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COBRAKILL
Cobratör

Iron Oxide (2022)
Rating: 8.5/10

After being rather disappointed by the latest Cobra Spell EP Anthems Of The Night, I was pleasantly surprised by the new release from German metal warriors CobraKill. I hadn’t been a follower of this unit, but have to say that this platter offers more in its opening track than what Cobra Spell do with an entire EP.

This is straight up fiery metal, very much 80s in design as it flirts with old Mötley Crüe and W.A.S.P. However, there’s also a mid-to-late 80s sleazy feel with the combo turning up the volume and daubing us in its theatrical, anthemic qualities. It’s all very much smoke machines, mirrors, splats of blood, and fist-pumping track titles such as ‘Electrifier’ and ‘Deathstalker’.

Opener ‘Silver Fist’ has more in common with, say, early Guns N’ Roses mixed with Lizzy Borden or Twisted Sister. And more so due to the swagger through the fire and the snappy, snarly vocal turns of Nick Adams, although its introductory strike has more in common with Slayer circa South Of Heaven!

Admittedly, such a release may be a bit wild for some. It’s punky, rock ‘n’ roll attitude really comes to the fore with those gang chants and the axe work of Randy White and Tommy Gun, harkening back to the halcyon days of Hollywood Boulevard sleaze / glam where critics were keen to pan such hairspray heroes in spite of not realising that many of those bands were heavier than given credit for.

Check out then the riotous ‘Deathstalker’ with its slamming percussion courtesy of Toby Ventura. But the juddering title track brings effective bass tones from Crippler Ramirez as the band steps into early Crüe territory with the dark-edged, heavy glam feel.

‘Desperados’ is equally rampant, where again the drums and guitar come to the fore, seemingly hectic, raw and snappy. However, it’s clear the band has energy and a hunger which hopefully transfers to the live shows. But for attitude and authentic-sounding 80s wildness this really is an album to dive into after a dozen beers.

‘Electrifier’ struts cooly from the mist under neon lights, where those scratchy, high vocal snaps drag their nails down your back; hints of Ratt and, again, early Crüe come to mind particularly in the guitar sound.

Everything on offer feels genuine and positive, even if the band, like so many modern outfits, succumbs to the generic, nostalgic desperation. But if it’s done right then kudos to the guys because this opus just drips with sweat, steams up the car windows and leaves lipstick all over the shop.

‘Bring It, Sugar!’ sizzles nicely, and then shuffles with arrogance amidst smoke and that swaggering percussive ripple, but because the guitar sound is so rusty and sleaze-driven it just gives the band an extra, fleshy edge.

Vintage Mötley Crüe just keeps on coming to mind, and that’s no different with ‘Lavender Haze Gypsy’, but then again CobraKill really does dredge the lake of more obscure sounding US sleaze metal. However, it’s hard to not party with this loose n’ lethal combo, and as ‘We’ve Just Begun’ signals the end of the affair I’m impressed by the almost demo feel of this track – a melodious, stark trundle with powerhouse yet raw vocal capabilities.

A few tweaks here and there should enable this bunch of upstarts to take the metal world by storm, because rather than looking as if their record company dressed them to “look 80s”, they’ve decided to turn up naked to the party, bare their soul and trash the place. Play this alongside Iron Oxide label mates Rave In Fire’ debut opus Sons Of A Lie for total Armageddon.

Neil Arnold

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