ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə tˈɑːm wˈɑːtsən ʌv kɹˈæk mˌæɡɐzˈiːn, "ðə kəlˈɛktɪv sˈaʊnd ʌv kˈoʊld wˈeɪv wʌz kəntɹˈoʊld jˈɛt kˈoʊldɚ ðɐn ðæt ʌv ðɛɹ snˈɑːɾi pɹˈɛdᵻsˌɛsɚz pˈʌŋk, wɪð ɐ dᵻpɹˈɛsɪv ɡɹˈuːv."
According to Tom Watson of Crack magazine, "the collective sound [of cold wave] was controlled yet 'colder' than that of their snotty predecessors – punk, with a depressive groove."