By: Victor Van Ommen
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 26/02/2016
Label: Season of Mist
Despite Black Cobra being half the size of
most metal bands, this album is a beast, their sound is so full and frantic
that between Landrian’s manic riffing and Martinez filling up every single
beat, there’s simply no space for more. This isn’t mindless metal music, either,
there’s extreme talent at work. With such
a barrage of aggressive sludge-metal, “Imperium Simulacra” tears itself open
through a wall of sound that towers high and wide over the listener. Black
Cobra is making their existence known and how. So take heed, “Imperium
Simulacra” is a riotous album filled with a sharp, aggressive onslaught of
sludge-metal that destroys everything in its path.
“Imperium Simulacra” CD//DD//LP
track listing:
1).
Challenger Deep
2).
Imperium Simulacra
3).
Fathoms Below
4).
Eye Among The Blind
5).
The Messenger
6).
Obsolete
7).
Dark Shine
8).
Sentinel (Infinite Observer)
9).
Technical Demise
The Review:
On February
26, Californian sludge-metallers Black Cobra will
release their fifth full-length – their first for Season of Mist – “Imperium Simulacra.” Though Black Cobra may be a household name for some, they only
caught my eye once their tour with Lo-Pan and Against the Grain in the fall of 2015 was announced. As a fan of both of
those bands, and with the tour just kicking off stateside, I took a gander at Black Cobra, which
promptly put me on their train headed straight to
Get-With-The-New-Album-Already Central Station. And wouldn’t you know, despite Black Cobra being half the size of most metal bands, this
album is a beast.
Black Cobra’s sound is so full and frantic that between Landrian’s
manic riffing and Martinez filling up every single beat, there’s simply no
space for more. This isn’t mindless metal music, either, there’s extreme talent
at work. Take a close listen to what Martinez does and how he shows the kick
drum who’s boss without the aid of a double-bass pedal while his hands speed
their way across the toms without sacrificing any force. Though this is one way
to leave an impression, his counterpart handles the axe without a problem,
pushing emotion through these busy riffs. With this talent and such a barrage
of aggressive sludge-metal, Black Cobra is able to
remain in control of their sound and songs.
“Imperium Simulacra” tears itself open
through a wall of sound that towers high and wide over the listener. Powerful
rhythms and sludgy riffing attack all at once. A one two punch of “Challenger Deep” and the title track
pushes amps, speakers and dials to their max even before the first quarter of
the album’s run time has passed. “Fathoms
Below” is a break of sorts but no less heavy, closing out with some of the
album’s only audible lyrics, declaring, “exist as nothing, exist as no one.”
This is followed up by the ferocious “Eye
Among the Blind,” directly contradicting the claim in the previous song’s
denouement. Black Cobra is making their existence known
and how. So take heed, “Imperium
Simulacra” is a riotous album filled with a sharp, aggressive onslaught of
sludge-metal that destroys everything in its path.
“Imperium Simulacra” Is available here
