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COBRA SPELL
Anthems Of The Night EP

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 6.5/10

As a perfect advertisement for a heavy metal clothing catalogue, European rockers Cobra Spell returns to the fray with a new four-song EP, complete with cringe worthy video for lead single ‘Addicted To The Night’ and enough smoke to blow up its own arse. “It’s just like the 80s” screamed their new teenage fans… but it isn’t. Even so, Cobra Spell can be commended for releasing another solid offering – Anthems Of The Night coming two years after 2020 debut EP Love Venom.

Cobra Spell, like so many contemporary pretenders, try their best at replicating every band that existed before they were born, whether it’s Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Scorpions, Dokken… the list is endless.

The aforementioned ‘Addicted To The Night’ is standard copycat rock fare featuring nice licks, nifty melody and slightly irritating vocal whine from Alexx Panza (Hitten) who is so metal that he needs two xx’s in his name! But sarcasm aside, while Cobra Spell is doing nothing new, the energy, especially within the axe work of Sonia Anubis (Crypta), has to be admired.

However, this is the sort of dressed-up rock that people quickly outgrew by the tail-end of the 80s, and surely to return to such prehistoric glamour would be easier by just slapping the old vinyl back on the turntable. Anyway, as I said, this is standard metal played with a passion, fuelled by the fiery percussion of Léonard Cakolli.

‘The Midnight Hour’ begins with a cool George Lynch-style strut, where hints of funkiness and swagger give way to flashes of Whitesnake married to Skid Row. It’s catchy yet derivative. People may argue with my comments, but is this anything different to what, say, Steel Panther has been parodying for years? Alexx Panza displays power and once again Sonia Anubis provides extra steel, but as Panza yelps “we’re gonna party all night”, I really don’t feel the need to join in.

‘Steal My Heart Away’ is further generic, yet uptempo rock. It’s airy, enthusiastic, but familiar combing a wide range of late 80s fluff n’ frills without claiming any identity in between.

Finally, ‘Accelerate’ begins with token engine rev before embarking on a sturdy path built upon the foundations of Angelina Vehera’s strong bass and that double axe attack, lashing to the rhythm of Esmée Van Sinderen and of course Sonia Anubis’ whips. Again, it’s all very fiery, homing in on Priest with its drive, but when I look back over the years at the sort of albums and EPs that truly whipped me into a frenzy, Cobra Spell’s latest platter is hardly going to replicate or even come close to mimicking such nostalgia.

I’m sure the kids will love it, but for me Cobra Spell haven’t even painted, let alone kicked down, the fence I’m currently sitting on in regards to their bog standard bashing.

Neil Arnold

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