably sexy record. While most of this music has a minimal, industrial feel, it is full of dark, sensual moments that would play well as a soundtrack to the gritty romance of downtown L.A. Lead single “Violent Cries” is a clear highpoint with submerged vocals delivered with cold desperation that build to a grand, ominous climax. Love and Regret is a tantalizing first step from a group that has all the right influences and hopefully will continue to build on them with fresh, new ideas. (www.daisrecords.com)

Author rating: 6/10