Review of Black Cobra - Chronomega

It’s a huge double-edged sword in thinking bands like Torche, Baroness, Rwake and Black Cobra should be absolutely huge, because while I’d love to see those bands make a great living, it would be a shame to hear them lose too much of what makes them unique in the first place in order to gain mass acceptance. At this point, we have nothing to worry about where Los Angeles, California's Black Cobra is concerned, because Chronomega lays out some of the fattest grooves and gob-smackin’ sludge riffs you’re going to hear this year. It’s still hard to believe this is only a guitar-vocals/drums duo bashing away on huge tunes like “Catalyst,” “Zero Point Field” and “Lightning In His Hand.” These songs rumble forth in a now-perfected punkish stoner stampede, but Rafael Martinez and Jason Landrian tear it up once again on this 38-minute exercise in rockin’ cranial punishment, and they make sure every minute is productive towards raising the body count.

A long, detailed review would be a little ridiculous this time around, sort of like getting technical about being struck by a high-speed freight train. How many words do you really need to get the picture that Chronomega just slams thick-grooved, addictive and high energy rock n’ roll right out of the gate with “Negative Reversal,” and just keeps on tearing ass all the way to “Nefarian Triangle”? You don’t need 600 words describing a no-bullshit sludgy beat down, you need to be breaking your fingers heading over to the Southern Lord website and ordering a copy of this badass piece of plastic. If Mastodon got a little too airy for you this year and you felt Baroness bruised you a little less deeply than you had anticipated, then I think Black Cobra can give you that quick, head-splitting bonghit/whiskey buzz you’re looking for. Show these cats some love, just be prepared to bleed.

Release Details

Black Cobra

Chronomega

Comments

Related