Black Cobra-Invernal

Southern Lord
2011

Admittedly when I saw the link to the new Black Cobra come through I pushed aside some promos I have had longer just so I could hear and review this one. After hearing "Invernal" I knew that I had indeed made the right decision to listen to it as soon as possible.Formed by drummer Rafa Martinez (ex-16, ex-Acid King) and guitarist/vocalist Jason Landrian (ex-Cavity), Black Cobra have been at it for around a decade. The theme to this entire record is based on a post-apocalyptic trek to a nuclear infested and mutated Antarctica. They have always been a mix of slow pacing with heavier layers piled on. Well, this time around the sound is even thicker and far more brutal, but they handle with a natural ease. Black Cobra always manage to create so much sound without really doing that much and that' true even more so on this album. Every track is a sledgehammer the only differences between tracks is how fast they pound at your senses. They don't attempt to smooth off edges, but instead leave all the rough spiked out edges and non-perfect production out there to add texture. I was expecting a whirlwind on this new album, but they even more forceful than that. I have listened to it multiple times already and each time I am finding different pieces to enjoy that I didn't notice the previous time around. I expect that will continue happen the more I listen to it. Easily one of the best albums of the year.