By Monk
German hard rock revivalists CobraKill are one of those bands who could have had their career killed off right at the start, as they formed just as the venom of the Covid crisis crippled the Überverse with its poisonous sting. But, the band remained coiled and ready to spring back into action, and now plant us firmly on the lips with this second album of nostalgic glam-infused traditional heavy metal.
At first, it is a bit hard to tell what generic category in which CobraKill feel most comfortable, as opener ‘Above The Law’ touches a number of bases, from old school thrash through NWoBHM to glam rock, with the styles not quite melding, although at the same presenting a level of promise, especially in the quality of musicianship, that wants you to keep exploring. And, after another couple of fairly standard hard rockers, that perseverance is rewarded…
The album really kicks into top gear with the appropriately sharp ‘Razor Blade’, which sees the band concentrate on the hairier, sleazier aspect of their sound, summoning the spirit of the Strip with the effectiveness of a dose of L’Oreal in your eyes, coupled with a sense of Dokken-esque attitudinal heaviness, especially on the rumbling bass line. This is something which is carried into ‘Monstrous’, which again sees the band concentrate on that old-school glam vibe, but underpinned by some seriously kick-ass heavy bass riffage which really helps it poke through the airiness of the main theme.
‘Same Ol’ Nasty Rock ‘n’ Roll’ neatly summarizes where this album could and should be, and in some ways is: in many aspects, it’s the same ol’ stuff, regurgitated for the new generation, but at the same time it’s still nasty, filled with attitude, spit and verve – and, hey, it’s still rock ‘n’ roll, and sometimes doing in the same ol’ style as the same ol’ style to which we have been accustomed works best: and, on this occasion, it works.
‘Serpent’s Kiss’ tantalizes with some very fine moments of classic touches of retro glam metal – closer ‘Velvet Snakeskin’ certainly coils and snaps like a cornered rattler – which certainly proves that there is an enthusiasm for this brand of revivalist hair metal. It’s brilliantly played, produced and executed. Yes, there are quite a few moments of mediocrity, but they are more than balanced with those of sheer, gleeful, uninhibited fun.
- ‘Serpent’s Kiss‘ is released on Friday (19 January).
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