Life is the ultimate transgression, it really shouldn’t be, yet it is. When we live it with the awareness of the implicit biological drive towards entropy and self annihilation, that’s the only time that we truly live it fully, that we’re actually really here, present – even if only for a self- combustible second.

‘Cold Blood’, the first single from Boy From Golden City, the fourth record from the Swiss Progressive Rock outfit, Groombridge, perfectly embodies the spirit of a rapturous self-annihilation. From the first notes of the song we’re seized and carried by the violent, ruthless, dusky rapids of swirling melody – brash, distorted, essential guitar and cold, vast shards of scathing synths supporting painfully beautiful lyrics – and it’s clear that we won’t come out of this predicament uninjured, unmarked as listeners. For two minutes and fifty seven seconds we are forced to bare witness to a hopelessness so final and non-negotiable that eventually it feels utterly ecstatic.

By analogy, this song is akin to the final milliseconds preceding deep impact, extended into euphoric infinity – a phenomenon often described by survivors of near fatal car accidents. It’s important to know that ‘Cold Blood’, like most of the songs on the upcoming LP, was written at a time when Dyle’s (vocals and guitars) both sons fell ill, with life threatening implications, and no doctor was able to offer a conclusive diagnosis or solution. At the moment the boys are doing well, and as a matter of fact they are the masked protagonists of the haunting video accompanying this release.

Without serving up any spoilers, the ending of the video is in fact the crowning moment and ultimate punchline driving ‘Cold Blood’ home. The video was shot by Dino Zizzari of 10mm and is what could be described as a sublime nightmare.